1. Packet Switch Architectures
EE384x
Packet Switch Architectures
Spring 2012
Lecture 1
Introduction & Logistics
Nick McKeown
Balaji Prabhakar
Special guest appearances: Mohammad Alizadeh

2. Goals of the class
To provide an introduction to the research and practice of packet switch design, including Internet routers and Ethernet switches.
To get some practice in the art of reading research papers.
It’s a big field, and used to be a two quarter sequence (EE384x,y).
EE384y is no longer offered.
The new EE384x is less theoretical.

3. Logistics Lecturers Guest lecturers: One, maybe two experts
Nick McKeown
Balaji Prabhakar
Guest lecturers: One, maybe two experts
Teaching Assistants
Peyman Kazemian
Shuang Yang
Web site: ee384x.stanford.edu

4. More Logistics Prerequisite Useful Papers Grading
EE284/CS144 or equivalent.
Useful
CS244, Stats 116 (or EE178, EE278), CS161
Papers
URLs to all the papers are on the eeclass web page.
Grading
(40%) 4 Problem sets
(10%) Several surprise quizzes
(5%) In-class participation
(45%) Final project
Intermediate project report (May 10th): 10%
Final class presentation (20%)
Final report (15%)
All deadlines are hard!

5. Contact Whenever possible: su.class.ee384x
Quickest response
Someone else probably has same question
Please don’t send to class list
If private:
All extension requests must go to Nick or Balaji
Office hours and discussion sessions posted on web page

6. Lectures & Papers
In most lectures we will assume you have read 1-2 papers.
You must read the papers in depth before class.
5% of grade is for in-class participation
10% for “surprise quizzes”
So….please read the papers, be here, participate

7. Let’s agree: No laptops in class (except the one projecting this!)