CS378: Course Description

Unique number: 54275, Time: Tue Thu 2:00-3:30PM, Classroom: CPE 2.204

Instructor: Yin Zhang, Email: yzhang at cs.utexas.edu, Office hours: Tue Thu 1:00-2:00PM, Office: ACES 5.248

Teaching Assistant: Vacha Dave, Email:  vacha at cs.utexas.edu, Hours: Thu 3:30-4:30PM, Desk: ENS 31NQ Desk #1

This is an advanced level undergraduate course in computer networks.  It explores in depth a broad range of important networking issues and solutions.  Topics include:

1.      Network design principles: signaling, indirection, randomization, multiplexing, virtualization, scalability, end-to-end principle, implementation principles

2.      Network performance evaluation & management: event-driven simulation, ns-2, network measurement, network control/data plane behavior, fault diagnosis

1.      Current networking topics: networking at the edge (cloud computing, data centers, enterprise networks, ad-hoc wireless, sensor network, DTNs, RFID, vehicular networks), network applications and services (p2p, multimedia, CDNs, online games, Web 2.0), network security (NIDS, botnet, anonymity, trust), etc.

 

The course has two main goals: (i) through lectures, class discussions, and reading assignments, you will learn the state of the art in computer networks; and (ii) through programming assignments, you will gain hands-on experience in simulating, implementing, measuring, and analyzing network protocols and applications.

 

Prerequisite

CS 356 (Computer Networks) or consent of instructor. 

Textbook

As the course prerequisite, an introductory course in computer networks is assumed.  If you are not sure if you have enough background in computer networks, you should read any of the following four books – they all cover approximately the same basic materials.

 

For your convenience, I’ve also included a set of networking review slides from [Kurose & Ross].

Mailing List

There is a mailing list associated with this course: cs378-s9@utlists.utexas.edu.  Be sure to subscribe to the mailing list regardless of whether you are registered for the course, as I will be sending out special announcements using this list.

To add yourself to the list, do the following:

  1. Create an account at UT Lists:
    1. go to the home page of UT Lists (https://utlists.utexas.edu/sympa),
    2. click link “First login?” on the left side of the page
    3. fill in your email address (on the right side of the page) and click “Send me my password”.
    4. you will soon receive an email with the password for your account.
  2. Login your account at UT Lists (using the password you received in email)
  3. In the same browser window, change the URL to https://utlists.utexas.edu/sympa/info/cs378-s9
  4. Click link “Subscribe” on the left side of the page.

For more help on how to use UT Lists, check out  http://www.utexas.edu/its/mailinglists/start.php and https://utlists.utexas.edu/sympa/help

Class Web Page

All assignments, lecture slides, as well as special announcements are posted on the class web page with the URL: http://www.cs.utexas.edu/~yzhang/Teaching/cs378-s9/ . I do not have a fixed schedule for posting updates, but it is a good idea to check it often.  At the very least, check once a week for assignment due dates and special announcements.

You are responsible for downloading and printing the homework from the class web page.  There will be no hard-copy handouts of these in class.

The class web page will have links to the TA's web page, with information on office hours, homework solutions, etc. If you have questions about homework, please send email to the TA or to the class mailing list, or visit during her office hours. She will be responsible for grading homework.  Also, she will answer student questions sent to the class mailing list.

Grading

Final course grades will be computed with the following weights and letter grades will be determined on a curve.

Homework

Homework will be due at the beginning of class on due date. Late submissions will not be accepted. (Actually, I will give you a 10-minute grace period in case you arrive late to class. If you arrive within the first 10 minutes of class, please locate the TA and give your submission to her quietly.)

Programming

There will be several programming assignments designed to help you to gain hands-on experience on network simulation and network measurement.

Exams

There are two take-home exams. Exams will be posted on the class web page. (There will be no separate final exam after the last class day.)

Class participation

There will be several quizzes throughout the semester.  These quizzes are designed to review materials covered in recent lectures.

Collaboration Policy

Collaboration policy:  You can discuss homework and labs with classmates.  However, everyone must write up his/her own solutions for submission.  Similarly, you can talk to fellow students about general concepts, data structures, and language constructs needed for programming assignments.  But everyone must write and test his/her own programs individually. Do not look at or copy someone else's solution to any homework, lab, or programming assignment. 

Please refer to the Student Code of Conduct document for additional information.

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