Merit, Quality & Excellence

Sukkur IBA University

Department of Computer Science

COURSE BINDER

CSC-301

Computer Networks

PREPARED BY

Muhammad Irshad Nazeer

Fall 2024
 Course Syllabus – Computer Networks
Credit Units: 3+1=4 Length: Semester-long, Fall 2024
Academic Year 2024-2025
Level: Year 3 Course code: CSC-301
Professor: Dr. Muhammad Irshad Nazeer Status: Core
E-Mail: [email protected] Prerequisite: None
Office Hours: Will be specified according to
Timetable, Office R-7 Cubical 4 Block 1 Teaching Language: English
Overall teaching period and hours: 16 weeks
(2 lectures of 1.25 hours per week and 2.5 hours of
labs per week)

This is an introductory course in data communication and Networking. It is 6 credits comprising of 3

credit hours of theory and 2 hours teaching lab per week. Topics include: Introduction and protocols
architecture, basic concepts of networking, network topologies, layered architecture, physical layer
functionality, data link layer functionality, multiple access techniques, circuit switching and packet
switching, LAN technologies, wireless networks, MAC addressing, networking devices, network layer
protocols, IPv4 and IPv6, IP addressing, sub netting, routing protocols, transport layer protocols, ports
and sockets, connection establishment, flow and congestion control, application layer protocols, latest
trends in computer networks.

Objectives
1. Describe the key terminologies and technologies of computer networks.
2. Explain the services and functions provided by each layer in the Internet protocol stack.
3. Identify various internetworking devices and protocols and their functions in a networking.
4. Analyze working and performance of key technologies, algorithms and protocols.
5. Build Computer Network on various Topologies

Learning outcomes
This course is mapped to contribute Program Outcome PO 1 and 2.
Learning outcomes achieved by students upon a successful completion of this course:
1. Analyze the requirements for a given organizational structure and select the most appropriate
networking architecture and technologies.
2. Specify and identify deficiencies in existing protocols, and then go onto formulate new and better
protocols.
3. Analyze, specify and design the topological and routing strategies for an IP based networking
infrastructure
4. Have a working knowledge of datagram and internet socket programming.
Evaluation Method
Mid-Term Exam 30% Lab Performance and Quiz Assignments 20%, Final Exam 50% (total 100%)

Assessments
Online quiz assignments which demand the students to comprehend the knowledge from textbook – MCQ
(Multiple Choice Questions), True/False and short answers.

Mid and Final Exam where students must answer Short or Extended Response Questions from topics
2
taught during semester. Student understanding of software engineering principles will be demonstrated by
their performance on two tests and a final exam. Students are not allowed to use any learning materials
during the exams.

For Labs and Lectures:

- Students must take notes during the lectures.
- It is mandatory that every student have a separate notebook for tutorial activities. Students
without a notebook are assumed to be absent and lose marks reserved for tutorial activities.
- No electronic devices are allowed to be used during lectures and tutorials. In case, if a student is
found using a mobile phone during a tutorial, he/she loses marks reserved for tutorial activities.
- Because class discussion is at the heart of this course, you are required to be in class, and what
we do in the course of our class meetings will determine a large portion of your grade.
- Students are responsible for all missed work, regardless of the reason for absence. It is also the
absentee's responsibility to get all missing notes or materials. During the lecture, I expect that
all students are already familiar with previous lectures.

Quiz Assignments

- Every assignment will consist of True/False, MCQs, Short answers and Numerical questions
- Students are responsible for tracking their grades for all assignments, quizzes and exams.
- Students are expected to work independently during the quizzes and exams. Offering and
accepting solutions from others is an act of plagiarism, which is a serious offense and all
involved parties will be penalized. If any evidence of plagiarism or cheating is found, a
student's grade for all quizzes will be nullified (canceled).
- Mandatory Assignments should be submitted by the indicated deadlines.
- Assignments which are submitted late will not be graded.

Lab Performance - Students will work on hardware, software and or a simulator aimed to apply and
practice many of the topics covered in this course. Throughout the semester, students will produce a
number of configurations, demonstrations, observations report etc.

