CS3953 (Fall 2023): Computer Networks

Course Description:

This course will introduce students to the key concepts underlying wired and wireless networking with a focus on the discussion of the layered architecture of the network protocol. A variety of case studies will be drawn from the Internet, combined with several practical programming exercises. At the end of the semester, students are expected to understand, several concepts, including the Internet architecture, HTTP, DNS, P2P, Sockets, TCP/IP, BGP, Routing protocols, wireless and sensor networking, WiFi, cellular and satellite networks, security, etc., with the ability to analyze and design protocols and algorithms in networking systems.

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Lecture Time: Monday, 8:00-10:45 (Week 1-16)

Location: 东中院2-301

Schedule Change: The courses on Nov. 13, 2023 have been rescheduled to Nov. 8, 2023 from 14:00 to 16:45.

Instructor: Haiming Jin (jinhaiming@sjtu.edu.cn)

Office Hours: Wednesday, 6:00-7:00 PM, at Software Building No. 1, Room 1108-2.

Course TA:

• Beichen Yu (polarisybc@sjtu.edu.cn)
• Rong Ding (dingrong@sjtu.edu.cn)
• Office Hours: Wednesday, 4:00-6:00 PM, at Software Building No. 1, Room 1119.

Primary References:

• Jim Kurose and Keith Ross, "Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach", Pearson. (6th/7th/8th Edition)
• “计算机网络：自顶向下方法”，机械工业出版社，译者：陈鸣。(原书第6/7/8版）

Other References:

• Andrew S. Tanenbaum, “Computer Networks”, Prentice Hall.
• Larry L. Peterson and Bruce S. Davie, “Computer Networks: A Systems Approach”, Morgan Kaufmann.
• Douglas E. Comer, “Computer Networks and Internets”, Prentice Hall.
• William Stallings, “Data and Computer Communication”, Prentice Hall.

Final Exam:

• Time: 10:30-12:30 AM, January 4, 2024.
• Location: 上院309.
• Requirements: Closed book with one-page (front and back) cheat sheet in A4 paper. Your answers could be either in Chinese or English.
• Office Hour: January 3, 2:00-4:00 PM, at Software Building No. 1, Room 1108-2.
• TA Office Hour: TAs will hold regular TA office hours in week 16 and 17. TAs only answers questions about homeworks.
• Candidate Topics: topics.
• Question formats: The final exam has 25 multiple-choice questions with each of them worth 2 points. There may be more than one correct choice for each question. Please select all choices that apply. You will only get the score, if you select exactly the correct choices. Apart from the multiple-choice questions, the final exam has 7 calculation questions, which only involve minor calculation load.
• Review guidlines: Please pay attention to our slides and homework questions.

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Grading (tentative):

• Homework and quizzes: 40%.
• Lab assignments: 30%.
• Final exam: 30% (The final exam covers all materials taught over the semester).

In this semester, we will have a series of homeworks, which will help you better understand the concepts and protocols discussed during the lectures.

Instructions:

• You are expected to carry out the homeworks by yourself.
• For each homework, you are expected to submit a pdf file containing your answers to all questions via Canvas.
• Your answer file should be written in English, otherwise it will not be graded.
• Your answer file should be named as "StudentName_StudentID_HomeworkIndex.pdf". For example, HaimingJin_5080309195_Homework1.pdf for Homework 1.

Assignments:

• Homework 1: Questions, Solutions. (Due: 10/08/2023, 11:59 PM).
• Homework 2: Questions, Solutions. (Due: 10/27/2023, 11:59 PM).
• Homework 3: Questions, Solutions. (Due: 11/18/2023, 11:59 PM).
• Homework 4: Questions, Solutions. (Due: 12/10/2023, 11:59 PM).
• Homework 5: Questions, Solutions. (Due: 12/21/2023, 11:59 PM).
• Homework 6: Questions, Solutions. (Due: n/a).

In this semester, you are expected to carry out several lab assignments to obtain hands-on experience on computer networks. Specifically, the labs will offer you the opportunity to getting familiar with Wireshark, Mininet, socket programming, NFS, gRPC, etc.

Instructions:

• You are expected to carry out the labs by yourself.
• You will not need to go to an actual lab room for the labs, as they could be finished using your own PCs.
• For each lab, you are expected to submit a report and the corresponding code via Canvas.
• Your report should be a pdf file written in English, otherwise it will not be graded.
• Your report should be named as "StudentName_StudentID_LabIndex.pdf". For example, HaimingJin_5080309195_Lab1.pdf for Lab 1. If there are multiple files (e.g., report and code) to be submitted for the same lab, please put all your files in a .zip file named as "StudentName_StudentID_LabIndex.zip".
• Each lab assignment normally contains a tutorial and several questions. The tutorial will instruct you to set up the basic environment and install the tools necessary for the lab. In your report for each lab, you are expected to provide answers to all questions by using the installed tools or writing additional codes as required.

Assignments:

• Lab 1: Set up Environment and Test Basic Softwares
• Tutorial, Questions. (Due: 10/01/2023, 11:59 PM).

• Lab 2: Play with Mininet
• Tutorial, Questions. (Due: 11/10/2023, 11:59 PM).

• Lab 3: Socket Programming
• Tutorial, Questions. (Due: 12/07/2023, 11:59 PM).

• Lab 4: Overlay Network and VXLAN
• Tutorial, Questions. (Due: 12/31/2023, 11:59 PM).