CPSC 5157 – Computer Networks

This course description covers three distinct offerings of the course:
      CRN 50543        CPSC 5157 U          The undergraduate offering of the course
      CRN 50544        CPSC 5157 G          The graduate in–class offering of the course
      CRN 50545        CPSC 5157 G          The graduate on–line offering.

Instructor

            Dr. Edward L. Bosworth

            Center for Commerce and Technology 443

            (706) 565-4128

            e-mail: bosworth_edward@colstate.edu
            website: http://csc.colstate.edu/bosworth/

 

Office Hours – Summer 2006

            Monday           12:30 PM – 2:00 PM and 3:45 PM – 5:15 PM
            Tuesday           12:30 PM – 2:00 PM and 3:45 PM – 5:15 PM
            Wednesday      12:30 PM – 2:00 PM and 3:45 PM – 5:15 PM
            Thursday          12:30 PM – 2:00 PM

            Friday              I am not in the office on Friday

Students taking the course via distance education (on–line education) are encouraged to send me e–mail at the address above. 

 

Class Meetings:

      Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 2:05 PM – 3:30 PM
                                                Center for Commerce and Technology, Room 406

      On–line students do not have regularly scheduled class meetings, but should check
      the course Vista web site on a regular basis.

 

Course Prerequisites

      CPSC 2108           Data Structures (with a grade of C or better)

Textbooks:
      Computer Networks and Internets with Internet Applications
      Fourth Edition
      Douglas E. Comer
      Pearson / Prentice Hall, © 2004.
      ISBN 0 – 13 – 143351 – 2

Course Catalog Description:

Local area networks, wide area networks, and internets. Protocols and the ISO Open Systems Interconnect reference model. Design, analysis, and performance evaluation. Emphasis on data link, network, and transport protocols.

 

Course Description and Objectives

This course is a broad introduction to networking concepts and emphasizes the following areas:

  • Local area networks, wide area networks, and internets.
  • Protocols and the OSI (Open Systems Interconnect) reference model.
  • Design, analysis, and performance evaluation.


The main objective of this course is to answer the basic question "how do computer networks and internets operate?" in the broadest sense.  The course will provide a comprehensive, self-contained tour through all of networking from the lowest levels of data transmission and wiring to the highest levels of application software.  At each level, we will see how the facilities and services provided by lower levels are used and extended in the next level.  For instance, after discussing how a modem uses a carrier to encode data, we will explore how packet-switching systems such as the Internet use modems to send frames.  After discussing how technologies like Ethernet transfer frames, we will examine how a protocol like TCP uses such transmission facilities to transfer data reliably.  Thus, you be able to apply network performance analysis techniques and gain understanding of switching, packet scheduling, and queue management. Ultimately, we will learn how Internet applications like the World Wide Web operate over the resulting infrastructure.

At the completion of this course, you will have an understanding of:

  • Data transmission media and technologies;
  • Packet transmission protocols and layering;
  • Principles of internetworking;
  • Network applications.

 

Student Responsibilities

      1.   Attend class regularly (if so enrolled) and participate in all web discussions.
      2.   Complete all reading assignments and all homework assignments.
      3.   Ask the instructor questions.
      4.   Send the instructor e–mail with both comments and questions.
      5.   Provide the instructor with an e–mail address that can be used for individual
            communication with the student and return of some graded materials.
      6.   All students (including face–to–face, or in–class) must use the Vista system.

Instructor Responsibilities

      1.   Give lectures on the course material.
      2.   Assign appropriate homework that illustrates the concepts of the course, and
            grade and return the homework in a timely manner with adequate explanation.
      3.   Give tests over the material, and grade and return the tests in a timely manner.    4.         Provide a website that supports the course.
      5.   Provide at least four hours of office time primarily designated for assistance of
            students in this class, at times expected to be convenient for the students.  It is
            expected that the instructor be available to the students during these hours.
      6.   Reply promptly to all student e–mail communications.

Course Reference Web Sites

The WebCT / Vista is a primary learning tool used in this course.  Please note the existence of an older system, called WebCT, that is now obsolete.  You will use Vista. You must visit WebCT Vista pages for this class on a regular basis and check your class e-mail to receive any news regarding this course. You will also use WebCT Vista to

  • Receive and submit all course assignments;
  • Take online or download and submit all tests.

WebCT Vista: http://vista.gsu.edu or http://umaint.view.usg.edu/newaccess.html

Book website: http://netbook.cs.purdue.edu

 

How to Access WebCT Vista

I. Go to the WebCT Vista website by either of the following routes:

A. Go to the CSU Homepage: www.colstate.edu

·        Select “CSU Family” from the upper left list

·        Select “WebCT Vista” icon at the bottom of the page

B. Direct route: http://vista.gsu.edu or
                                    http://umaint.view.usg.edu/newaccess.html

 

II. Log in to your WebCT Vista account. (Each student has his/her own account.)

A. Select “Log on to My WebCT Vista”

B. Enter your information following the directions carefully. The log-in system is very precise and case sensitive.

1. User Name: lastname_firstname example: bosworth_edward

(Using all lowercase, enter your last name, an underscore mark, then first name as it appears on CSU official records. No spaces.)

