Objectives and competences
The objective of this course is that students will understand the details of the TCP/IP protocol stack and be able to analyze its protocols.
Content (Syllabus outline)
• Introduction: TCP/IP (Transport Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) protocol suite.
• Data link layer protocols: PPP – Point-to-Point Protocol, local area network technologies, VLAN - Virtual Local Area Network.
• Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) and Reverse Address Resolution Protocol (RARP).
• Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4): introduction, addressing, datagram encapsulation and formatting, datagram fragmentation and reassembly, datagram routing and multicasting.
• Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6): changes, transition, addressing, datagram encapsulation, formatting, fragmentation, reassembly, and routing.
• Protocols for enhancement or expansion of IP capabilities: IP NAT – IP Network Address Translation Protocol, IPsec – IP Security Protocols, Mobile IP – IP Mobility Support.
• IP support protocols: ICMP – Internet Control Message Protocol, IGMP – Internet Group Management Protocol, IPv6 ND – Neighbour Discovery Protocol.
• TCP/IP routing: RIP – Routing Information Protocol, OSPF – Open Shortest Path First, BGP Border Gateway Protocol.
• TCP/IP transport layer protocols: TCP – Transport Control Protocol, UDP – User Datagram Protocol, comparison of TCP and UDP, TCP in UDP addressing (ports and sockets), TCP connection management, TCP message formatting, TCP flow control.
• TCP/IP application layer protocols: DNS – Domain Name System, DHCP – Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, SNMP – Simple Network Management Protocol, FTP – File Transfer Protocol, SMTP – Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, WWW – World Wide Web, HTTP – Hypertext Transfer Protocol, NNTP – TCP/IP Network News Transfer Protocol, TCP/IP remote access protocols and administration utilities.
• InfiniBand architecture: basic concepts, comparison with TCP, InfiniBand for high-performance computing (HPC).
Learning and teaching methods
• lectures,
• tutorial,
• lab work.
Intended learning outcomes - knowledge and understanding
On completion of this course the student will be able to
• explain the principle of information exchange in computer networks based on TCP/IP protocol suite,
• analyse and compare TCP/IP lower-layer core protocols as well as TCP/IP application layer protocols,
• select and use appropriate software tools for analysis of communication protocols,
• configure network devices in TCP/IP networks.
Intended learning outcomes - transferable/key skills and other attributes
• Communication skills: oral lab work defence, manner of expression at quizzes and the written exam.
• Use of information technology: use of software tools for analysis of communication protocols.
• Calculation skills: calculating subnet masks in the binary and decimal number system.
• Problem solving: solving the given examples of communication protocols analysis and network device configuration at lab work
Readings
• C. M. Kozierok: The TCP/IP Guide: A Comprehensive, Illustrated Internet Protocols Reference, No Starch Press, San Francisco, 2005.
• B. H. Forouzan: TCP/IP Protocol Suite, Fourth Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York, 2010.
• B. A. Forouzan, F. Mosharraf: Computer Networks, A Top-Down Approach, McGraw-Hill, New York, 2012.
Prerequisits
Recommended is basic knowledge of computer networks and protocols.
Additional information on implementation and assessment The written exam may be substituted with continuous knowledge testing and assessment.
