King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
College of Computer Sciences and Engineering
Department of Computer Engineering

Computer Networks, COE 442, (3-3-4)
Syllabus


Catalog Description:

Introduction to computer networks. Circuit, message, packet, and cell switching. The OSI model. WAN and LAN design issues. MAC layer design issues and protocols. Network layer design issues. Routing and congestion control. Internetworking. ISDN, B-ISDN, and ATM. Transport layer design issues and protocols. Application layer design issues and protocols. Examples of protocol suites and networks.

Prerequisite: COE 342 or Consent of Instructor.

Text Book:

Adrew S. Tanenbaum, ``Computer Networks'', Prentice Hall, 3rd Edition, 1996.

Topics covered:
1.
Introduction. (1.5 weeks)
Network Hardware and Software. Reference Models. Example of Networks. Chapter 1.

2.
N-ISDN, B-ISDN, and ATM. (1.5 weeks)
ISDN services and architecture. B-ISDN and ATM. ATM Switches. Sections 2.5 and 2.6 of Chapter 2.

3.
MAC Layer Design Issues and Protocols. (3 weeks)
Channel Multi-access problem. Multi-access protocols. IEEE 802 Standards. High Speed LANs. Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3,and 4.5 of Chapter 4.

4.
Network Layer. (4 weeks)
Network Layer Design Issues. Routing. Congestion Control. Internetworking. Network Layer in the Internet. Chapter 5.

5.
Transport Layer. (3 weeks)
The Transport Service. Elements of Transport Protocols. A Simple Transport Protocol. The Internet Transport Protocols (TCP and UDP). Chapter 6.

6.
Application Layer. (2 weeks)
Domain Name System (DNS). Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). Electronic Mail. File Transfer Protocol (FTP). The World Wide Web (WWW). Multimedia. Chapter 7.



Laboratory Experiments:

The lab component will consist of experiments selected from the following tentative list:
1.
Serial communication between PCs (character transfer).
2.
Communication via MODEMs.
3.
Experiments with standard protocols (such as Kermit, XModem, etc).
4.
Demos of NICs and their installation (setting the card, connecting cables, installing the driver, loading TCP/IP software layers or Novell software, etc.).
5.
Demos/Experiments of using network hardware debugging tools.
Use a network analyzer (e.g. Netsight) to look at frames and packets.
6.
Networking experiments illustrating multiple access, hubs, etc. (using analyzers to demonstrate collisions and role of hubs).
7.
Network traffic analysis and trouble shooting using Netsight.
Creation of a Web page.
Modeling and simulation of computer networks.
Setting up an FTP server.
Setting up a Web server.
8.
Experiment on LAN design and installation.
9.
Experiments with various network operating systems (such as TCP/IP, SPX/IPX).
10.
Internetworking experiments (setting up and configuring routers, bridges, etc).
11.
Experiments on mounting a network file system (NFS).
12.
Experiments on performance modeling and analysis.