CPE 401/601 Computer Network Systems

Course Information

Class hours	Monday & Wednesday, 1:00 - 2:15pm, PE 205
Instructor	Dr. Mehmet Gunes
E-mail	mgunes (at) cse (dot) unr (dot) edu
Phone	(775) 784 - 4313
Web page	http://www.cse.unr.edu/~mgunes
Office	SEM 230 (Scrugham Engineering-Mines)
Office hours	Monday & Wednesday 2:30 - 4:00 pm or by appointment

Catalog Description

Objective

Prerequisites

• Introduction to Computer Engineering (CPE 201).
• Mathematics of Computer Science (CS 365).
• C/C++ or Java programming experience in UNIX-like environment.

Textbooks

• Richard Stevens, Bill Fenner, and Andrew M. Rudoff, "UNIX Network Programming, Vol. 1: The Sockets Networking API", Addison-Wesley, 3th edition.

• Bruce Molay, "Understanding Unix/Linux Programming: A Guide to Theory and Practice", Prentice Hall.
• Douglas Comer and David Stevens "Internetworking with TCP/IP Volume III: Client-Server Programming and Applications, Linux/POSIX version", Prentice Hall.

Syllabus (Tentative)

1. Introduction to Computer Networks
   • Internet Architecture
   • Protocol Layers
   • TCP/IP
   • Routing
   
   
2. Socket Programming
   • Network API
   • Socket Addressing
   • TCP Sockets
   • UDP Sockets
   • SCTP Sockets
   • Error Handling
   • I/O multiplexing
   • Name and Address conversion, DNS
   
   
3. Communication Protocols
   • Telnet
   • HTTP
   • TFTP
   • E-mail (SMTP, POP)
   • FTP
   • Chat (IRC)
   
   
4. Web Servers
   • Dynamic Web Documents
   • CGI
   • JavaScript
   • Perl
   • Java
   • Performance Measurement
   
   
5. Advanced Sockets
   • Threads Programming
   • Client/Server Programming
   • Deamon Processes
   • LDAP
   • External Data Representation (XDR)
   • Distributed Program Design
   • Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
   
   
6. Network Security
   • Security
   • Encryption
   • Kerberos
   
   

Organization

• Except this web page, all course materials will be posted at the WebCT.
  
  
• Class participation in terms of asking questions is highly encouraged. Please do not be afraid to ask questions no matter how simple you might think the answer could be. This type of interaction helps improve the effectiveness of the class and breaks the monotony.
  
  
• Presentation slides will be available on the class web page. I will try to put them up before each class meeting but no guarantees on that.
  
  
• There will be five lab assignments (six for 601 students) involving quite a bit of programming. They will require turning in code that compiles and runs properly and a report documenting the program (specifications, implementation, user manual, etc.). Note that knowledge of C/C++ or Java in UNIX environment is required for the assignments. It is expected that everyone is a good programmer (develops error-handling, well-structured, readable code). Late assignments will be penalized by 10% per day, except holidays. If I am not available, ask department secretary to stamp late assignments and then place them in my mail box. You are responsible to make sure the stamp has both the date and the time. Assignments will be accepted only through WebCT.
  
  
• There will be four in-class quizzes. Exact date for some of these quizzes will not be exposed beforehand. These quizzes will be open book/notes and extremely time-constrained, i.e., 15-30 mins. Questions in these quizzes will be designed to give you an opportunity to test and affirm your knowledge of the course content.
  
  
• There will be one midterm exam and one final exam. You should plan on taking the exams on the scheduled times. No late/early exams unless in case of an emergency situation such as health emergency or similar un-avoid-able situations and you need to provide convincing documentation for it. The exams will be closed books and closed notes. No calculators (unless otherwise stated) and no other electronic devices such as cell phones, beepers, etc. should be used during the exam.
  
  
• There will be extra questions in assignments and exams for CPE 601 students.
  
  
• There will be no team assignments in this class, therefore all assignments and exams must be prepared strictly individually. You are welcome to discuss the problems or solution strategies with your class mates but the resulting work should be your own. Do not share code in any form. Copying from each other or from other sources is considered as cheating. Any form of cheating such as plagiarism or ghostwriting will incur a severe penalty, usually failure in the course. Please refer to the UNR policy on Academic Standards.
  
  
• If you have a disability for which you will need to request accommodations, please contact the instructor or someone at the Disability Resource Center (Thompson Student Services - 101) as soon as possible.
  
  

Grading (Tentative)

Grading Policy

50 - Network Labs (4)
10 - Quizzes (4)
20 - Midterm Exam
20 - Final Exam

Grading Scale

A : 90 - 100
B : 80 - 89
C : 70 - 79
D : 60 - 69
F : 0 - 59 (or caught cheating)

Important Note: You will have one week to appeal for your grades after the graded assignments/tests are returned. So, please keep this in mind if you think that there is a problem/issue with the grading of your work.

ABET Criteria

ABET Accreditation Criterion 3 Program Outcomes that are relevant to this course are:

(a)   an ability to apply knowledge of computing, mathematics, science, and engineering
(b)   an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
(c)   an ability to design, implement, and evaluate a computer-based system, process, component, or program to meet desired needs, within realistic constraints specific to the field
(d)   a knowledge of contemporary issues
(e)   an ability to use current techniques, skills, and tools necessary for computing and engineering practice

Schedule (Tentative), Notes & Assignments

Announcements

Announcements regarding the course will be posted on this web page and WebCT. Please check your WebCT e-mail daily.

• Jan 20, 2009 : You can access student resources of textbook at http://www.unpbook.com/.
   
• Jan 25, 2009 : Assignments will be accepted only through WebCT. Hence, either prepare your reports in digital form or scan handwritten pages.
   
• Jan 27, 2009 : Lab 1 is posted and is due on Tuesday, Feb 17 at 12:00 pm.
   
• Feb 18, 2009 : Lab 2 is due on Tuesday, Mar 3 at 12:00 pm.
   
• Mar 8, 2009 : Lab 3 is posted and is due on Tuesday, Apr 7 at 12:00 pm.
   
• Mar 9, 2009 : We need to schedule a lecture for CGI lab. Please indicate time slots that are not working for you at WebCT by Wednesday noon.
   
• Mar 12, 2009 : The CGI lab discussion will be on March 25 at 2:15 pm.
   
• Apr 8, 2009 : Lab 4 is posted and is due on Tuesday, May 5 at 12:00 pm.
   
• Apr 22, 2009 : Bonus added to the Lab 4.
   
• Apr 30, 2009 : There has been an update to the bonus of Lab 4.
   
• May 1, 2009 : You can schedule for Lab 4 demo on May 8, Friday through WebCT.
   
• May 1, 2009 : Course evaluations are on WebCT. Do not forget to complete your evaluations before May 6th.
   
• May 6, 2009 : Lab 4 demos are extended to May 11, Monday.
   
• May 28, 2009 : Check out www.stopthehacker.com: a very interesting startup on web security from a friend of mine.