CS656 Computer Communications and Networking, Section 001/002, Spring 2005

Thursday, 7:20pm -- 10:00m

Section 001: ST 126

Section 002: Internet Course Delivery

Prof. Yih (Ian) Huang
Office: S&T II, Rm. 443
email: huangyih@cs.gmu.edu
Office Hours: Wed. 1:00pm - 3:00pm and by appointment

Course homepage: http://www.cs.gmu.edu/~huangyih/656

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

CS571, STAT 344, ability to program in C/C++.

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. If you don't have a SITE account, see how to apply online here. 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 and Quiz 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%, B- > 75%, 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.

Class Recording and Internet Delivery

For the NET section (Section 003), the distance education software we will be using again this year is called Network EducationWare (NEW). It consists of a collection of open source tools, integrated using software developed at GMU. You can learn more at http://disted.ite.gmu.edu. At present the NEW client runs only on Windows computers (Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000, and XP). It provides the instructor's voice and graphics in real time, and has an option for video if you have high-capacity Internet service such as cable modem or DSL. If you have a microphone that works with your computer's sound setup you can ask spoken questions during class, even with only a dialup connection.

Before you attend a class over the network, you will need to install the NEW client software and check that (1) it works on your computer and (2) your Internet connection is good enough to support real time class delivery. To be good enough, it does not have to be high capacity; 56k modem service is good enough. But it must not be overloaded at class time or the sound delivery will be unacceptable. Because the Internet carries more load in afternoon and early evening, you need to test at those hours. If the sound quality is poor, you have the option to use a dial-up connection to GMU (703-426-2468) with your GMU username and password (as used on OSF1). The software is available (including a recorded introduction that runs on the client and can be used to test your Internet connection). If you have trouble with the installation, look on the webpage http://disted.ite.gmu.edu under "Help/FAQs". You also will find a button on that page to get the password you will need with the NEW system. The password will then be sent to your GMU email account.

Section 002 students are also encouraged to intall NEW and obtain passwords, giving you accesses to class recordings.

Importance Notice: NET section students must attend midterm and final exams on campus.

Important Dates

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