COSC 4P14
Computer Networks
Sept. - Dec. 2016


Instructor
Office Hours
Extension
Lecture Time & Place
Dave Bockus 
J324 M-F 
9:30 - 4:30
x3281

M - 12:00 to 14:00: MCA241

An introduction to Computer Networks

Advanced topics in computer networking, including computer network security, wireless and high-speed networking, computer network management and performance evaluation.

Lectures, 2 hours per week. Lab 2 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): COSC 2P13 (minimum 60 percent) or permission of the instructor.

Lecture component will focus on the theoretical components of computer networks. Lectures will be composed of 2 hr sessions which will cover topics including data communications, waveform analysis, fundamental networking components and packet routing technologies.

The practical component will expose students to data communications analysis techniques. These will include but are not limited to programming, packet sniffing, router table analysis, security, encryption and other topics as concerning computer networks and data communications.

Text Book
   
The below text is widely available as a pdf. It will be up to the student to obtain a copy.

    Data and Computer Communications – Tenth Edition, William Stallings.   
 
MARKING SCHEME:
  1. Quiz (4 x 8%, held in Lab) (See Note 1)
  2. Assignments and Readings (32%, expect 4 to 6, mini assignments) (See Note 2)
  3. Practical Lab (36%) (See Note 3)
Notes:
  1. Quizzes will be no more the 20min in length and will serve as a refresher for the previous week(s) lecture and assignment material. Quiz material may be taken from lectures or the assigned readings.

  2. Mini assignments will follow assigned captures to be read from the text or other sources. It is expected that students complete the readings and the accompanying questions, as assigned from the end of the chapters.

  3. Students will be given access to modern PC (Dell Optiplex 990). These will be networked within the lab and given internet access via a local router. Students will be expected to use these machines to perform the lab exercises. Practical marks will be assigned when exercises are completed. Not all labs will be using the network, but many will. Students with laptops are encouraged to bring them, they should be able to interface with the J327 LAN (hard wired no wireless for now).

  4. The purpose of this course is to impart skills requisite to computer networking. It is therefore imperative that all students attend labs and complete the work as required. Assessment is largely based on the instructors subjective view on student participation.

  5. It is strongly suggested that students with a laptop, bring these to lab, to serve as a reference source (Google will be your friend).

  6. Plagiarism is frowned upon and will not be tolerated. End of chapter assignments are expected to be the work of individuals. Lab work may be collaborated on.

Course Schedule

Week
Date
Chapt.
Lecture Topic
Lab Topic
1
Sept. 12
1-2
Intro to TCP, Protocols and Sockets

2
Sept. 19
3,5
Data Transmission, Signal Encoding, You Read Ch 4
Sockets
3
Sept. 26
6
Error Detection
Quiz, More Sockets
4
Oct.3
7
Data Link Control Protocols, You Read Ch 8

5
Oct. 10

Reading Week. Turkey Day

6
Oct. 17
11
LANs, You Read Ch 9, 10
7
Oct. 24
12,13
Ethernet, Wireless LANs
Quiz
8
Oct. 31
14
IP

9
Nov. 7
15
TCP

10
Nov. 14
16
AM, Angle Modulation, Forward ECC
Quiz
11
Nov. 21
17
Wireless Transmission

12
Nov. 28
18
Wireless Networks

13
Dec. 5

TBA
Quiz
.* Subject to change
                         




Previous Page