CSE 310: Computer Networks (Spring 2023)

Semester

Spring 2023

Instructor

Aruna Balasubramanian

Course Time

MW 2.40 - 4.00 PM

Location

Earth and Space 001

Class Discussion Forum

Piazza

Contact Info

Instructor email: arunab@cs.stonybrook.edu

Instructor office: Room 337, New Computer Science

Instructor Office Hours: Monday 4.15 - 5.15 pm in-person, Thursday 4.00pm - 5.00pm Zoom

TA office hours: TBD

Announcement

1. Course web page is up

2. Sign up for Piazza

Description

The goal of this course is to cover the introductory topics in networking. We will learn how network applications such as the Web work, what constitutes the "Internet", and how information is transmitted from one part of the world to another. More importantly we will learn the design patterns and general principles in designing Computer Networks. We we learn networking concepts using the OSI layer abstraction going from the application layer all the way down to the physical layer. The class will have a mix of programming assignments and homeworks, take-home exams, and a final exam.

Textbooks

I will teach the course top-down from the application layer down to the physical layer. I will use the following textbook

Computer Networks, A Top Down Approach by Kurose and Ross 7th edition.

Grading

There are several components in this class: Assignments, Homeworks, and Exams. The grading criteria are as follows:

Final Exam: 20%

Midterm exam: 20%

Programming Assignments (3, 12 points each): 36%

Homeworks (3, 8 points each): 24%

Programming Assignments: There will be 3 programming assignments in all. Assignments should be submitted before 9.00pm on the day they are due. You will get 2 weeks for each assignment. The assignments are programming heavy. You can program in Python or C. Python is by far the easiest for the assignments and I will strongly advice you to use Python.

Homeworks: There will be 3 homeworks. These do not require programming and are written assignment. They are due before 9.00pm on the day they are due. You will typically get 1 week to finish your homework.

Midterm and final exam: The exams are in-person and timed. The exam is closed book but I allow a 1-page cheat sheet.

Submissions instructions: We will use Blackboard for submissions. If you want to resubmit after you already submitted one version, you may do so. But you are allowed a maximum of 2 resubmissions (i.e., a maximum of 3 attempts).

Grace period: You get a 48 hours grace period spanning all 3 assignments and a 48 hour grace period spanning your 3 homeworks. You will not be penalized as long as the total hours that you are late does not exceed 48 hours across your assignments and 48 hours across your homeworks.

Late submission policy:

If you submit your programming assignment/homework at hour h after your deadline (after your grace period), the penalty is as follows

If 0 < h <= 5, you will be penalized 5% of your grade
If 5 < h <=15 hours, you will be penalized 8% of your grade,
If 15 < h <= 24, you will be penalized 15% of your grade
If 24 < h <= 48, you will be penalized 30% of your grade
If 48 < h <= 72, you will be penalized 40% of your grade
If 72 < h <= 96, you will be penalized 60% of your grade,
h > 96, you cannot submit the homework.

I should note here that I almost never give extensions on any submissions.

