Educational guide
IDENTIFYING DATA 2023_24
Subject COMPUTER NETWORKS ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT Code 00709019
Study programme
0709 - GRADO EN INGENIERÍA INFORMÁTICA
Descriptors Credit. Type Year Period
6 Compulsory Second Second
Language
Ingles
Prerequisites
Department ING.ELECTR.DE SIST. Y AUTOMATI
Coordinador
FOCES MORÁN , JOSE MARÍA
E-mail jmfocm@unileon.es
vgonc@unileon.es
Lecturers
FOCES MORÁN , JOSE MARÍA
GONZÁLEZ CASTRO , VICTOR
Web http://paloalto.unileon.es/cn
General description "What concepts and underlying technologies allow the Internet to operate correctly and efficiently?". As computer engineers, this is the basic question that we aim to respond in this course. To that end, we study the TCP/IP network architecture, which has lasted for more than thirty years and has provided "scalable connectivity" to more than 1800 million hosts spread all over the world -more than half of them are mobile hosts. This course offers a general perspective on computer networks, starting with a broad introduction to the discipline emphasizing architecture and performance. Next, we study the physical and datalink layers (TCP/IP layer 1), LAN switching, IP forwarding and routing, the global structure of Internet and, last, the TCP and UDP transport protocols.
Tribunales de Revisión
Tribunal titular
Cargo Departamento Profesor
Presidente ING.ELECTR.DE SIST. Y AUTOMATI BENAVIDES CUELLAR , MARIA DEL CARMEN
Secretario ING.ELECTR.DE SIST. Y AUTOMATI GARCIA RODRIGUEZ , ISAIAS
Vocal ING.ELECTR.DE SIST. Y AUTOMATI FERNANDEZ LOPEZ , CARLOS
Tribunal suplente
Cargo Departamento Profesor
Presidente ING.ELECTR.DE SIST. Y AUTOMATI ALONSO CASTRO , SERAFIN
Secretario ING.ELECTR.DE SIST. Y AUTOMATI FERRERO FERNANDEZ , MIGUEL
Vocal ING.ELECTR.DE SIST. Y AUTOMATI DIEZ DIEZ , ANGELA

Competencias
Code  
A18115
B5611
B5614
B5618
B5619
B5620
B5623
B5624
B5626
B5631
B5682
C1 CMECES1 That students have demonstrated possession and understanding of knowledge in an area of study that is based on general secondary education, and is usually found at a level that, although supported by advanced textbooks, also includes some aspects that involve knowledge from the cutting edge of their field of study
C5 CMECES5 That students have developed those learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy

Learning aims
Competences
Students will develop an understanding of the OSI reference model and the Internet best-effort model and how it will evolve into a fully-capable multimedia network A18115
 B5611
B5614
Students will develop an understanding of the functionality provided by the physical and link layers both, over shared and point-to-point media. Students will develop an understanding of the functions and operation of switches, bridges and hubs. A18115
 B5618
B5619
B5620
B5682
Students will develop an understanding of the structure and functions of the IP network layer, the format and purpose of the NPDU fields (IP packet), the constrast between forwarding and routing and the nature of the algorithms which constitute their basis. A18115
 C1
C5
Students will develop an understanding of the structure and functions of the transport layer, the difference between reliable and non-reliable transports as well as secure and non-secure transports, the significance of the -reliable- TCP towards promoting and keeping the network stability, and in the end, the present internet's best-effort model and its evolution to a QoS-based model. A18115
 B5620
B5623
B5624
B5626
B5631
Students will develop an understanding of the structure and functions of the session, presentation and application layers, the client/server computing model, and the seignificance of the application layer to the network management applications, frameworks and technologies. A18115
Students will develop a detailed understanding about the siginifcance of physical time in distributed systems A18115
 B5682
Students will develop the ability to design small wired and wireless VLAN-based internetworks which includes the ability to plan and implement an IPv4/v6 numbering and addressing plan, design and define the internetwork's architecture based on IP routers and simulate the network operation. A18115
 B5614
B5618
B5619
Students will develop the ability to perform a team-based design and implementation of a client/server application applying methodologies and technologies appropriate to the application layer. Students will be able to present and explain their network design to the rest of the class. A18115
 B5614
B5618
Students will develop the ability to design small wired and wireless VLAN-based internetworks which includes the ability to plan and implement an IPv4/v6 numbering and addressing plan, design and define the internetwork's architecture based on IP routers and simulate the network operation. Students will be able to make sensible decisions regarding the use of technologies such as NAT/PAT, DHCP, DMZs, etc. The internetwork will be implemented upon real equipment and the functional and performance requirements will be properly established by using real traffic traces and a network analyzer, in the end, the students will be able to devise relevant experiments with the intention of adapting the design after the aforementioned feedback has been retrieved. A18115
 B5611
B5614
B5618
B5619
B5620
B5682
 C5
Students will develop the ability to devise experiments with real equipment and real traffic patterns synthesized by their own network programs. These experiments will be aimed towards establishing the internetwork stability and its basic bandwidth, throughput and delay performance measures. These experiments are also aimed towards developing the student's intuition about the best effort model, reliable and non-reliable transmission. In the end, students will be able to manage a presentation and discussion session to the class. A18115
 B5623
B5624
B5626
B5631

