CSCI 395

Computer Networks

Coordinator: Nazli Hardy

Credits: 4.0

Description

Introduction to computer networks. Topics include network media, architecture and topology, protocols and layering, client-server models, Ethernet media and hardware, TCP/IP and other protocols, setup and system administration, application protocols and communication, network servers and services, security, data integrity, encryption, and firewalls. Offered periodically. This course carries a W label.

Prerequisites

C- or higher in CSCI 362.

Sample Textbooks

Computer Networking

James F. Kurose 
Keith W. Ross
ISBN: 0-13-607967-9

Course Outcomes

  1. understand layered network architectures, specifically the Internet architecture and the TCP/IP protocol stack
  2. describe the services provided by the application, transport, network, data link, and physical layers of the TCP/IP Reference Model
  3. describe the key aspects of several protocols including HTTP, SMTP, DNS, TCP, UDP, and IP
  4. program simple network applications using sockets
  5. understand the basics of network security and cryptography

Major Topics Covered

A. Introduction to Data Communications

  1. Basic electronics concepts in communications
  2. The dialed network and ISDN
  3. Data transmission
  4. Satellites, microwaves, and fiber optics
  5. Communications Hardware

B. Network Concepts

  1. Communications software, the ISO seven-layer model
  2. Networking topologies
  3. Protocols, such as TCP/IP and KERMIT

C. Local- and Wide-Area Networks

  1. Introduction to local area networks
  2. LAN and WAN topologies; ring, star, and bus
  3. LAN and WAN technology (Token ring, Ethernet, ATM)
  4. Text compression, LZW, and Huffman codes

D. Data integrity, security and encryption

  1. Data integrity (parity, checksums, and crc)
  2. Privacy and data encryption (NES, RSA)
  3. Firewalls
  4. Worms, viruses, hacking, and Trojan Horses

E. Network and system administration

  1. Setting up a system
  2. Backups and system maintenance
  3. Setting access rights and other security measures
  4. File, print, fax and modem servers

Sample Laboratory Projects

  1. Data encryption experiments.
  2. Lempel-Ziv-Welsh compression algorithm.
  3. Computer-to-computer communications for interactive gaming software.
  4. Analysis of CRC and other error detection algorithms.
  5. Terminal emulation programs.
  6. Unix socket services, browsers, and mail.