Module Information

Module Identifier
CS35110
Module Title
The Internet: Architecture and Operation
Academic Year
2013/2014
Co-ordinator
Mr David Ernest Price
Semester
Intended for use in future years
Pre-Requisite
CS15210
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Exam 2 Hours   Written Exam  100%
Supplementary Exam Will take the same form, under the terms of the Department's policy 

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module, students will:

  • have consolidated and greatly extended their knowledge of the Internet and its protocols;
  • understand the difficult problems that appear in the management of routing and naming in large networks;
  • be able to exercise judgment in the choice of appropriate protocols and services to address real needs of Internet operators and users;
  • have critically reviewed the challenges facing the Internet as it evolves to meet new demands and will be able to explain the need for a new generation of the Internet and describe current progress towards it.

Brief description

The Internet is a complex, multi-organisation network reaching nearly all parts of the world. The functioning of the network and the applications running upon it depend on a complex set of protocols. This module addresses the fundamental aspects of the most important issues that permit the network and its applications to operate successfully.

Aims

This module is designed to provide an insight into the internal architecture of the Internet, and the functioning of its most critical protocols. The module builds on a basic understanding obtained through study of module CS15210. The module is complementary to module CS25610 which concentrates on application design and construction, whereas this module is concerned with internal behaviour and functionality of the Internet and its protocols. The Internet is an evolving network environment. New applications and supporting protocols are being designed and many of these provide new and different demands from the Internet. The module will conclude by addressing progress towards meeting those demands.

Content

1. Introduction and the Overall Architecture of the Internet and its Operation - 1 Lectures
Overall architecture.

2. Network Level Protocols - 6 Lectures
Including IPv4, IPv6, ICMP, IGMP, unicast and multicast.

3. Routing in the Internet - 3 Lectures
Some routing "problems". Interior and exterior routing protocols. Unicast and Multicast routing.

4. Transport Level Protocols - 4 Lectures
Including TCP and UDP. Connection establishment and termination, flow control under various load conditions, timeouts and retransmission, newer features and performance.

5. Naming and Directory Services - 3 Lectures
Including the DNS and LDAP and their use.

6. SNMP: Simple Network Management Protocol - 1 Lectures
Management stations and managed elements, Management Information Bases (MIBs), Structure of Management Information (SMI) and the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

7. Current and Future Issues - 4 Lectures
Quality of Service (QoS) issues, security and denial of service issues.

Reading List

Recommended Text
Behrouz Forouzan (2003) TCP/Protocol Suite McGraw-Hill Primo search

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6