Contents
Topic Sub-topic
BLOCK I: Theoretical Basis to Computer Networks Chapter 1: NETWORK ANCHITECTURE. Internet, OSI, multiplexing, encapsulation, layers and service interfaces

Chapter 2: SIGNALS AND SYSTEMS.
Transmission, propagation and queues; intro to Information, Communication and Coding Theories, sampling theorem
BLOCK II: CONNECTIVTY AND DESIGN PRINCIPLES. Chapter 3: DATALINK.
The datalink layer. Source and channel encoding; error detection and correction; reliable transmission.

Chapter 4: LOCAL AREA NETWORKS
Ethernet and WiFi. Spanning Tree Protocol. Switched LAN design; scalable connectivity; network topologies; network sizing; switching, bridges and LAN switches
BLOCK III: INTERNETWORKING WITH IP Chapter 5: IP FORWARDING AND ROUTING
IP fragmentation, PMTUD; Longest Prefix Matching; IP numbering and partitioning with CIDR/VLSM; Distance Vector and Dijkstra's algorithms(RIP and OSPF)
BLOCK IV: END-TO-END COMMUNICATION Chapter 6: THE TRANSPORT LAYER
Algorithms, protocols and service interfaces to TCP and UDP

Chapter 7: NETWORK MANAGEMENT
UDP, SNMP, RMON AND SDN. Functional aspects of Network Management. Models of Network Management.

Planning
Methodologies  ::  Tests
  Class hours Hours outside the classroom Total hours
Laboratory practicals 10 10 20
 
Problem solving, classroom exercises 8 0 8
Assignments 1 0 1
Presentations / expositions 1 0 1
Practicals using information and communication technologies (ICTs) in computer rooms 28 0 28
Personal tuition 5 0 5
 
Lecture 22 22 44
 
Mixed tests 2 12 14
Practical tests 4 17 21
Extended-answer tests 0 8 8
 
(*)The information in the planning table is for guidance only and does not take into account the heterogeneity of the students.

Methodologies
Methodologies   ::  
  Description
Laboratory practicals Design and implementation of experiments with real traffic and equipment in a data-communication specific laboratory
Problem solving, classroom exercises Chalkboard network design and performance calculation problem solving. The objective of these sessions consists of exposing the student to simple, specific and example based problem resolution which will play a vital role in streamlining their mastery and understanding of the same problems ina laboratory setting.
Assignments CNPro: Practice including software development, independent research and network administration.
Presentations / expositions These sessions are directed toward helping the student develop their writing and communication skills about advanced computer networking topics which somewhat lay outside the scope of the course and, nevertheless, it is convenient for them being able to convey the knowledge even though they are not fully competent on it.
Practicals using information and communication technologies (ICTs) in computer rooms In these sessions the student will get hands on experience in configuring computers and basic network equipment and write a simple C/S Java/C application based on the sockets layer to layer 1, layer 2 and layer3 (UDP/TCP). These abilities will contribute to the student being able to develop a subtantial piece of software in a progressive, gradual manner.
Personal tuition Lecturer's office hours.
Lecture Detailed explanations of the functions, structures ald essential algorithms on which many computer network features are based. Lectures will summarize the essential aspects of each chapter and provide students with guidance as to how to approach their study.

