1. 91.413: Data Communications I Fall 2007
Prof. Benyuan Liu
Department of Computer Science
University of Massachusetts Lowell

2. What is this course about?
Introductory course in computer networking
learn principles of computer networking
learn practice of computer networking
Internet architecture/protocols as case study
Goals:
learn a lot (not just factoids, but principles and practice)
enjoy the course

3. Course Information Who is this course for?
undergraduates (with no prior knowledge)
Prerequisites:
Algorithms, Operating Systems, programming skills
Course materials:
text: Computer Networking: A Top Down Approach Featuring the Internet, J. Kurose & Keith Ross, Addison Wesley (4th edition)
Class notes

4. Course Information (more)
Class WWW site:
everything is posted on this site!
syllabus
class notes (powerpoint, pdf)
assignments
announcements

5. Course Information (more)
Workload:
Coursework approx amount approx %
written homeworks %
programming ass’n %
lab assignment %
class participation %
midterm %
final exam %

6. Course Information (more)
in-class style: interaction, questions, discussions
office hour (Tuesday 1:30-3pm, Friday 11-12:30pm)
Questions, comments, … ???

7. Course Overview: Part 1: Introduction (text: Chapter 1)
What is the Internet, What is a protocol?
Network edge, network core, network access
Physical media
Delay, loss in packet-switched networks
Protocol layers, service models
Internet backbones and ISPs
A brief history of networking, Internet

8. A top-down approach: We’ll cover networking top-down
end-system applications, end-end transport
network core: routing, hooking nets together
link-level protocols, e.g., Ethernet
other stuff: security, management, multimedia

9. Course Overview: Part 2: Application Layer (text: Ch. 2)
Principles of application-layer protocols
The World Wide Web: HTTP
File transfer: FTP
Electronic mail in the Internet
The Internet's directory service: DNS
Socket programming
PROGRAMMING ASSIGNMENT 1

10. Course Overview: Part 3: Transport Layer (text Ch. 3)
Transport-layer services and principles
Multiplexing and demultiplexing applications
Connectionless transport: UDP
Principles of reliable of data transfer
TCP case study
Principles of congestion control
TCP congestion control

11. Course Overview: Part 4: Network Layer (text: Ch. 4)
Introduction and network service model
Routing principles
PROGRAMMING ASSIGNMENT 2
Hierarchical routing
IP: the Internet Protocol
Routing in the Internet
What’s inside a router?
Mobile networks

12. Course Overview: Part 5: Link Layer, LANs (text: Ch. 5)
Introduction, services
Error detection, correction
Multiple access protocols, LANs
LAN addresses, ARP
Ethernet
Hubs, bridges, switches
Wireless LANs: IEEE
PPP: the Point-to-Point protocol
ATM networks