A. Helmy's picture NOMADS group logo

Ahmed Helmy
Associate Professor
Computer & Information Science & Engineering (CISE) Department
Founder and Director: Mobile Networking Laboratory (NOMADS group)
College of Engineering, University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611
email: helmy at ufl.edu

CNT 4007C Computer Networks Fundamentals: Fall 2011 (Announcements) - (Instructor's Website) - (Course/Faculty Evaluations)

Syllabus

Lecture Notes & Slides

  1. Chapter 1 on Overview and Introduction to the Internet (2nd draft) [Posted Aug 30, 11] (1st draft [Aug 23, 11]).
  2. Chapter 2 Application layer and protocols (posted Sept 5, updated Sept 6) Chapter 2 Application layer and protocols (updated Sept 15, changes: conditional web caches, p2p networks)
  3. Chapter 3 Transport Layer [Posted Sept 26]. A couple of slides on TCP RTT Estimates (pdf).
  4. Chapter 5 on Link/MAC Layer. [Posted Oct 18]
  5. Chapter 6 (Wireless and Mobile Networks). [Posted Nov 10]
  6. Chapter 4 (Network Layer and Routing). [Posted Nov 21]

Homeworks & Programming Assignments

  1. Programming Assignments (and related material):
  2. Midterm Exam: Example Solution (pdf).

Extras: Demos & Reading Material

  1. Videos to show some basic behavior of TCP window mechanism:
    • - Basic window mechanisms (e.g., selective repeat) here.
    • - Slow Start (exponential increase) then congestion avoidance (linear increase) here.
    • - Change of TCP (cwin, ssthresh) parameters here.
  2. Video to show interaction of TCP with routing dynamics: here.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. For those interested in research, a small (potentially helpful) note: How to start research? (A personal note for networking students)