Textbook and References

Core reading:
1. Kurose & Ross, “Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach”, 6th Edition Addison-Wesley,
2017. (Ross)
Additional:
2. Behrouz A. Forouzan William Stallings, “Data Communication and Networking”, 5th Edition,
McGraw Hill. (Behrouz)
3. Douglas Comer, “Computer Networks and Internets, 6th edition, Prentice Hall, 2006 (Comer)
4. William Stallings, “Data and Computer Communication”, 10th edition, Pearson, 2013.
5. Peterson and Davie, “Computer Networks: A Systems Approach, 5th edition.
6. Andrew S. Tanenbaum, Computer Networks, Prentice Hall, 4th Edition, August 2002
7. Fred Hal Sall, “Data Communication, Computer Networks and Open Systems”
8. Larry L. Peterson and Bruce S, “Computer Networks A systems Approach”
Learning resources:
https://skillsforall.com/
Getting Started with Cisco Packet Tracer
Network Addressing and Basic Troubleshooting
Networking Devices and Initial Configuration
Network Support and Security
Jim Kurose Homepage (umass.edu)

3
Course Policies
LMS: eLearning will be used to communicate with students for course related announcement, course
content and assignments/Quizes.
EXAMS: A 90-minute duration mid-term exam and a 180-minute duration final examination.
CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT: All students are expected to arrive on time and ready to engage
in class activities. Class activities may include case discussions, etc. Students who arrive late or
come without proper preparation can distract other students and limit their learning potential.

TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE/Clander

Week Topic Week Objectives// Reading/Lab

To have been introduced with nature and need of Computer
Networks
Introduction to Computer Networks, Overview To know and understand and use the Computer Networks
of the course and syllabus.

Reading:
1
Philosphy and enablers of Computer Lecture Slides and Internet websites
Communication

Lab 1 - Networking Utilities

To understand:
a nuts-and-bolts and a services description.
What is a protocol?
Chapter1 Computer Networks and the Internet
Access networks, physical media, Forwarding, routing;
packet switching; curcuit switching; a network of networks

What is the Internet?

2
The Network Edge Reading:

The Network Core Ross Chapter 1.1-1.3

Lab 2 - Networking in action – Wireshark

Quiz Assignment 1

To understand :
Packet delay and loss, end-end throughput
Layered architecture, encapsulation
Performance: Delay, Loss and Throughput in What can bad actors do? What defenses?
Computer Networks

3 Protocol layers and Their Service Models

Reading:
Networks under attack
Ross Chapter 1.4-1.6

Lab 3 - Networking Tools and Equipment

4 Chapter 2 Application Layer To understand:

4
 Applications; client-server, P2P, sockets, APIs; transport
services
Overview, statelessness, HTTP messages, cookies, caching,
HTTP/2
Principles of Network Applications Email infrastructure (mail clients, SMTP servers), SMTP,
The Web and HTTP IMAP

Email
Reading:
Ross Chapter 2.1-2.3

Lab 4 - Networking Simulators – installation and usage

Quiz Assignment 2

To understand:
The Domain Name Service: DNS

The Domain Name Service: DNS Peer-to-Peer File Distribution

Peer-to-Peer File Distribution Video Streaming and Content Distribution Networks

Video Streaming and Content Distribution

5
Networks Reading:
Ross Chapter 2.4-2.6

Lab 5- STP and RSTP

To understand:
socket abstraction, UDP and TCP scoket programming

Reading:
Socket Programming: Creating Network
Ross Chapter 2.7
6 Applications

Lab 6- Routing Configuration static

Quiz Assignment 3

7 Chapter 3 Transport Layer To understand:

Introduction and Transport-layer Services Transport-layer services and protocols. Transport layer
actions.
Multiplexing and Demultiplexing
What is multiplexing, demultiplexing? How is it done? How
Connectionless Transport: UDP does it work in TCP and UDP?
UDP segment structure. The Internet checksum.

