CSE 310: Computer Networks (Fall 2025)
Semester
Instructor
Course Time
Location
Class Discussion Forum
Contact Info
Instructor email: arunab@cs.stonybrook.edu
Instructor office: Room 337, New Computer Science
Instructor Office Hours:
Zoom: Monday 2.30pm - 3.30pm Zoom link: https://stonybrook.zoom.us/j/91852612601?pwd=i8WvkW9lyMNa6jBxof9Ba8dhEwLr9n.1
In-person: Wednesday 9.45am to 10.45am
TA office hours: TBD
Announcement
- Webpage is up
- To join the discussion forum please follow the link https://edstem.org/us/join/w86BfY
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:
Midterms (2 midterms): 20% each
Cumulative final exam: 25%
In-class quiz or class participation (Tentative): 5%
Assignments with both programming questions and conceptual questions (3, 10 points each): 30%
Assignments: There will be 3 assignments in all. The Assignments should be submitted before 9.00pm on the day they are due. You will get 2 weeks for each assignment. The assignments will have a programming component which should be programmed in Python. Each assignment will also have a set of conceptual questions.
Midterms and final exam: The midterms and final exam exams are in-person and timed. All the exams are closed book but I allow a 1-page cheat sheet. The final exam is comprehensive.
Grace period: You get a 48 hours grace period spanning all 3 assignments. You will not be penalized as long as the total hours that you are late does not exceed 48 hours across your assignments.
Late submission policy:
If you submit your assignment 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 |
|
08/25/2025 |
Introduction |
No reading |
|
|
Application Layer |
|
|
|
|
08/27/2025 |
Application |
1.5, 2.1.1, (2.1.2 covered in Transport), 2.1.5 |
|
|
09/01/2025 |
No class, labor day |
|
No class |
|
09/03/2025 |
Web, HTTP |
2.2 (except cookies) |
|
|
09/08/2025 |
DNS |
|
Programming assignment 1 out 09/08, due 09/22 |
|
09/10/2025 |
CDNs |
2.6.3 |
|
|
Transport Layer |
|
|
|
|
9/15/2025 |
Introduction to Transport layer |
3.1, 3.2, 2.7 |
|
|
9/17/2025 |
Introduction to TCP |
3.3.1, 3.5.1, 3.5.2 |
|
|
9/22/2025 |
Flow control, congestion control |
3.5.3, 3.5.4, 3.5.5 |
Programming assignment due 09/22 |
|
9/24/2025 |
Congestion control |
3.6.1, 3.7 (excluding 3.7.1 or 3.7.2), 3.3 (no checksums) |
|
|
9/29/2025 |
Congestion control + UDP |
|
|
|
Midterm |
|||
|
10/01/2025 |
In-class midterm |
|
Midterm |
|
Transport layer continued |
|||
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10/06/2025 |
Wireshark tutorial |
|
Assignment 2 out 10/06, due 10/20 |
|
10/08/2025 |
No class, instructor out of town |
|
No class |
|
10/13/2025 |
No class, Fall break |
|
No class |
|
10/15/2025 |
HTTP/HTTP3 |
|
|
|
Network Layer |
|
|
|
|
10/20/2025 |
Introduction to network layer and IP addressing |
4.3.3 (details of DHCP excluded) |
Assignment 2 due 10/20 |
|
10/22/2025 |
IP addressing + midterm review |
|
|
|
Midterm |
|
|
|
|
10/27/2025 |
Midterm #2 |
In class midterm |
Midterm |
|
10/29/2025 |
No class |
No class |
No class |
|
Network layer continued |
|
|
|
|
11/03/2025 |
IP forwarding |
4.2 |
|
|
11/05/2025 |
IP layer |
4.3.1, 4.3.4, 4.3.5 |
|
|
11/10/2025 |
VAN and NATs |
|
Assignment 3 out 11/10, due 11/24 |
|
11/12/2023 |
Intra domain routing |
5.2 (5.2.1, 5.2.2) No poisoned reverse |
|
|
11/17/2025 |
Inter domain routing |
5.4 |
|
|
Switching, Link, and Physical Layer |
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|
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11/19/2025 |
Switching and ARP |
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11/24/2025 |
Extending a LAN + link layer |
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Assignment 3 due 11/24 |
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11/26/2025 |
Thanksgiving break, no class |
|
|
|
12/01/2025 |
Link layer + Physical layer |
6.1, 6.1.1, 6.3, 6.3.1, 6.3.2 |
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|
12/03/2025 |
Physical layer + wrap up |
|
Final exam scheduled according to registrar's office |
Others
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.
Letters of recommendation: Given this large class, I will only be able to provide letters of recommendation if I have interacted with you during the class during office hours.
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 Undergraduate 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.