Topic Outline

Computer Networks

Computer Science Honours 1998

Overview

The Honours Computer Networks topic is designed to cover fundamentals of computer networks based on OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) Reference Model and TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol). The contents include:

o Protocol hierarchy
o Layers of Protocols and their functions,
o Performance and reliability issues in networks,
o Some popular network protocols, e.g., ethernet, token ring, TCP/IP,
o Design and implementation issues of network protocols.

Objectives

By the end of the topic you should have

o understood concepts and techniques of computer networks,
o analysed the functions of communication protocols at different layers,
o designed network software using serive, access-point and protocol technique,
o implemented some simple protocols.

The prescribed book

A. Tanenbaum, Computer Networks, Prentice-Hall, 3rd edition, 1996.

Mark Allocations

The mark breakdown to exam and class work is 66.7 to 33.3. The class mark consists of assignment, lab and tests.

Subminima

Remember that you must obtain at least a 40% subminimum for this topic. Failure to achieve this will result in failure overall. See the course outline for more details.

 

Yinong Chen (yinong@cs.wits.ac.za) SH1016