1. Computer Network Fundamentals CNT4007C
Spring, 2014
Ye Xia
(Pronounced as “Yeh Siah”)

2. How is the course conducted?
Please follow the lecture and reading schedule on course web page
Assignments are all posted on e-learning.
Critical dates are posted on the web page.

3. Course Coverage Overview of communication networks
Focus on the Internet; but also think about other networks
Will teach networking knowledge
Pick up concepts, jargons and technologies
Special attention will be paid to engineering the network
Principles and design of the network
Protocols
Algorithms
Always consider: what are the issues and how they are solved?

4. Coverage Basic: network protocol layers Integrated or advanced topics
Application
Transport
Networking
Data Link
Integrated or advanced topics
Quality of service framework and mechanisms
Wireless networks
Peer-to-peer networks
network resource allocation
network security

5. Principles and Design
Most communication networks are giant infrastructure. A lot is at stake. Need
Careful and good design, and/or
Can be evolved
Objective: what is it used for
Limited or unlimited?
What is its architecture ?
Specify different components and what they do
How they are realized: implementation and technologies
What are the design principles: for coping with complexity
To ease designer, implementer, or user’s lives

6. Protocols and Algorithms
Algorithms: formal procedure to accomplishing some task
Protocols: governs the information exchange and collective behavior of distributed entities
For certain tasks
These are important components in networks
Each piece can also be complex
Also need some design principles

7. Network Programming Learn network programming
through project
not a focus of the lectures; but important
You can do much more yourselves.

8. Why This Course? Obvious:
Learn about the internals of the Internet
Learn about communication networks in general
Learn network programming
Related to other core areas of CS: (distributed) operating systems
For some: continue with advanced network courses
Less obvious: Learn about distributed, complex systems
Typical issues, solutions, design and architecture
Coping with complexity and scale

9. Textbook Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach, 6th Edition
by James F. Kurose & Keith W. Ross
Important to have access to the 6th edition
Homework questions and labs are from the textbook

10. Course home page: http://www.cise.ufl.edu/~yx1 You will find
Lecture slides
Project assignments; due dates
Contact information
Announcements
Please check it frequently
Check grades on e-learning (Sakai)
Go to and log in with your gatorlink account
Distribute assignments and solutions

11. Assignments, lecture notes and other handouts will NOT be distributed in class.
Please get them from the course web site!

12. Requirements Homework assignments (6) – 10%
One programming project (25%)
Exams: each two hours long
Midterm – 30% (Feb 27, in class)
Final – 35% (April 28, 3-5 pm)

13. Homework Due date will be posted when each homework is assigned
Submit homework in hard copy in class
Some homework contains a lab part;
only the lab part will be submitted through Sakai

14. Homework: Important Note
Each exam will have at least 10% (maybe 20%) of the points coming directly from the homework questions.
This is in addition to the homework’s 10% direct contribution to your course grade.
Check homework solutions carefully for correctness.

15. Project One programming project Details will be posted later
on network programming, spread out
There is a mid-semester checkpoint
Final due date: April 23
Team project: 3 persons per team
Java programming; C/C++ are also alright
Details will be posted later

16. Late Policies
Late homework will face 30% additional deduction before the solutions are posted (in one week).
After that, no points may be earned on the homework.
No late project please.

17. Office Hours Instructor: Fridays: 1:00 – 3:00 pm, or by appointment
TA: see web page later

18. Others Class participation: Please show up in classes
Academic honesty: no copying of anything!