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TCOM-5213: Network Design and Management

This is a graduate course in network design and management that focuses more on actual systems. We will review some general topics in class. But we will spend more time going in-depth into socket programming using Python (one of the three official languages in Google Inc., the other two are C/C++ and Java) and if time permits, potential research topics (network coding, MANet, ZigBee, etc.).

The major part of this course is "activities". The quizzes are easy but also weight little to your overall grade. Besides regular homework assignment, you will be asked to do a course project, paper reports, and presentation(s). The main goal of this course is to learn, enjoy, and have fun. Please don't worry too much about grade. If you find yourself having fun, most likely you are doing well in terms of grade too.

Topics planned to be covered (subject to change):

• Network models: OSI and TCP/IP
• Physical layer: common transmission media, line coding
• Data link layer: error detection and correction, data link protocols
• Statistical multiplexing: queueing models and analysis
• MAC layer: ALOHA, Slotted ALOHA, CSMA
• Network layer: routing algorithms, congestion control, QoS
• Transport layer: TCP and UDP

Textbooks

• Computer Networks: Fundamental Concepts and Key Architectures by A. Leon-Garcia and I. Widjaja
• Foundations of Python Network Programming by John Goerzen

• Data Networks by D. Bertsekas and R. Gallager
• Computer Networks by A.S. Tanenbaum
• Data and Computer Commmunications by W. Stallings
• Network Coding Theory by Raymond Yeung, Robert Li, Ning Cai, and Zhen Zhang
• 802.11 tutorial
• Understanding TCP/IP

Project

Please note that project amount to 30% of your overall grade and I take it very seriously (summarizing a paper is not enough and definitely gives you a low grade). Group project is encouraged with maximum two per team.

Grading is based roughly on the actual quality of the work, i.e., originality, amount of work actually involved, relevancy to the subject, difficulty in conducting the work, etc.(20%), and the quality of the report, i.e., organization, readablility, style, etc.(10%). Some project suggestions are given here.

Paper Reports

You will need to submit two paper reports. The report is limited to one page in length. It should contain a summary of the key points of the paper (in your own words!) and a throughful critique, which may address, for instance, applicability, significance, and assumptions. You can select arbitrary two out of this list. I'll continue to add more papers into the list. You can also suggest a paper that you are intersted. But I will have to take a look of the paper first before granting a permission. So please don't suggest anything a day or two before the deadline. A week ahead is the minimum. The first report is due on Feb 29 and the second one on April 18.

Grading

• Homework: 20%
• Quiz 1: 10%
• Quiz 2: 10%
• In class presentation: 10%
• Paper reports: 10%
• Final project: 30%

Late Policy

Late assignment is generally subjected to 10% penalty per day.

Useful Links

• Courses from elsewhere
  • Course material of a computer networks course from MIT OpenCourseWare
  • An MIT course on data communication networks
  • A Harvard course on wireless communications and sensor networks
  • Prof. Shiv Kalyanaraman's Online Audio and Video Lectures on Computer Networking

• Python materials
  • Tutorial on network programming with Python
  • Socket programming in Python
  • Dive into Python
• Simulators
  • ns-2 simulator website
  • ns-2 simulator tutorial
  • OPNET tutorial from IIT Bombay
• Testbeds
  • DETER: Cyber defense technology experimental research network
  • Emulab
  • ORBIT: a research testbed for wireless networks
  • PlaneLab: a global research network supporting the development of new network services
  • WAIL: a network testbed at the University of Wisconsin
  • PREDICT
  • HPWREN: wireless research and education network
• Resource website of Stallings' textbook
• Wireshark
• COPE
• EmStar
• 3GPP

Course Calendar

Presentation Calendar