Announcements

  1. [Dec 12, '11] To re-iterate: the final exam will focus on the 2nd half of the semester; mainly chapters 4, 5 and 6; including (but not limited to) link layer and MAC protocols, CSMA/CD, utilization, wireless, mobile networking (mobile IP and variants), multiple access techniques (including CDMA), and network layer [unicast routing, multicast routing, forwarding, switching, Internet addressing, prefixing/CIDR, network address translation]. The exam will be close book and close notes with format similar to the midterm. Please arrive at the exam room (Rinker Hall 110) at 7:30am sharp. The time of the exam is 1hr and 40mins.
  2. [Dec 12, '11] The final exam will be held at Rinker 110 (RNK 0110) from 7:30-9:30am on Wed. Dec 14th. For building location please use the ufl campus map at http://campusmap.ufl.edu/ . Good luck to all!
  3. [Dec 6, '11] It is important to attend the last lecture since we are going to finish the Network Layer chapter and conduct a summary/revision in the last part of class. Also, we will take time to do the evaluations for class [evaluations.ufl.edu]. We will also talk about the final exam. I will hand back hwk 3.
  4. [Dec 5, '11] Grades for hwk 3 are available on sakai.
  5. [Nov 29, '11] The course evaluations are available on-line at https://evaluations.ufl.edu. Please fill in your evaluation form for the course and instructor before Dec. 7th. Currently only 2 students have submitted the evaluations. Thanks !
  6. [Nov 29, '11] The final exam will be conducted according to the announced schedule of exams and the syllabus [Dec 14th, 7:30-9:30am], and will focus on the 2nd half of the semester Chapters 4, 5 and 6 (Data-link/MAC, Wireless, Mobile and Network Layer). Please send me preferences for the format (which will be announced later based on your feedback).
  7. [Nov 28, '11] Homework 4 (on Network Layer and routing) is assigned and is due Dec 8th (latest) in the TAs office. You can submit it earlier if you're done with it. It contains extra point questions.
  8. [Nov 10, '11] Lecture slides for Wireless and Mobile Networks (Chapter 6) posted on-line.
  9. [Nov 9, '11] The 3rd homework is on-line under the homeworks section. It covers the data link layer and wireless networks. It is due Nov. 22nd.
  10. [Nov 3, '11] The 2nd programming assignment is available under the homework section, and also available through Sakai. It is due Nov. 29th, but has several parts, so please start early.
  11. [Nov 2, '11] An example of midterm solution is posted under the homework section.
  12. [Oct 28, '11] I welcome feedback from all the students regarding class, homeworks, exams, etc. Especially those of you who got less than they expected in the midterm (particularly those receiving 70 or less) should see me during office hours when I'm available and/or send me email identifying the difficulties they face in class.
  13. [Oct 28, '11] The midterm grades are out and available through Sakai (e-learning at UF). Here are some statistics; 36 registered students took the exam, the average is 80.26, median is 81, max is 106.5, min is 48, standard deviation is 13.7. Four students scored higher than 100. Click here for midterm grade distribution. The midterm exams will be available with the TA next week and you can collect them and discuss your grade during TA or instructor office hours.
  14. [Oct 28, '11] I will be out next week chairing the ACM MSWiM conference. The TA (Udayan) will be conducting the lectures to walk you through the 2nd programming assignment. He and some of my PhD students will also demonstrate some related research projects from the mobile networking lab (using smartphone capabilities of sensing, communication, computation and storage, Android O/S and robots!).
  15. [Oct 28, '11] The grades for hwk1 and the 1st programming assignment are available through Sakai. Hwk2 grades will be available shortly.
  16. [Oct 22, '11] The midterm will be on Oct 25th. The midterm will cover chapters 1 (introduction and architecture of the Internet), 2 (application layer), 3 (transport layer) and the topics related to these chapters discussed in class and in homeworks 1 and 2.
  17. [Oct 22, '11] The midterm will be closed book, closed notes. The formula page will be part of your midterm exam (will be provided to you during the exam) [please see the previous announcement item]. You can bring in a simple calculator. Please bring your UF Gator ID card and put it next to you during the exam. The exam will be in-class, same time, same place as the lecture on Tuesday. Exam time will be 1hr and 30min. Please arrive around 8:30 for seating, etc. The exam shall start at 8:45am. Good luck and let your efforts show!
  18. [Oct 21, '11] The last page of your midterm exam is available here (formulae sheet).
  19. [Oct 20, '11] Note regarding expectation from class: I noticed from the in-class feedback that some students expect to get much more 'hands-on' experience. We are doing our best to provide you with as much of that as possible without defocusing the course. Examples include the programming assignments, use of wireshark, traceroute, ping, DNS queries, integration of security and network attack scenarios, etc. The main expectation of the students, however, should be to get the 'fundamental principles of computer networking' according to the title of the course and the description in the syllabus. One should not look at this course as a programming nor a network admin course (although such aspects are important and we'll try to addres them, with your suggestions, as much as possible, but principles are far more important and valuable in the long run).
  20. [Oct 20, '11] Regarding attendance in class: I've noticed that some students do not attend regularly and listen to the lectures and discussions in class. Many students, however, have an excellent attendance record and their participation in class has been a joy ! Although attendance is not stricly taken in class, and is not required for every lecture, it is certainly expected that every student will do their best to attend class and participate in disussions. It is extremely important for students to attend and take notes. Also, please make use of office hours for the Prof. and the TA.
  21. [Oct 20, '11] Homework 2 solution is on-line.
  22. [Oct 20, '11] The graded hwk 1 is in the Prof.s office. Please pass by to pick it up if you want during office hours, or anytime the Prof. is in the office (send email if you're not sure).
  23. [Oct 18, '11] Notes on homework: - Please check that the questions you are answering are actually those that correspond to the 5th edition of the required book for class. - Please type your homework on the compuer and print it out. It makes it much clearer (than handwriting) and easier/fairer to grade.
  24. [Oct 11, '11] The midterm will be on Oct 25th. The midterm will cover chapters 1 (introduction and architecture of the Internet), 2 (application layer), 3 (transport layer) and the topics related to these chapters discussed in class and in homeworks 1 and 2.
  25. [Oct 9, '11] Programming assignment due date is Oct 11th (Tues.). Please follow the submission instructions and ask Udayan (the TA) for details.
  26. [Oct 9, '11] Office hours on Tues will move to a new time 12:00pm-1:00pm in CSE426. The regular hours (10:30-11:30) will not work since I'll be at a Ph.D. exam. Please feel free to also send me email if you have any questions.
  27. [Sept 21, '11] The TA, Udayan Kumar, has information about the programming assignments. Please contact him by email for more information to get a head start on it. I shall update the website when I'm back from travel.
  28. [Sept 21, '11] Following is the link to the prog. assignment: click here.
  29. [Sept 20, '11] Homework 1 is posted here.
  30. [Sept 9, '11] I will be on travel to attend, chair and give talks at a conf [ACM MobiCom, CHANTS] during the week of Sept 19. On that week I will not be able to hold face-to-face office hours (although I'll try to answer emails in a timely fashion), and will arrange with the TA and my other senior PhD students to go in details of assignments, programming and demos during the lecture time.
  31. [Aug 29, '11] Office hours for the TA (Udayan Kumar): Tues and Thursday 7th period (1:55pm-2:45pm) in E309 (TA room), email: ukumar@cise.ufl.edu
  32. [Aug 29, '11] Office hours for Prof. Helmy on 8/30/11 has moved to 8/31/11. So no office hours on Tuesday this week, but two hours of office hours on Wed. 10am-12pm. If you need to see me in other times please send email.
  33. [Aug 22, '11] Office hours for Prof. Helmy: 10:30am-11:30am Tuesdays and Wednesdays, email: helmy@ufl.edu
    [Please note for office hour change due to travel. Announcements will be made on the class website in case of change. If you cannot make it during this time send me email to schedule an appointment.]

Office Hours