CSE 534: Fundamentals of Computer Networks
Semester
Instructor
Course Time
Location
Class Discussion Forum
Contact Info
Instructor email: arunab@cs.stonybrook.edu
Office hours
Zoom Office hours: Tuesday 4.00 - 5.00pm (Zoom link will be shared on Ed)
In-Person Office hours Wednesday 10.00am - 11.00am
TA emails: TBD
Announcement
Schedule and other information will be discussed on day of the first class.
All assignments should be submitted on BrightSpace.
Description
This is a graduate level Computer Networks course. The course will teach advanced topics in Computer Networks. We will quickly cover standard protocols in each layer of the OSI stack and discuss design patterns commonly used in networking protocols. We will then discuss newer developments in the networking world for the rest of the semester discussing topics including HTTP/3, MPTCP, data center networking, Software Defined Networks, and IPFS, all in the context of the OSI stack.
Because of the advanced nature of the course, it is highly recommended that you have a background in Computer Networks. You should be familiar with networking terminology such as Network protocol, OSI stack, Network Interface Card, IP address, TCP/UDP, Sockets, BGP, routing protocols, MAC address, Layer 2, etc.
Textbooks
There is no textbook for this course. If you want to a textbook to follow along, you can use Computer Networks, A Top Down Approach by Kurose and Ross 7th edition.
Prerequisites
Grading
The grading criteria are as follows:
Midterm (#1, #2, #3): 16% each
Final Exam: 22%
Programming Assignments (1): 10%
Final Project: 20%
Programming Assignment: There will be one programming assignment and you should write your program in Python. You can use AI tools to understand the assignment but you cannot use it to write code. Please add citations about how to used any AI tools. In your first midterm, you will be asked detailed questions about the assignment including coding questions.
Midterm: There are 3 midterms each covering the set of topics covered before the midterm but after the previous midterm. Midterms are closed text closed notes but you are allowed a 1-page cheat sheet. The tentative midterm schedule is available in the schedule section.
Finals: Finals is semi-comprehensive and includes what is covered after Midterm #3 but also some portions of the syllabus taught before. Final exams are also closed book and closed notes, but you are allowed to bring a one page cheat sheet. Final exam schedule will be according to the university calendar.
Project: You will do a group project with 3 students each (If you want to do a solo project please come and talk to me. If you are a Ph.D. student, a solo project may be ok if it is in line with your research). The project will consist of a project proposal, a project progress, a project presentation and a final report. The project will be in 4 topics (may be expanded): Interplanetary File System, TCP Kernel Modifications, Quantum Networks (NetQuid), and Mininet Software Defined Network.
For each of these topics, I expect you to read up and come up with a project for your group. I can share some papers in each topic that you can use for inspiration. Here you can use the help of AI tools to conceptualize your idea. However, more than 50% of the coding needs to be done without AI help. As before, you need provide detailed citations on how you used the AI tools. You will also be asked specific questions on your project in your written exam (format TBD)
Tentative Schedule
| Date | Topic | Readings | Notes |
| 01/27/2025 | Introduction | No reading. | [introduction.pdf] Overview of the class structure and introduction to the syllabus |
| Application Layer | |||
| 01/29/2025 | DNS | ||
| 02/03/2025 | Web + HTTP | Assignment #1 on DNS and DNSSec out. Due 2/17 | |
| 02/05/2025 | HTTP2 + CDN | ||
| Transport layer | |||
| 02/10/2025 | Transport layer introduction | ||
| 02/12/2025 | TCP flow control + congestion control | ||
| 02/17/2025 | Other CC algorithms + HTTP/2 revisited | Assignment 1 due | |
| 02/19/2025 | Other CC algorithms | ||
| Midterm #1 | |||
| 02/24/2025 | In-class midterm | Midterm #1 | |
| Network layer | |||
| 02/26/2025 | Introduction to networking layer + Project discussion | Discuss possible project topics | |
| 03/03/2025 | Addressing + IP | ||
| 03/05/2025 | Inter-domain routing + Intra-domain routing | ||
| 03/10/2025 | More networking | ||
| Midterm #2 | |||
| 03/12/2025 | In-class midterm | Midterm #2 | |
| Fall break | |||
| 03/17/2025 | Fall break, no class | ||
| 03/19/2025 | Fall break, no class | ||
| Special topics | |||
| 03/24/2025 | Data center networking | ||
| 03/26/2025 | Software defined networks | Project proposal due | |
| 03/31/2025 | Video streaming | ||
| 04/02/2025 | Video on Demand | ||
| 04/07/2025 | Quic/HTTP3 + MPTCP | ||
| 04/09/2025 | Middleboxes | ||
| Midterm #3 | |||
| 04/14/2025 | In-class midterm | ||
| Special Topics continued | |||
| 04/16/2025 | IPFS | ||
| 04/21/2025 | TBD | Project progress report due | |
| 04/23/2025 | Link layer | ||
| 04/28/2025 | Physical layer and wrap up | ||
| Presentation week | |||
| 04/30/2025 | Last minute project discussions | ||
| 05/05/2025-05/09/2025 | Project presentations | Project report/Project slides due 05/05 | |
Others
CSE 522: If you are registered for this class as CSE 522 (basic project), you will do exactly the same as anyone registered for CSE 534. Originally I was going to require you to do a one-person project but that is no longer a requirement.
Deadlines: All deadlines are tentative in the beginning. The firm deadlines will be announced in class and posted on Ed.
Discussion policy: All discussions will take place on Ed. Please be respectful of your fellow classmates and your instructor when posting questions. If you post questions or comments on Ed that I deem derogatory or otherwise not constructive, I will remove them.
You are expected to read your Ed posts frequently. I will be posting important announcements on it.
Grading policy: I will not be able to give any individual student extra credit for additional work or projects. However, if your research projects that are especially good, I may award additional points. This is at my discretion.
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 Graduate Program Director and give you an F in the class.
Recordings: The class will not be recorded.
Laptop and devices: I have a no-laptop and no-device policy in class. Please put away your laptop and devices. I will accommodate students who have accessibility requirements or other needs. If so send me an email.
Statement regarding dealing with attendance and class schedule: Students are expected to report for examinations and submit major graded coursework as scheduled. If a student is unable to report for any exams or complete major graded coursework as scheduled due to extenuating circumstances, the student must contact the instructor as soon as possible. Students will be requested to provide documentation to support their absence and/or may be referred to the Student Support Team for assistance. Students will be provided reasonable accommodations for missed exams, assignments or projects due to significant illness, tragedy or other personal emergencies. In the instance of missed lectures the student is responsible to go over the slides from the previous lecture. The lecture will be recorded and posted but can be of varying quality.