2. Password: default password is your birthday in the format of DDMMYY. (Example - Birthday of Oct. 25, 1978 is 251078. This password should match with your CSU e–mail password.)

C. Select the Columbus State University from the list.  Then select the class for detailed information.

 

Course Evaluation

You are responsible for all announcements made in class or electronically (WebCT Vista or e–mail). You are supposed to read your email every day.

Tests

Three tests will account for 50% of the course grade. Each test may contain:

·         multiple choice questions,

·         fill in the blank questions,

·         short answer questions. 

All tests are open book, open notes, unless indicated otherwise. There will be no make-up tests and no substitutions for missed tests. 

All tests will be available through WebCT Vista. The date for the test and the detailed information will be posted a week prior to the actual test.


 

Assignments

Assignments account for 50% of the course grade and will be posted via WebCT Vista. Unless indicated otherwise, all assignments must be submitted using WebCT Vista drop box. Late assignments are not accepted under any circumstances.

 

Final grade

Final grade will be calculated as outlined above and reflect your performance as follows: A; 90 – 100, B; 80 – 89, C; 70 – 79, D; 55 – 69, and F; below 55.

 

Course Schedule / Tentative

 

Week

Days

Topic

Reading & Assignment

1

6/8 – 6/15

Introduction, Motivation and Tools

Transmission Media
Internet Programming & Applications
Local Asynchronous Communications
Long Distance Communication

Ch. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

 

2

6/19 – 6/22

Packets, Frames, and Error Detection

LAN Technologies and Topology
Hardware Addressing and Frame Types
LAN Wiring and Extending LAN’s

Ch. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Assignment 1

3

6/26 – 6/29

Digital Technologies

WAN Technologies and Routing

Connection-Oriented NW and ATM
Network Characteristics
Protocols and Layering
First Test

Ch. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 Assignment 2

4

7/3 – 7/6

Internetworking

IP, ARP, and IP Datagrams

Ch. 17, 18, 19, 20

5

7/10 – 7/13

IP Encapsulation, ICMP, UDP

The Future IP

Ch. 21, 22, 23, 24
Assignment 3

6

7/17 – 7/20

TCP, Internet Routing and

Network Address Translation
Client–Server Interaction
Second Test

Ch. 25, 26, 27, 28
Assignment 4

7

7/24 – 7/26

The Socket Interface

The Domain Name System
Electronic Mail, File Transfer,
and the World Wide Web
Network Security

Ch. 29, 31, 32, 34,
35, and 40.

Course Assistance

Student assistants in the Computer Center can help you with basic computer-related problems (such as logging on to the network, saving your work, etc.), but they are not obligated to help you with your assignments.  We have several tutors at the Department of Computer Science who can help you with programming assignments. Their schedule is posted at the department office. You can always contact me during the posted office hours or by appointment. The best way to get in touch with me is by e-mail at
bosworth_edward@colstate.edu.

 

Academic Honesty

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, activities such as cheating and plagiarism (http://aa.colstate.edu/advising/a.htm#Academic Dishonesty/Academic Misconduct). It is a basis for disciplinary action.  Any work turned in for individual credit must be entirely the work of the student submitting the work.  All work must be your own. You may share ideas but submitting identical assignments (for example) will be considered cheating. You may discuss the material in the course and help one another with debugging; however, any work you hand in for a grade must be your own.  A simple way to avoid inadvertent plagiarism is to talk about the assignments, but don't read each other's work or write solutions together unless otherwise directed.  For your own protection, keep scratch paper and old versions of assignments to establish ownership, until after the assignment has been graded and returned to you.  If you have any questions about this, please see me immediately.  For assignments, access to notes, the course textbooks, books and other publications is allowed.  All work that is not your own, MUST be properly cited. This includes any material found on the Internet. Stealing or giving or receiving any code, diagrams, drawings, text or designs from another person (CSU or non-CSU, including the Internet) is not allowed.  Having access to another person's work on the computer system or giving access to your work to another person is not allowed.  It is your responsibility to keep your work confidential.

No cheating in any form will be tolerated. Penalties for academic dishonesty may include a zero grade on the assignment or exam/quiz, a failing grade for the course, suspension from the Computer Science program, and dismissal from the program. All instances of cheating will be documented in writing with a copy placed in the Department's files. Students will be expected to discuss the academic misconduct with the faculty member and the chairperson. For more details see the Faculty Handbook: http://aa.colstate.edu/faculty/FacHandbook0203/sec100.htm#109.14 and the Student Handbook: http://sa.colstate.edu/handbook/handbook2003.pdf

CSU ADA Statement
If you have a documented disability as described by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 933-112 Section 504) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and would like to request academic and/or physical accommodations please contact Joy Norman at the Office of Disability Services in the Center for Academic Support and Student Retention, Tucker Hall (706) 568-2330, as soon as possible.  Course requirements will not be waived but reasonable accommodations may be provided as appropriate.