CS4220: Computer Networks, Spring 2020

Course Description

CS422 covers fundamental computer networking concepts and principles with exercises which guide you to apply the networking theory and design principles, verify their understandings, and build a solid foundation for creating innovations in today's Internet. The course serves you two ways. For those undergraduate students who will continue in computer networking, it lays foundations of network architectures, protocol design principles, and TCP/IP programming skills, which are necessary to take more advanced courses in graduate study and/or technical training in the industry. For those not continuing in computer networking, it covers basic networking knowledge, network configuration and programming experience, and in-depth understanding of the inner-workings of computer networks and their evolution.

Announcement

What is new?
• Feb 26: the 3rd homework assigned; see text problems in Chapter 4: 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 15, 17, 18, 22, 27, 38. Due class time, Wed, March 4.
• Feb 19: the 2nd homework assigned; see text problems in Chapter 3: 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 16, 17, 19, 20, 27, 32, 37. Due class time on Feb 26 Wed.
• Feb 10: Project 1 is assigned and its information is available; see project 1 for details. Due Feb 24, 5PM MST.
• Jan 29: The 1st homework assigned; see textbook problems 1.3, 1.5, 1.6, 1.10, 1.13, 1.16, 1.17, 1.23, 1.28, 1.30, 2.20. Due Wednesday, Feb 5, class time. If concerned of privacy, please put the hard-copy into an envelope with your name on it.
• Jan 16: Linux Servers up to use: blanca, crestone, shavano, and windom. If you do not have an account, please contact EAS IT office with the subject "creating Linux account for CS4220".

Required Backgrounds

• Prerequisite: Prerequisites are CS2060 or equivalent (C Programming and Unix/Linux environments), and Math 2150 (Discrete Math).
• If you want to take the class without the prerequisite, you need to get the approval from the instructor and will need to make up for the prerequisite.

Textbook

• Required: Andrew S. Tanenbaum and David J. Wetherall, "Computer Networks", 5th Edition, Prentice Hall, 2011; ISBN-13: 978-0-13-212695-3. The course may be supplemented by additional reading materials and guest lectures.

Course Tentative Schedules

• Introduction to Computer Networks
• The Physical Layer
• The Data Link Layer and P2P Protocols
• The MAC Sublayer and LANs
• The Network Layer and Routing
• TCP/IP Socket programming
• The Transport Layer
• The Application Layer

Projects

• Project 1, see project 1 for details. Due Feb 24, 5PM MST.

Exam Schedules

• Midterm (Tentative): 3:05pm -- 4:20pm, Wednesday, March 11, ENG 107; no make-up.
• Final Exam: 12:40pm -- 2:40pm, Wednesday, May 13, ENG 107; no make-up.
• All exams are close-book and close-notes. However, you are allowed to carry one double-side hand-writing help sheet of 8.5 by 11 in.
• The final exam is comprehensive, with the focus on the materials not covered in the midterm.
• The best way to prepare for exams is to re-do lecture examples and homework assignments, review the textbook according to the lecture notes, and surely attend all lectures.
• In case of any change, it will be announced in the class and on the course Web site 1-2 weeks before the change.

Grading Scale

Borderline cases will be resolved by student participation in class providing intelligent questions, informative comments, and constructive criticisms.

Grading Percentage

All midterm and final exams will be graded by Prof. Zhou himself.

The attendance policy is as follows: There will be about a few times of attendance check-up, randomly given in the semester. One absence is not counted. For each additional absence, the attendance percentage is reduced proportionally. Exceptions to this policy will be made only due to circumstances beyond your control and which were unforeseen (such as illness). You need to provide evidence, such as letters from your doctors in case of illness. If you are aware of classes you will need to miss because of business/field trips, or athletic events, please discuss with the instructor in the beginning of the semester. If you arrive too late or leave early, you may be marked absent for that class.

Course Policy

• If you have a disability for which you are requesting an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact the Disability Services Office within the first week of classes. The Disability Services Office is located in Main Hall #105. (Phone # is 255-3354)
• The last day to drop in myUCCS portal: April 3, 2020.
• Students are required to attend all lectures. Missing lectures are extremely risky since the teaching pace is fast and the course is heavy!
• Homework and project assignments are important components of the course and should be completed individually. There will be about five homework assignments and two small projects. Homework assignments must be due in class on the due date in hard-copy. Demos and reports in hard-copy for projects are required. See course Web site for more details about the projects.
• Late homework and project submission: loses 30% of its value per day, except under extreme non-academic circumstances, such as illness. In such cases, you have to provide sufficient and convincing proof, i.e., documents from the doctors.
• For FAIRNESS, no make-up examinations, except under special non-academic circumstances, such as illness. In such cases, you have to provide sufficient and convincing proof, i.e., documents from the doctors.
• Adherence to the University's Code of Ethics will be strictly monitored and enforced. This will be applicable to assignments, projects and examinations.
• Academic Integrity violations, such as plagiarism, cheating on an exam etc., will result in a series of actions and penalties including the student failing the class.
• Any work submitted for a grade must include the following statement and be signed and dated. If this is missing or not signed and dated, the work will be returned ungraded.
• I have neither given nor received unauthorized assistance on this work.
• Signed:
• Date: