Extra credit is available by doing extra projects, however no student who fails the final exam will receive a grade higher than C, regardless of extra credit earned.

Project credit breakout: DLC1, DLC2, LAN1, WAN2, and INT3 four points each; DLC3 and TRN1 five points each; extra credit LAN2, WAN3, WAN4, INT1, and INT2 two points each.

Missed exams must be arranged with the instructor BEFORE the exam date.

All students are expected to abide by the Honor Code as stated in the GMU catalog and elaborated for Computer Science.

SYLLABUS (tentative, subject to revision)

date and topic/readings in Stallings text/project assignment

1-27 Course introduction; network concepts; 7-layer and 5-layer models / Chapters 1 & 2 / NW Setup introduced

2-3 Physical layer: transmission media, coding / Chapters 3 & 4 / Project DLC1: Framing introduced

2-10 Analog/digital transmission, serial/parallel interfaces, multiplexing, CRC / Chapters 5, 6 & 8 / Project DLC2: CRC introduced

2-17

2-24 Data compression, security principles, integrity, appropriate use / Section 7.2, Chapter 18 / Project DLC1 due

3-3 Mid-term exam

3-10 Spring Break

3-17 Data link control; discrete event simulation / Chapter 7 / Project DLC 3: ARQ introduced

3-24 Local area networks / Chapters 13 & 14 / Project LAN1: CSMA/CD LAN introduced; Project DLC2 due

3-31 Network Layer: WANs, routing / Chapters 9 & 10 

4-7 Internet Architecture (IPv4) / Chapters 15 (except 15.5) & 16 / Project WAN 2: Forwarding and Optimization introduced; Project DLC3 due

4-14 Queuing basics; transport layer: TCP and UDP / Chapter 17 / Project TRN1: Reliable Transport introduced

4-21 Multicast, multimedia and ATM networking / Section 15.5, Chapter 11 / Project INT3: Integrated Stack introduced; Project LAN1 due

4-28 Network Security and Network Management / Chapter 18 / Project TRN1 due

5-5 Wireless technology and Mobile IP / Project WAN2 due ;  all extra credit projects due

5-12 Final exam (comprehensive) /  ST room 126 (Section 003 and 004)

READINGS

Required textbook: Stallings, Data and Computer Communications, 6th Ed., Prentice Hall, 2000
Required project book: Pullen, Understanding Internet Protocols, Wiley, 2000

References (available in library):
1. Comer, Internetworking with TCP/IP, Vol. I, 3^rd Ed., Prentice-Hall, 1996
2. Tanenbaum, Computer Networks, 3rd Ed., Prentice-Hall, 1996

Course communication: we will use email extensively. Students are responsible to read email daily. Announcements will be sent to the class email list, which consists of GMU email accounts. If you want to receive your class email at a different address, send email to the instructor requesting this.

DISTANCE EDUCATION

This class is taught simultaneously in the classroom and live over the Internet to students at home or office. Software to receive the class is generated under the GMU NEW project and is available for free download. Network students receive the instructor's voice, slides, and drawing on the whiteboard; students with higher-performance Internet connections also can receive video. The voice and graphics are recorded and can be played back from a server after class. To use the system, you must download the software and test your reception *well before* the first class. See webpage http://netlab.gmu.edu/disted for information and to connect.

A password is required to access online delivery and playback of classes. Go to http://netlab.gmu.edu/disted to obtain a password and test Internet class reception. You must test your connection by playing back the test session before attempting to participate in a class. All classes may be taken over the network, however students must appear in person for exams.
 

EXAMINATION RULES

CLASS HOME PAGE

Class notes, slides, handouts, homework solutions, etc. will be available at the class home page. Students are responsible for assigned readings and all material outlined in lecture slides.