CIS 577: Computer Networks, Fall 2009

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Instructor Information

Instructor: Vinod M. Vokkarane

Office: Dion 307A

Office Hours: Tue and Thu 2:30-4:30pm: By Appointment: Fri 2:00-3:00pm

Phone: (508) 910-6692

Email: vvokkarane at umassd.edu

Homepage: www.cis.umassd.edu/~vvokkarane

Teaching Assistant Information

Name: Mr. Neal Charbonneau

E-mail: u_ncharbonne@umassd.edu

Office Location: TEX 101D (Textile bldg)

Office Hours: Mon and Wed 2:00-3:00pm (updated)

Website: http://www.cis.umassd.edu/~u_ncharbonne/577/ (NS-2 Info and forum)

Lecture Meeting

Tue and Thu 5:00-6:15pm, Dion 101

Prerequisites

CIS 475: Computer Networks or permission of instructor

Course Resource

Textbook: Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet, J. Kurose and K. Ross, Fifth Edition, Addison Wesley, 2009

References: Computer  Networks: A Systems Approach, B. Davie, L. Peterson, 4th Edition, MK Publishers, 2007

Course Homepage: www.cis.umassd.edu/~vvokkarane/courses/cis577/f09

Course Description

Analysis and modeling of centralized and distributed computer networks. Queueing network analysis, principles of network design, software considerations, and design of computer networks are also studied.

Course Objectives

To discuss the evolution of early networks and the Internet
To demonstrate the ability to use effectively a range of common networked applications
To explain the hierarchical, layered structure of a typical network architecture
To develop an understanding of the concepts and issues involved in analysis, modeling, and designing a computer network
To apply the knowledge of mathematics, science and computer science to solve technical problems
To apply analytic and empirical techniques to evaluate technical problems and their solutions

Important Dates and Grading

The tentative examination schedule is as follows:

Midterm Exam: : 5:00-6:15pm, October xx, 2009 (closed book, closed notes, in class)

Final Exam: Take Home, December 15, 2009

Your numerical scores will be based upon the following contributions:

Homework, quizzes, and class participation 20%
Programming Project (design document, source code, demo) 20%
Class presentation 10%
Midterm exam 25%
Final exam (comprehensive) 25%

Course Requirements

·    For this course, regular attendance is necessary for you to achieve the necessary progress needed to learn the course concepts. Attendance will be taken at each class. You must give me, in advance, a legitimate-written excuse for missing any class. Consistent-unexcused failure to attend the class could result in getting a grade of “F”.

·    You are responsible for all announcements and for all material presented in the lecture sessions. In this course, students will have the opportunity to access its material through the course web site. You should be prepared to access the site regularly in order to access the course material and to check any announcements that will be regularly posted.

·    There are several homework assignments and projects during the course. Project assignments involve design, programming and documentation, and homework sets contain questions that require written answers. Please make sure that your programs are properly documented and indented. Documentation and style will be worth a significant share of your mark in each project/assignment. All programming assignments and project deliverables must be submitted through the Learning Portal.

·    Quizzes will be in-class and closed book. Quizzes will not be announced. Any quiz that is missed will receive zero credit - no exceptions.

·    For projects, you are not to copy or distribute code from any other sources. In particular, you are not to share or copy code from other students or code from projects submitted in past semesters. Plagiarism detection software will be employed to detect copying of code on projects. If you are in doubt regarding the use of certain code, ask the instructor.

No make-up exam will be given to any missed exam. Any assignment (e.g. homework or project) must be submitted on or before its due date and time. Solutions must be turned in as a clearly legible hardcopy, typeset or neatly hand-written. All pages must be stapled together. Late submissions will lose 33% credit per late-day. No incomplete grade will be awarded. Exceptions to these rules will be made only under exceptional circumstances (e.g. a note from a medical doctor).

Academic Honesty

I expect that you are taking this course to learn and to do the required work by yourself. Plagiarism is not acceptable and is not tolerated under any circumstances. All work turned in must be your own work (no collaboration is allowed unless explicitly stated). Students who violate this rule may get a penalty of getting an “F” as the course grade. Also, the student who offers his/her work to another student will get the same penalty. The UMass Dartmouth Academic Ethical Standards and Student Judicial Code apply to your conduct in this course. Please refer to the following materials for details. Special Needs

If you have particular needs in order to complete this course, such as special seating, note taking, or examination conditions, please let me know as soon as possible so that appropriate accommodations can be made.