CS455 Data Communications and Networking, Section 004, Spring 2003

Monday, 7:20pm -- 10:00m, Robison B202

Prof. Yih (Ian) Huang
Office: S&T II, Rm. 443
email: huangyih@cs.gmu.edu
Office Hours: Wed. 3:00pm - 5:00pm and by appointment

Course homepage: http://www.cs.gmu.edu/~huangyih/455

DESCRIPTION

The course will present data communications fundamentals and computer networking methods, using the ISO 7-layer reference model to organize the study. Attention will be focused on the protocols of the physical, data link control, network, and transport layers, for local and wide area networks. Emphasis will be given to the Internet Protocol Suite. Students will program simplified versions of the protocols as part of the course project.

Prerequisites

Grade of C or better in CS 310, 365 and STAT 344.

Project

We will use the Network Workbench, a collection of modules developed at GMU that simulate a protocol stack and display the results, using a text or graphic interface. Students will create modules for Data Link Control, Network and Transport layers and run them in the Workbench environment. The Workbench will be available via SITE computing labs in ST2-18, 133, and 137 and by dial- in. Well documented code must be submitted by email for grading. Projects and programming assignments are individual efforts.

Grading Policy

Midterm exam 25%, Homework 10%, Project 25%, Final 40%. Missed exams must be arranged with the instructor BEFORE the exam date. Late assignments/projects lose 20% credit within 3 days after deadlines and will not be accepted three days after due, unless under prearranged conditions. All students are expected to abide by the Honor Code as stated in the GMU catalog and elaborated for Computer Science. Grading is proficiency-based (no curve), cutoffs will be in the vicinity of (but not higher than) A > 95%, A- > 90%, B+ > 85%, B > 80%, C > 70%, and D > 60%.

Textbooks

Course notices and assignments will be provided via email. Students are responsible to have a GMU email account and check that account periodically. Course materials (for example, copies of slides) will be available on the course homepage 24 hours before they are presented in class. Students are responsible for assigned readings and all material outlined in lecture slides.

Important Dates

Force Add Policy

All force-add requests are considered at the end of the Feb. 3rd class. Decisions will take into account vacancies at that time and your position in the waiting list. Class size is limitted to 40.

Yih (Ian) Huang
Dept. of Computer Science
Office: ST2 Room 443
Email: huangyih@cs.gmu.edu