Computer Networking I

CS 3251 Section A Spring 2000

Last Modified Sun Apr 23 15:47:20 EDT 200
Report problems to b.mckinnon@ieee.org

General Information

CS3251: Computer Networking I

3-0-3. Prerequisites: CS2200 (or equivalent)

Course Objective:
Introduction to problems in computer networking, including error recovery, medium access, routing, flow control, and transport. Emphasis on current best practice. Includes programming of networked applications.

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Instructor: Dr. Bill McKinnon

• Office: 4007 GCATT (250 14th St.)
• Phone: (404) 386-1703
• Email: b.mckinnon@ieee.org
• Office Hours: Generally open (from 9am until later than I would like to admit), but appointments are strongly recommended (I won't be held responsible if I am working somewhere else when you "drop by")

• Hao Wang (wanghao@cc.gatech.edu) - Office Hours: MW 3p-4.30p @ CCB Commons Area
• Dun Liu (ld@cc.gatech.edu) - Office Hours: TTh 230p-4p @ CCB Commons Area

Textbooks

Recommended:
[Stallings] Data and Computer Communications, 5th ed. by Stallings, Prentice-Hall, 1997
[Stallings2] High-Speed Networks: TCP/IP and ATM Design Principles by Stallings, Prentice Hall, 1998
[Ammar] Fundamentals of Telecommunication Networks by Saadavi and Ammar with El-Hakeem, John Wiley, 1994
[Bertsekas] Data Networks, 2nd ed. by Bertsekas & Gallager, Prentice Hall, 1992
[Spragins] Telecommunications: Protocols and Design by Spragins, Hammond, and Pawlikowski, Addison-Wesley, 1991
[Tanenbaum] Computer Networks, 2nd ed. by Tanenbaum, Prentice Hall, 1989
[Schwartz] Telecommunication Networks: Protocols, Modeling, and Analysis by Schwartz, Addison-Wesley, 1987
[Hammond] Performance Analysis of Local Computer Networks by Hammond and O'Reilly, Addison-Wesley, 1986

Software Sites of Interest
Ghostview
Netlib
STL (Software Template Library)
Walnut Creek Software (FTP)
Numerical Recipes Online
Gnuplot
Meschach
TNT by Roldan Pozo
MetaLab @ UNC, Chapel Hill
GNU Software Repository @ MIT

More information may be added as the course progresses.

Grade Division & Course Overview

This course is intended to provide an introduction to issues involved in making a contemporary computer network operate correctly.  Specific issues which will be discussed include error control, medium access, routing, flow control, addressing, and transport.  Emphasis in the course will, as much as possible, include techniques for implementations currently in practice.  Notice that the course will require a significant amount of implementation (i.e., programming), some of which will involve interacting programs on different machines.

Class attendance is not mandatory.  I do not care where you spend your time, as long as you get your work done.  However, in the same breath, notice that I am not tolerant of missed deadlines.  Prior notification of interviews, etc. and immediate notification of emergency situations will be mandatory for rescheduled events.

Examinations and assignments are due promptly at the dates and times noted; any assignments turned in within 10 minutes of the due time will have 20% of their grade deducted for being late.  No exams will be accepted after time is called and no assignments will be accepted after 10 minutes of the due time.  Finally, exam grades are non-negotiable (i.e., "binding") at 5pm on the days indicated in the syllabus below (i.e., one week after they are returned).

Assignments will be distributed via hyperlinks shown in the syllabus (below).  These links will be activated on the days listed in the syllabus.  It is the student's responsibility to (individually) download the assignment, print it, solve the problems, and turn in the assignments per given instructions.  Students should have access to the departmental clusters by Mon 17 Jan 2000.  Assignments are to be solved without any personal assistance from other individuals; software should be developed individually or downloaded from public domain sources and compiled by the student.  You are encouraged to use the course newsgroup (a link to which is located above) to ask and answer questions of each other about "C" (the implementation language for the course) and general questions (for example, "how do I compile with library 'X'?" or "what does error message 'Y' mean?"). The newsgroups will be monitored by the TAs and they will participate in answering posted questions and posting clarifications to assignments.  An honor code will be attached to each assignment and examination.  Academic dishonesty will be dealt with harshly by the instructor.

Finally, grades are non-negotiable (i.e., "binding") at 5pm one week after they are returned.

Syllabus