Personalized attention
 
Personal tuition
Description
Students may request personal and group tutorial sessions on an ongoing basis as the semester develops. Tutorials are offered on-site or on-line depeneding on specific circumstances.

Assessment
  Description Qualification
Mixed tests In-lab progress-report practical exam. Students are required to keep up-to-date a LabBook record of the results obtained in each practcial, this LabBook will be required by the intructor to be submmitted several times in the semester. 10%
Practical tests A single, final submission of a practical work composed of software and documentation. Can only be submitted and assessed in the continuous assessment period. Every submission will be subject to a written exam which must be passed in order for the instructor to evaluate the practical submission. 10%
Extended-answer tests Two closed-book written exams that consist of test, quiz, short answer and exercise questions.

The pass grade is awarded on the basis that the student obtained a passing grade in each of the two term tests. Each of the two term exams must be passed so that the final grade is computed. 		80%
 
Other comments and second call

The pass grade is awarded on the basis that the student obtained a passing grade in each of the two term exams. Lab Practice writeups must be submitted on their due date in june only; notice, no other new submission will be planned in July. Each of the two term exams must be passed for the final passing to be computed. Regular attendance and completion of Lab practicals is a requirement for awarding the overall pass grade.

Sources of information
Access to Recommended Bibliography in the Catalog ULE

Basic José M. Foces Morán and José M. Foces Vivancos, Conceptual Computer Networks, Work In Progress, Work In Progress

Complementary Srinivasan Keshav , An Engineering Approach to Computer Networking: ATM Networks, the Internet, and the Telephone Network, Addison-Wesley , 978-0201634426
James F. Kurose and Keith W. Ross, Computer Networking: A top-down approach, Pearson, 0-13-136548-7
Larry Peterson and Bruce Davie , Computer Networks: A systems approach, Ed. 5 , MKP, Elsevier, 978-0-12-385059-1
Radia Perlman, Interconnections Second Edition, Addison-Wesley, 978-0201634488
Srinivasan Keshav, Mathematical Foundations of Computer Networking, Addison-Wesley, 978-0-321-79210-5
George Varghese, Network Algorithmics, MKP, Elsevier, 0-12-088477-1
John Day, Patterns in Network Architecture, Prentice-Hall, 0-13-225242-2
Chris Sanders, Practical Packet Analysis, NO STARCH PRESS, SAN FRANCISCO, 978-1-59327-149-7
Gary R. Wright and Richard Stevens, TCP/IP Illustrated: The implementation, Addison-Wesley, 020163469X
Gary R. Wright and Richard Stevens, TCP/IP Illustrated: THe protocols, Addison-Wesley, 020163354X
Walter Goralski, The Illustrated Network. How TCP-IP Works in a Modern Network, MKP, Elsevier, 978-0-12-374541-5
Angela Orebaugh et al., Wireshark & Ethereal Protocol Analyzers, Syngress, 978-1-59749-073-3


Recommendations


Subjects that it is recommended to have taken before
COMPUTER ORGANIZATION / 00709008
COMPUTER PROGRAMMING I / 00709009
OPERATING SYSTEMS / 00709013
ALGORITHMS AND GRAPHS / 00709014
ENGLISH FOR ICT STUDIES / 00709210
 
Other comments
Taking this course requires having passed the following fundamental courses: C programming Java programming Operating Systems Data Structures and Algorithms English