Tentative Schedule

Date	Topic	Readings	Notes
1/23/2023	Introduction	No reading	[introduction.pdf]
Application Layer
1/25/2023	Application layer and Web	1.5, 2.1.1, (2.1.2 covered in Transport), 2.1.5	[app-introduction.pdf]
1/30/2023	HTTP protocol	2.2 (except cookies)	[app-web-http.pdf] Homework 1 is out 1/31, due 2/07
2/01/2023	HTTP/DNS	2.4
2/06/2023	DNS continued		Homework 1 due 2/07, Programming assignment 1 out 2/07, due 2/21
2/08/2023	Content Distribution Networks	2.6.3
Transport Layer
2/13/2023	Class cancelled		Class cancelled
2/15/2023	Introduction to TCP	3.1, 3.2, 2.7
2/20/2023	TCP	3.3.1, 3.5.1, 3.5.2	Programming assignment 1 due 2/21
2/22/2023	TCP flow control, wireshark, congestion control	3.5.3, 3.5.4, 3.5.5	Programming assignment 2 out 2/23
2/27/2023	Congestion control	3.6.1, 3.7 (excluding 3.7.1 or 3.7.2)
3/01/2023	UDP + HTTP2	3.3 (no checksums)
3/06/2023	HTTP2 and HTTP3
Network Layer
3/08/2023	Finishing HTTP3 and starting network layer		Programming assignment 2 due 3/09
Spring Break
3/13/2023	Spring break
3/15/2023	Spring break
Network layer
3/20/2023	IP addressing	4.3.3 (details of DHCP excluded),
In class Midterm 3/22
3/22/2023	In class midterm
Network Routing and Forwarding
3/27/2023	IP forwarding	4.2
3/29/2023	Inter-domain routing,	5.2 (5.2.1, 5.2.2) No poisoned reverse	Homework 2 is out 3/30, due 4/06
4/03/2023	Intra-domain routing	5.4
Switching
4/05/2023	IP, NATs, VPN, Switching	4.3.1, 4.3.4, 4.3.5	Homework 2 due 4/06, Programming assignment 3 out 4/06
4/10/2023	No class, instructor traveling		No class
4/12/2023	Midterm answer discussion	Video lecture	Video lecture during class time on zoom.
Special Topics
4/17/2023	Switching + Special topics continued: Data centers, Centralization	6.4 and 6.4.1, 6.4.3, 6.5.1
4/19/2023	Distributed systems	No reading	Programming assignment due 4/20 Homework 3 out 4/20
4/24/2023	Distrubuted systems	No reading
Link layer and Physical Layer
4/26/2023	Link layer: ethernet	6.1, 6.1.1, 6.3, 6.3.1, 6.3.2	Homework 3 due 4/27
5/01/2023	Link layer: WiFi	7.3 (Focus only on RTS/CTS)
5/03/2023	Physical layer		Final exam according to university calendar

Others

In-person and Zoom lectures:
Almost all classes will be in-person. However, a few classes may be conducted on Zoom if the instructor is traveling. If you do not have access to good Internet and do not have a computer please talk to me now. I will let you know in advance if a class will be on zoom. Please make sure to check your Piazza posts. If we use Zoom, I cannot allow unmuting yourself, changing your names, or showing your videos. But you can send me chat messages. Always send messages to the "host" account

COVID changes:
All classes will be recorded irrespective of whether the class is conducted in-person or on Zoom. However, the recordings will only be available 1 week before the midterm and 1 week before the final exams. In addition, I cannot gaurantee the quality of the recordings and I will not be able to re-record. If my microphone stops working in class, please let me know immediately. If I dont notice and the recording does not have audio, you are on your own.

Class Attendance: I will not take attendance in class. Please note that if you need a recommendation letter from me and I have never seen you in my office hours, seen you in class, or seen you participate in Piazza discussions, I cannot write you a recommendation letter.

Discussion policy: All discussions will take place on Piazza. Please be respectful of your fellow classmates and your instructor when posting questions. Piazza is only to ask questions pertaining to the class and not to air out your grievances. If you post questions or comments on Piazza that I deem derogatory to your classmates, TAs, or instructors (or is otherwise not constructive), I will remove them.

You are expected to read your Piazza posts frequently. I will be posting important announcements on it. Questions posted on Piazza can take up to 24 hours for a response from the instructor or the TA. If you ask a question very close to an assignment deadline, they may go unanswered.

Academic Dishonesty: I take academic dishonesty extremely seriously. Your assignments will be tested for plagiarism not only against your classmates but also with all past assignments. If I find evidence of dishonesty, I will immediately notify the Program Director and give you an F in the class.

Deadlines: All deadlines are tentative in the beginning. The firm deadlines will be announced in class and posted on Piazza.

Laptop and devices: I have a no-laptop and no-device policy in class. Please put away your laptop and devices. I will accomodate students who have accessibility requirements or other needs. In that case, send me email or come talk to me.