Purdue University · West Lafayette · Spring 2021

ECE 50863: Computer Network Systems

 Lecture (Section 001): Mon, Wed, Fri, 1:30–2:20pm in ME 1061

 Lecture (Section OL1, EPE, OXE): Asynchronous Online

Instructor

Vishal Shrivastav
Assistant Professor

Office: EE 334B
vshriva@purdue.edu

Office Hours
Wed 4–5pm on Zoom

Course Overview

The goal of this course is to provide students with a proper grounding in the fundamentals of computer networking. The course will cover classic concepts such as Internet architecture, naming and addressing, routing, forwarding, reliability, flow control, congestion control, and socket programming. The later part of the course will introduce students to more recent developments in computer networking, such as software-defined network, programmable data plane, and datacenter network. The course will also provide students a hands-on experience of building practical and efficient networked systems and applications through various programming assignments.

All course materials and grades will be posted on Brightspace. We will use Piazza as the discussion forum to post and discuss questions regarding the course.

Sections

This course has four sections — 001 (in-person lecture), and OL1, EPE, OXE (asynchronous online). All in-person lectures will be live-recorded in class and the videos will be made available on Brightspace to the online sections. All sections will be managed similarly in terms of assignments, exams, and grading.

Course Topics

1. Internet Architecture Principles
2. Data Link Layer – MAC Addressing, ARP, CSMA/CD, Switched Ethernet, MAC Learning, STP
3. Network Layer – IP Addressing, NAT, IP Forwarding, Distance Vector, Link State, BGP, DNS
4. Transport Layer – UDP, TCP Reliability, TCP Flow Control, TCP Congestion Control
5. Application Layer – Web, HTTP, TLS, HTTPS, HTTP/2, QUIC
6. Socket Programming
7. Network Security
8. Router Architecture
9. Software-defined Network
10. Programmable Network
11. Datacenter Network

Prerequisites

Strong programming skills in C (ECE 26400) and Python (ECE 20875) and familiarity with basic data structures (ECE 36800). A prior course in Operating Systems will be useful but not essential.

Textbook

Computer Networks: A Systems Approach (5th edition), by Peterson and Davie, Morgan Kaufmann, 2011, Hardcover ISBN: 9780123850591, eBook ISBN: 9780123850607. The eBook is available for free through Purdue's online library—at this webpage click "Safari" and search for the book title. Note that while the class has a textbook, we will not follow its order of presentation; instead, we will use the textbook as a reference when covering each topic. The primary learning resource for this class will be the lecture slides posted on Brightspace.

Grading

70% — Programming Assignments

  • PA0: Setting up the Environment – 0%
  • PA1: MAC Learning, Forwarding, and STP – 10%
  • PA2: Distributed Network Routing Protocols – 20%
  • PA3: Reliable Transport – 20%
  • PA4: HTTP Web Client and Server – 20%
PA1 and PA2 will be in Python while PA3 and PA4 will be in C. Each programming assignment will be due in 2–3 weeks following its release, and must be done individually with no collaboration allowed. Barring extraordinary circumstances (serious medical situations or family emergencies, accompanied by verification and a prior notification to the instructor), no extensions will be granted for programming assignments.

30% — Final Exam
Final exam will be closed-book with no collaboration allowed. The exam will cover the entire syllabus.

Students who are most active and helpful in answering questions on Piazza may receive bonus points.

Course Staff

● Thomas J Agnello
Undergraduate Grader
tagnello@purdue.edu

Academic Integrity

Unless expressly allowed, students are expected to complete all the exams and programming assignments by themselves. However, students are allowed to discuss general issues with other students (programming techniques, clearing up confusion about requirements, etc.). Students may discuss particular algorithmic issues on Piazza (but they must not post or copy code!). If there is any doubt, students should contact the instructor.

Course staff will be using software designed to catch plagiarism in programming assignments and copying on exams. A student is considered in violation of the academic honesty policy regardless of whether they are the one "copying" or the one "being copied from".

Punishments for academic dishonesty are severe, including receiving a failing grade in the course or being expelled from the university. By departmental rules, all instances of cheating will be reported to the Dean of Students. On the first instance of cheating on a programming assignment or exam, students involved will receive a 0; the second instance of cheating will result in a failing grade in the course.

Use of Copyrighted Materials. All course materials, including lecture slides, videos and lecture recordings, programming assignments, examinations, and solutions are subject to Purdue's copyright policies. Students must not share, distribute, or post any material on an online web site without checking with the instructor.