College of Saint
Benedict-Saint John's University
Instructor:
Jim
Schnepf
Office:
Phone:
3073
Office Hours:
9:30-11:00 => days 1, 3, 5 or by appointment
Homepage: www.users.csbsju.edu/~jschnepf
TEXTS:
Peterson and Davie:
Computer Networks, A Systems Approach (4th
edition)
Course
Overview: Networks have
become pervasive in businesses and the World Wide Web has popularized the
Internet beyond anyone's expectation. Although many have become fascinated
with the topic, few understand the mechanisms that allow networks to work.
This course provides a broad overview of the concepts and applications of data
communications and networking. Our objective is to understand the
principles of data communication, design approaches for applying those
principles and the standards that have evolved regarding the designs. To
help in the understanding of the concepts, we will have the opportunity to
explore how some of these concepts can be applied in a lab set up for this
class.
Assignments:
In addition to written exercises, there will be a series of lab exercises.
These exercises are to be done at a time of the student's choosing and can be
done individually or in groups. The exercises will utilize equipment that has
been set up expressly for this class in room 204 of the Science Hall.
There is limited equipment and time for the lab exercises. I will put up a
reservation sheet for equipment and it is up to the student to assure that the
equipment is available. Students should plan on doing the exercises
early. Lack of access will not be accepted as an excuse for incomplete
assignments. Assignments handed in after the due date will be docked for
being late. No assignments will be accepted more than one cycle after they are
due.
Course
Objectives: On successful
completion of this course students should be able to:
·Describe the
fundamental issues that must be resolved in network
communications
·Define the
functionality necessary to provide a communications link between two
computers
·Understand why
and how layers are applied in the architecture and design of network
protocols
·Analyze a
particular protocol stack and describe how the stack resolves the fundamental
issues of networking
·Explain how
the TCP/IP protocol stack addresses the fundamental issues of network
communications
Evaluation: During
the semester, there will be a total of 500 points available. These will be
approximately as follows:
Written
Assignments
75
Quizzes
75
Lab
Assignments 100
In-class exams
(two)
150
Final
Exam 100
Total
500
Your grade is
determined by the amount of points that you earn.
Points
Grade
450+
A
435-450
AB
400-434
B
385-399
BC
350-384
C
335-349
CD
300-334
D
299-
F
Anyone who has
accumulated 370 points prior to the final may skip the final and still receive
an A.
Tentative Class
Schedule (subject to change):
|
Cycle
|
Topic
|
|
1 |
Motivation/Basic
Requirements and Definitions |
|
2 |
Transmission
Media and Direct Link Networks |
|
3 |
LAN
Technologies |
|
4 |
Packet
Switching |
|
5 |
Internetworking
- Routing |
|
6 |
Label
Switching |
|
7 |
End-to-End
Protocols -TCP/UDP |
|
8 |
Congestion
Control and Resource Allocation |
|
9 |
Data
Compression |
|
10 |
Security/Encryption |
|
11 |
Applications |
|
Thurs,
May 8th 8:00 |
Final
Exam |