Course Description

This course offers detailed concept and structure of networking standards and principles. It includes introduction, functioning and significance of Physical Layer, Data Link Layer, Network Layer, Transport Layer, Application layer and some security mechanisms. It does not entirely focus on theoretical concept but also strongly focuses on practical skill based learning.

Course Objectives

The general objectives of this course are to provide theoretical as well as practical knowledge of computer networking to make students capable of implementing, managing and troubleshooting the issues of computer network in their personal as well professional life.

Course Contents

1. Introduction

6 hrs

1.1. Network as an infrastructure for data communication

1.2. Applications of Computer network

1.3. Network Architecture

1.4. Types of computer Networks

1.5. Protocols and Standards

1.6. The OSI Reference Model

1.7. The TCP/IP Protocol Suite

1.8. Comparison between OSI and TCP/IP Reference model

1.9. Critiques of OSI and TCP/IP Reference model

2. The Physical Layer

6 hrs

2.1. Functions of Physical Layer

2.2. Data and Signals: Analog and Digital signals, Transmission Impairment

2.3. Data Rate Limits, Performance

2.4. Data Transmission Media: Guided Media and Unguided Media

2.5. Bandwidth Utilization: Multiplexing and Spreading

2.6. Switching: Circuit switching, Message switching & Packet switching

2.7. Telephone, Mobile and Cable network for data Communication

3. The Data Link Layer

8 hrs

3.1. Functions of Data Link Layer

3.2. Data Link Control: Framing, Flow and Error Control

3.3. Error Detection and Correction

3.4. High-Level Data Link Control (HDLC) & Point-to-Point protocol (PPP)

3.5. Channel Allocation Problem

3.6. Multiple Access: Random Access (ALOHA, CSMA, CSMA/CD, CSMA/CA)

3.7. Controlled Access (Reservation, Polling, Token Passing)

3.8. Channelization (FDMA, TDMA, CDMA)

4. The Network Layer

8 hrs

4.1. Functions of Network Layer

4.2. Virtual circuits and Datagram Subnets

4.3. IPv4 Addresses: Address Space, Notations, Classful addressing, Classless addressing

4.4. Subnetting and Network Address Translation (NAT)

4.5. IPv4 Datagram format and fragmentation

4.6. IPv6 Address Structure and advantages over IPv4

4.7. Routing Algorithms: Distance Vector Routing, Link State Routing

4.8. Internet Control Protocols: ARP, RARP, ICMP

4.9. Routing protocols: OSPF, BGP, Unicast, Multicast and Broadcast

5. The Transport Layer

7 hrs

5.1. Functions of Transport Layer

5.2. Elements of Transport Protocols: Addressing, Establishing and Releasing Connection

5.3. Flow Control & Buffering, Error Control, Multiplexing & Demultiplexing

5.4. Crash Recovery

5.5. User Datagram Protocol (UDP): User Datagram, UDP Operations, Uses of UDP, RPC

5.6. Principles of Reliable Data Transfer: Building a Reliable Data Transfer Protocol

5.7. Pipelined Reliable Data Transfer Protocol, Go-Back-N (GBN), Selective Repeat (SR)

5.8. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP): TCP Services, TCP Features, TCP Segment Header

5.9. Principle of Congestion Control

6. The Application Layer

5 hrs

6.1. Functions of Application layer

6.2. Application Layer Protocols: DNS, DHCP, WWW, HTTP, HTTPS, TELNET, FTP, SMTP, POP, IMAP

6.3. Concept of traffic analyzer: MRTG, PRTG, SNMP, Packet tracer, Wireshark

7. Network Security

5 hrs

7.1. A Model for Network Security

7.2. Principles of cryptography: Symmetric Key and Public Key

7.3. Public Key Algorithm – RSA

7.4. Digital Signature Algorithm

7.5. Communication Security: IPSec, VPN, Firewalls, Wireless Security

Laboratory Works

Laboratory works should include practical implementation of networking concepts such as configuring IP address, setting up servers, implementing LAN topologies, using packet tracer, Wireshark, firewall configuration, etc.

1.Laboratory Works

Text Books

1.Andrew S. Tanenbaum, David J. Wetherall, "Computer Networks, 5/e", Prentice Hall, 2011

Reference Books

1.Behrouz A. Forouzan, "Data Communications and networking" Tata McGraw-Hill
2.Kurose, Ross, "Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach", Pearson Education Limited, 2017
3.Larry L. Peterson and Bruce S. Davie, "Computer Network: A System Approach", Morgan Kaufmann, 5/e, 2012

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