Architecture and Protocols of Computer Networks
Arquitectura e Protocolos de Redes de Computadores
For official information on assessment dates and procedures refer to the CLIP entry of this course
For Q&A you may use: https://piazza.com/fct.unl.pt/spring2020/aprc2020
Description of the course
This is a second course on computer networks, for advanced under-graduated or graduated students, allowing them to gain a deeper comprehension of this subject. It assumes that the student was already exposed to an introduction to networking with practice on network programming interfaces. During the second half of the course, students are introduced to some emergent topics like SDN and data centre networking.
Instructors
Please, feel free to request an appointment by email or any ther means.
Phone: +351 21 294 8500 Ext. 10725 / Building II, Office 2/7
Email: jose.legatheaux at this faculty dot unl.pt
Paulo Afonso Lopes
Phone: +351 21 294 8500 Ext. 10755 / Building II, Office 243
Email: poral at this faculty dot unl.pt
Syllabus Overview
Revision and new insights
• Flooding, Spanning tress, VLANs
• IP addressing
• Shortest-path routing
Going deeper
• Principles, Tools and Models
• BGP
• Congestion control in and out of the network
• Quality of service at the network level
• Tunnels, MPLS and traffic engineering
Topics in data center and cloud computing
• Application requirements and traffic patterns
• Physical structure of the network, machine virtualization and migration
• Software Defined Networking (SDN) & network management
• Traffic engineering for intra- and inter-data centres networks
• TCP for data centre environments
Bibliography
(b) Larry L. Peterson and Bruce S. Davie, "Computer Networks – A Systems Approach" – 5 th Edition, Morgan & Kaufman, 2011 - Available from the editor
(c) Ivan Marsic, “Computer Networks – Performance and Quality of Service,“ Rutgers University, 2013, can be found here http://eceweb1.rutgers.edu/~marsic/books/CN/book-CN_marsic.pdf
Grading Overview
The official and the only valid version of this information is in the CLIP entry of the course, under section "Métodos de avaliação"
Grading components and weight
1. Two tests (20 + 20 = 40% of the final grade) (probably on 14/4/2020 and 9/6/2020 – see CLIP)
2. Two papers essays (5+5 = 10% of the final grade) (on 17/3/2020 and 31/3/2020 see assignments rulings)
3. Two sets of lab assignments with reports (2 x 25% = 50% of the final grade) (on 11/4/2020 and 30/5/2020 see assignments rulings)
Some Extra Rules
Each set of gradings must be marked at least 8 over 20 on average (average of 2 tests, average of 2 articles essays, average of 2 lab assignments).
Tests are closed-book, but students can use an A4 sheet with their study notes.
Late delivery of essays and reports imply a penalty of 1 mark per day.
"Frequência" is mandatory and requires obtaining the minimum grading in the 2 lab assignments. Last year “frequência” is valid.
All intermediate marks have a resolution of 0.1 grade.
Assessment Criteria of Lab Work Reports
Grades: A, B, C, D, E. If required, “+” or “-“ qualifiers will be also used — A is Very Good, B is Good, C is enough, D is not enough, E is unacceptable.
A very good report
Is well structured and well written, covering the essential of the relevant material and is also comprehensive. It clearly presents the most relevant technical aspects as well the theoretical foundations to be aware of. It judges the lab results at the light of the theoretical expected ones. It points out where lab results were unexpected and apparently contradictory with the theory and makes an attempt to find out an explanation of these unexpected findings.
A very bad report
Is at the other extreme of a good one, has technical errors, has unrigorous statements, has a writing style not good enough and is too long.
Grading Criteria of Essays
Grades: A, B, C, D, E. If required, “+” or “-“ qualifiers will be also used — A is Very Good, B is Good, C is enough, D is not enough, E is unacceptable.
A very good essay
Is well structured and well written, covering and highlighting the essential issues and is self-contained (e.g. can be understood by itself). It clearly presents the most relevant aspects to be aware of. It is more then a summary of the available and recommended literature. It has no technical errors nor not rigorous statements.
A very bad essay
Is at the other extreme of a good one — it is just a summary with no highlights of the essential issues, has technical errors, has unrigorous statements, has a writing style not good enough and is too long.
Essay Typesetting
An essay should have at most 5 to 6 pages
For those choosing LaTeX to deliver the essay, you can use the article 10p style, for example. LaTex is not mandatory, you can use whatever typesetting alternatives you prefer. However, recall that for writing a thesis, LaTex is superior, so you can take this opportunity to start learning it.
