CSL 374 Computer Networks (Semester I 2007-2008)

The purpose of this course is to introduce fundamental principles and concepts of computer networks. We will use a top-down approach to study the Internet Protocol stack. We will first study popular network applications such as Web, email, FTP, and P2P, then study communications services required to support these applications, and finally study how these communication services are implemented. Throughout this course, we will use the Internet's architecture and protocols to reinforce fundamental computer networking principles.

This page provides information on the following:

Announcements

26/11/07: BitTorrent Modeling paper by Srikant et al. available on moodel.
21/11/07: Grades available moodles. Contact me on Monday, 26 November 2007 if there are issues with your grades for this class.
28/10/07: Assignment 4 released.
10/10/07: Course notes (in PPT format) available from moodle.
24/09/07: Assignment 3 deadline extended; please see below.
17/09/07: Assignment 3 released.
10/09/07: Please use Moodle to submit Assignment 2. Moodle can be accessed at: http://jaijaivanti.cse.iitd.ac.in/courses/. Please register yourself and submit assignment.
10/09/07: Assignment 2 deadline extended. See below.
26/08/07: Assignment 2 released.
22/08/07: Initial list of networking papers released. See here.
15/08/07: Ethereal is available on the Linux machines in the general computing lab; it's installed at /usr/local/ethereal-0.99.0; please edit your $PATH settings accordingly.
15/08/07: Assignment 1 will now be due in-class on Tuesday, August 21.
31/07/07: Room change: From today (Tuesday, July 31st) and until further notice, we will meet in Room IIA201 (first floor), Bharti building.

Administrative Information

Here you will find administrative information for the CSL 374.

Textbook, References, and Reading List

The recommended textbook for this course is:

A supplementary textbook (recommended, but not required) is:

Lectures will be drawn from both textbooks, as well as from the research literature. I will also be pointing you to relevant research literature; some will be optional reading while others will be compulsory reading (i.e., material you may be tested upon). There will be some emphasis on self learning, so please be prepared to read.

I have released a preliminary list of papers from the networking research literature. Follow this link to access the list:

Also, you might want to read this very nice 2-page tutorial called How to Read a Paper by Prof. S. Keshav at U Waterloo.

Outline (tentative)

Evaluation

As per institute regulations, there will be two mid-semester and one end-semester examinations. In addition, there will be approximately 5 assignments; the assignments will be a mix of paper and pencil exercises, and programming projects. You will also be expected to write a survey of a recent research topic. The topic must broadly fit within the purview of the course and must be agreed to a priori between the instructor and the student.

The total for the course will be calculated using the weights given below. The weighted total will be converted to a letter grade according to IIT-D's grade point system.

  1. Assignments (30%)
  2. Mid-semester examination I (12%)
  3. Mid-semester examination II (13%)
  4. End-semester examination (45%)