CNT 5106 C Computer Networks: Summer 2010

• Course Description and Syllabus (to be updated slightly) [5 hwks, midterm exam, final exam, no required projects (maybe optional depending on the registered students)]
• Lecture Notes/Slides:
  • Chapter 1 on Overview and Introduction to the Internet.
  • Chapter 2 Application layer and protocols.
  • Chapter 3 Transport layer and protocols .
  • Chapter 5 Data Link Layer and MAC protocols.
  • Chapter 6 Wireless and Mobile Networking (plus TCP over ATM).
  • Chapter 4 Network Layer Intro
  • Multicast Routing (I)
  • Multicast Routing (II): Protocols, Mbone and Deployment issues
  [Note: lecture drafts maybe updated slightly later. Updates will be announced in time.]
• Homeworks:
  • -
• Some pointers to find demo and reading material:
  • The website for the required book by Jim Kurose and Keith Ross can be accessed here, then click on student resources.
  • Particularly interesting are the applets on the above website, as you can experiment with various parameters (of delay, distance, etc.) and observe the network performance and behavior.
  • Experiment with the following applets from the book's website at this link. Especially the 802.11 CSMA/CA basic applet and the 802.11 CSMA/CA with hidden terminal.
  • Play the animation for the wireless access protocols through the network animator (nam) [see above to install/run nam].
  • Videos to show some basic behavior of TCP window mechanism:
    1. Basic window mechanisms (e.g., selective repeat) here.
    2. Slow Start (exponential increase) then congestion avoidance (linear increase) here.
    3. Change of TCP (cwin, ssthresh) parameters here.
  • Video to show interaction of TCP with routing dynamics: here.
  • The network animator (nam) [.exe, bin for windows XP], can be used with the following scripts: selective repeat (or TCP without slow start), Self Clocking, TCP with Slow Start, TCP with slow start (scenario 2), TCP with fast retransmit mechanism, TCP with routing dynamics.
  • Light reading on elementary queuing theory: Basics, M/M/1 model.
  • Snap shots of Google Earth files obtained using Wififofum and other wireless signal measurements around Gainesville (pic 1, pic 2).
    animation of clustered behavioral profiles in mobile networks (video)
  • Some resources for multicast, specifically the Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM). Recommended initial readings: From the PIM-SM Spec sections 1 & 2, and the Bootstrap mechanism for dynamic Rendezvous Point (RP) election sections I, II and IV A. Once you are done with the initial reading, if interested, you can read the rest of the documents and also the PIM architecture paper, before others.
• For those interested in research, a small (potentially helpful) note: How to start research? (A personal note for networking students)
• Announcements:
  • The final exam is on Aug 6th (Friday) 10am-12 in Room 118 CSE building, covering the 2nd half of the semester (MAC layer, wireless networking and multicast). It will be 1hr 45mins long, closed book/notes, you are allowed to have a simple calculator, and there will be a page of formulas at the end of the exam paper. Please bring your ID. For remote students the final should be submitted by Aug 6th in order to get the final grades before the grading deadline. Good luck !
  • The midterm grades are on-line (through e-learning) the average is around 56. The distribution of the percentages is the same as in the syllabus, but because we did not have projects then the total will be out of 90 (instead of 100).
  • Homework 5 is on-line and is due Aug 3rd. Note that this deadline is a very hard deadline and no extensions will be granted so please start early on it. I plan to post the solutions for that homework first thing Aug 4th so students can prepare for the final and use it in their studies. Once the solutions are posted no homework will be accepted at all. Homework 5 is on multicast.
  • Homework 3 and 4 are on-line. They are combined in one big homework (3&4) worth 2 homework grades. It is due on Jul 21st.
  • For local students who plan to come to the mid term in person here's the midterm information: Time 12:00-2:00pm, CSE building room 118, Fri June 25th. Actual exam time is 1hr:30min. Good luck!
  • The midterm will cover the first 3 chapters: Introduction and Internet architecture, application layer, transport layer/congestion control. The material covered by hwks 1 & 2 should be part of your midterm preparation. The midterm will be closed books/notes. Formulas needed for the exam are given below and will be part of your exam paper. So no need to bring anything except a pen, simple calculator and your ID.
  • Homework 2 solutions are on-line.
  • The last page of the midterm (containing the formulas) is accessible here (.doc) (.pdf). Please get familiar with it to be comfortable using these formulas if you need to.
  • For remote students: (those who need to make proctoring arrangements for exams) please email the TA (Yibin Wang, yibwang@cise.ufl.edu) with your proctoring arrangements and dates, so we can coordinate with Edge re. collecting and grading the exams.
  • Homework 2 is on-line on Congestion control and transport layer. It is due on the 23rd. Solutions will be posted before the midterm so you can review them before the exam. I would recommend to start on it right away as it will take time. Good luck!
  • Homework 1 solution is on-line. Please review as it will help you prepare for the midterm.
  • Homework 1 is on-line and is due June 11th. Please check under the homework section. Please start as soon as possible on this hwk as there will be more coming soon and they may overlap.
  • I got a lot of questions about the exam timings. The midterm is planned for Fri June 25th and will cover the first half of the semester (the first 2 hwks). The final is planned for Fri Aug 6 (last day of classes) and covers the 2nd half of the semester (the last 3 hwks).
  • The lecture notes are now accessible through the links under 'Lecture Notes/Slides'. Regular office hrs for the Prof. and TA have been posted below. Pls note that you need to check these announcements for changes.

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  Office Hours: For the TA (Yibin Wang [email: yibwang@cise.ufl.edu]) office hrs are 2:00-4:00pm on Wednesdays or by appointment. TA ofc hrs will be conducted in the E401 (lab). For the Prof. (Ahmed Helmy [email: helmy@ufl.edu]) office hrs are 10:00am-12:00 on Mondays or by appointment. Note that due to travel schedules and other committments in summer the office hrs (esp. for Prof.) may change. If a change occurs an annoucement will be posted on the website. Pls make sure you frequently check the webpage for updates. If you need to see me in-person please email me to arrange a meeting.
  

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