CS 425: Computer Networks

Units: 3-0-0-9

Pre-requisites: ESC101, CS210.

Course Contents:

1. Introduction, history and development of computer networks, networks topologies. Layering and protocols.
2. Physical Layer: Different types of transmission media, errors in transmission: attenuation, noise. Repeaters. Encoding (NRZ, NRZI, Manchester, 4B/5B, etc.).
3. MAC Layer: Aloha, CSMA, CSMA/CD, CSMA/CA protocols. Examples: Ethernet, including Gigabit Ethernet and WiFi (802.11). Time permitting, a quick exposure to Token Ring and to Bluetooth, WiMax may also be included.
4. Data Link Layer: Error detection (Parity, CRC), Sliding Window, Stop and Wait protocols.
5. LAN: Design, specifications of popular technologies, switching. A student should be able to design LAN of a campus or a building.
6. Network layer: Internet Protocol, IPv6, ARP, DHCP, ICMP, Routing algorithms: Distance vector, Link state, Metrics, Inter-domain routing. Subnetting, Classless addressing, Network Address Translation.
7. Transport layer: UDP, TCP. Connection establishemnt and termination, sliding window revisited, flow and congestion control, timers, retransmission, TCP extensions, etc.
8. Design issues in protocols at different layers.
9. Network Programming: Socket Programming.
10. Session, Presentation, and Application Layers. Examples: DNS, SMTP, IMAP, HTTP, etc.
11. Network Security: Conepts of symmetric and asymmetric key cryptography. Sharing of symmetric keys - Diffie Hellman. Public Key Infrastructure. Public Key Authentication Protocols. Symmetric Key Authentication Protocols. Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), IPSec, Firewalls.

Books and References:

1. AS Tanenbaum, DJ Wetherall, Computer Networks, 5th Ed., Prentice-Hall, 2010.
2. LL Peterson, BS Davie, Computer Networks: A Systems Approach, 5th Ed., Morgan-Kauffman, 2011.
3. JF Kurose, KW Ross, Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach, 5th Ed., Addison-Wesley, 2009.
4. W Stallings, Cryptography and Network Security, Principles and Practice, 5th Ed., Prentice-Hall, 2010