Overview:   COMPSCI 356 is an undergraduate course in computer science teaching the fundamentals of computer networks. We will cover the technologies supporting the Internet, from Ethernet and WiFi through the routing protocols that govern the flow of traffic, and the web technologies that are generating most of it.

Topics:   The topics we will study include but are not limited to: how to achieve reliable/secure communications over unreliable/insecure channels, how to find a good path through a network, how to share network resources among competing entities, how to find an object in the network, and how to build network applications.

Textbooks (not required): Larry L. Peterson, Bruce S. Davie, Computer Networks: A Systems Approach, 5th or 4th Edition, Morgan Kaufmann. We will refer to this textbook as [PD] in this course.
Another great resource is the free online textbook by Peter L Dordal, An Introduction to Computer Networks

Piazza: We will use Piazza for outside classroom communication and discussion. Visit our Piazza site here.

Collaboration Policy: Students are encouraged to talk to each other, to the course staff, or to anyone else about any of the assignments, but individual assignments must be done individually. Assistance is limited to discussion of the problem and sketching general approaches to a solution.

Late Policy: 1) The deadline for any assignment can be extended with a 10% penalty per day; 2) No deadline can be extended by more than two days. Assignments will NOT be accepted 48 hours after the due date; 3) If you are ill, please contact the instructor and get a medical note.

Cheating Policy: Don't know if you are cheating? Please consult the Cheating Policy. If you are caught cheating, you will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct and you will receive a failing grade in the class.

Grading Policy