Course syllabus

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EDA344 / DIT423 / LEU062 Computer communication lp3 VT23 (7.5 hp)

The EDA344 / DIT423  and LEU062 courses are synchronized  (sharing lectures, lab material, exam), having customized elements as well (timeslots for execrcise/training sessions  and labs)

The courses are offered by the department of Computer Science and Engineering.

This document contains general (Syllabus/PM) info. Please follow the "Pages" link at the left for more detail.

Contact details

Examiners:  Marina Papatriantafilou, Hans-Martin Heyn

Some lectures will held by Guest Lecturers from Industry (to be confirmed).

Contact the examiners for questions related to the lectures.

Tutors: Contact these people for queries related to the labs. To save time, please make sure that you have read carefully the instructions for the assignments, both the technical and the administration part. During the course there will also be undergraduate students TAs(Teaching Assistants)  supporting the lab work. Use the lab-hours to make your questions and get instant support. Check the Lab-module for more info.

  • Martin Hilgendorf (marhilg@chalmers.se) PhD student (assisting with labs, holding exercise sessions EDA344 / DIT 423)
  • Stavroula Zouzoula (zouzoula@chalmers.se) PhD student (assisting with labs, holding exercise sessions LEU062)

Course purpose

Introductory course on data communication and computer networks/Internet, including (i) aspects that practicing engineers encounter in their work, as well as (ii) context for following upon the evolution of this rapidly changing field of computer science and engineering, e.g. Internet of Things. After completion, the student should be able to distinguish the different network layers, services and related protocols. In particular, students will be able to:

  • Explain the major tasks/services that each of these provides
  • Explain possibilities and constraints in today's networks (Internet) and in general contexts
  • Build and configure a working network 

Moreover, via the labs and assignments, students will be trained in solving network problems, working with network protocols, building up a network and configuring (also dynamically) network traffic; they will also have gained experience by doing practical work in applying the knowledge offered by the course in realistic situations.

In the study of protocols, we start with application-layer protocols, in the context of applications that we use regularly. Moving to lower layers later on, we have the possibility to gradually uncover network services, their functionality and the ease/difficulty for achieving them. Topics covered include: networking applications, content distribution, HTTP, SMTP, TCP, UDP, performance and congestion analysis, IP, switching, routing, Software-Defined networks (SDN), mobile IP, local area networks, multiple access protocols (IEEE 802.X and others), wireless networks; in less detail we discuss physical media, error-detection and correction, and network security, connecting to other courses that specialize on these subjects.

Schedule

TimeEdit

Check also the main home page for detailed info, eg how the lab slots are used/booked, and more

Course literature

Text book: Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach, 8 ed., James F. Kurose and Keith W. Ross (available through Cremona and Chalmers' library, also as e-book). At the web pages of the course you can find a detailed Reading List.

Other books and useful resources can be found  in the corresponding web pages of the course.

Course design

The course includes:

  • 15-16 lectures, including guest lectures from industry
  • Exercise sessions
  • Survey-quizzes, for the purpose of identifying topics that may need further discussion in class
  • 5 labs with hands-on work
    • Lab1: Study Application Network Traffic (http, DNS) , using wireshark 
    • Lab2: Study Transport Network Traffic (TCP), using wireshark
    • Lab3: Routing and Network Connectivity, in Cisco Packet Tracer
    • Lab4: Network Address Configurations,  in Cisco Packet Tracer
    • Lab5: Software Defined Networking and OpenFlow, using MiniNet

The web pages (menu at the left, main page at "Computer Communication (Study Period 3"), the modules and the detailed schedule of the course illustrate how these are mapped on the scheduled time. 

Changes made since the last occasion

Remote/mixed forms of meetings. Separate exercise/lab sessions for LEU062 and for EDA344/DIT423 courses in the two campuses.

Learning objectives and syllabus

Learning objectives:

01. show basic knowledge and skills in the field of data communications and computer networks,
02. show good knowledge of reference models for computer communication in terms of function, services and protocols.
03. apply knowledge of reference models to gain understanding on the construction and use of various computer networks and protocols. 
04. show good knowledge of the TCP / IP model and the Internet's structure and architecture
05. show good knowledge of the principles, protocols and standards that TCP / IP-based networks and their applications are based on. 
06. prepare a basic IP addressing plan for an intranet.
07. show good understanding of the Internet's possibilities and  limitations with respect to service warranties in connection with evolving needs and services.
08. explain how different types of computer networks are constructed relative to the transmission medium's characteristics, bandwidth requirements, coding methods and functions for error and flow control.
09. seek deeper knowledge of the individual standards and protocols in the data communication field.
10. implement a simple application-layer protocol starting from its specification and applying communication through sockets.
11. show basic practical skills in the configuration of local networks.

Link to the syllabus on Chalmers Studieportalen: Study plan

Link to the syllabus GU:  https://kursplaner.gu.se/pdf/kurs/en/dit423

Examination form

Students must pass the 5 labs and the written exam at the end of the course. Follow the links to the web pages of the course for details.

Course summary:

Date Details Due