Course overview
Introduction to networks and digital communications with a focus on Internet protocols: Application layer architectures (client/server, peer-to-peer) and protocols (HTTP-web, SMTP-mail, etc), Transport layer operation: (reliable transport, congestion and flow control, UDP, TCP); Network layer operation - (routing, addressing, IPv4 and IPv6), Data Link layer operation (error detection/correction, access control, Ethernet, 802.11), Layer 2/3 protocols (MPLS); security, selected current topics such as: multimedia protocols, quality of Service, mobility, wireless networking, emerging protocols, network management.
Course learning outcomes
- Explain the way protocols currently in use in the Internet work and the requirements for designing network protocols
- Analyse and capture network traffic
- Apply the theory of basic network performance analysisAnalyse soundness or potential flaws in proposed protocolsDescribe the current architecture of the Internet and the entities involved with the day to day running of the Internet and the process involved with development of policy and new protocolsExplain and identify security and ethical issues in computer networking
- Design and evaluate key networking algorithms in simulation