5
 Reading:
Ross Chapter 3.1-3.3

Routing Configuration static

Lab 7- OSPF Single-Area Configuration

To understand:
Protocol mechanisms for reliable data transfer (rdt). Building
an rdt protocol. Pipelining. Go-back-N. Selective Repeat.
8 Principles of Reliable Data Transfer
Reading:
Ross Chapter 3.4

Lab 8- OSPF Multi-Area Configuration

To understand:
The TCP connection and segment, RTT estimation and
timeout, flow control
Causes and costs of congestion, approaches to congestion
control
Classic TCP; Explicit Congestion Notification, delay-based
Connection-oriented Transport: TCP TCP, fairness
Principles of Congestion Control Reading:
9
TCP Congestion Control Ross Chapter 3.5-3.7

Lab 10- Configuring FTP Services

Quiz Assignment 4

To understand:

forwarding versus routing; data plane, control plane;

network service model.

Chapter 4 Network Layer – Data Plane witching fabrics, buffering, packet scheduling, net
neutrality.

10 Network Layer Overview

Reading:
Whats Inside a Router?
Ross Chapter 4.1-4.2

Lab 11- Implementing DHCP

11 The Internet Protocol. To understand:

6
 IPv4, addressing, NAT, IPv6
Generalized fowarding, match plus action, OpenFlow.
Whats a middlebox? Internet architecture, evoluation

Generalized Forwarding
Reading:
Middleboxes and Summary
Ross Chapter 4.3-4.5

Lab 12- Ethernet Interface and Link Configuration

Quiz Assignment 5

To understand:
per-router versus SDN control plane.

Chapter 5 Network Layer – Control Plane Link-State (LS) and distance-vector (DV) routing algorithms.
The OSPF link-state routing protocol.

Introduction to the Network-layer control plane.

12
Routing Algorithms. Reading:

Intra-AS Routing in the Internet: OSPF. Ross Chapter 5.1-5.3

Lab 13- VLAN Configuration

To understand:
Role of BGP, advertising BGP paths, determining best paths,
policy.
SDN control plane, OpenFlow, SDN controllers, data place,
control plan interaction.
Routing Among the ISPs: BGP. Network management framework, SNMP, MIBs,
The SDN Control Plane. configuration management: NETCONF/YANG

ICMP: The Internet Control Message Protocol.

13 Reading:
Network Management and SNMP,
NETCONF/YANG. Ross Chapter 5.4-5.7

Lab 14- Inter-VLAN Routing

Quiz Assignment 6

14 Chapter 6 Link Layer To understand:

link-layer: services, implementation context.

7
 Parity checks, checksums, cyclic redundancy check (CRC)
Random Access, Taking Turns, DOCSIS.

Introduction to the Link Layer. Reading:

Error-Detection and -Correction Techniques.

Multiple Access Links and Protocols Ross Chapter 61-6.3

Lab 15- ACL

To understand:

Addressing, ARP, Ethernet, Link-layer switches, Virtual

LANs.

Switched Local Area Networks. Data center architecture, trends

Data Center Networking. A day in the life animation.

15 Retrospective: A Day in the Life of a Web Page
Request. Reading:
Ross Chapter 6.4, 6.6, 6.7

Lab 16- NAT

Additional Information for Assurance of Learning and Continuous Quality Improvement

Process (a part of Accreditation Process)

Course Articulation Matrix:

CSC340 Computer Networks

CL CLO SOs Assessment Tools

O
No a b c d e f T T2 T T4 T5 T6
. 1 3

1. Describe the key L Quiz Questio Question

terminologies and 1 – n Set 1 Set 1 –
technologies of 2.5% – 10% 10%
computer networks.

2. Explain the services L Quiz Questio Question

and functions provided 2 – n Set 2 Set 2 –
by each layer in the 2.5% – 10% 10%
Internet protocol stack.

3. Identify various L Quiz Questio Question

internetworking 3 – n Set 3 Set 3 –

8
 devices and protocols 2.5% – 10% 10%
and their functions in a
networking.

4. Analyze working and L Quiz Question

performance of key 4 – Set 4 –
technologies, 2.5% 20%
algorithms and
protocols.

5. Build Computer M 100

Network on various %
Topologies

Tick mark or write a level of achievement in a cell if a CLO maps to a SO. (like H=High, M=Medium and
L=Low)

T1= Assignment

T2= Quiz

T3= Group Discussion/Presentation/ Project

T4= Lab Performance/Exams

T5= Mid Exam

T6= Final Exam

Prepared by

Dr. Muhammad Irshad

Nazeer

9
10