1. 1 Welcome to COE 431: Computer Networks Instructor: Wissam F. Fawaz Office 103, Bassil Bldg. Email: wissam.fawaz@lau.edu.lbwissam.fawaz@lau.edu.lb Required text book: James Kurose and Keith Ross, Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach, Sixth Edition, Addison Wesley, 2013. Course website: http://services.sea.lau.edu/academia/courses/coe431/

2. 2 Outline Course Description and Objectives Prerequisites Course outline Grading Late submission policy

3. 3 Course description Part I: Introduction and fundamental concepts Part II: Internet Protocol Layers

4. 4 Course Objectives Understand Internet Technologies, terminology, issues, constraints Description: what is out there? Design and Implement Internet applications, protocols and algorithms Skill-oriented: projects Model complex network systems Analytical: parameter selection, and proof techniques Evaluate Alternatives, strengths and weaknesses Critical: what is wrong with…? How else can we model…?

5. 5 Am In the Right Room? This course does not directly address “How do I make money on the Internet?” “How do I configure an Apache web server?” Social/psychological impact of the Internet This course involves much more than using internet applications will require significant effort (projects, HWs, and exams)

6. 6 Course outline, Part I: Introduction Brief history of networking and the Internet Protocol layering Connections vs. connection-oriented service Packet switching vs. circuit switching Edge vs. core

7. 7 Course outline, Part II: Internet Protocol Layers Application layer Web and HTTP, ftp, mail, DNS, P2P file sharing, and socket programming Transport layer UDP, TCP, flow and congestion control Network layer Routers, IP, routing algorithms and protocols, broadcast and multicast Data link layer Error detection/correction, multiple access, Ethernet, PPP, and virtualization.

8. 8 Grading Assignments/Projects/quizzes: 25% Problems, lab assignments, and protocol reviews Exam I + Exam II: 45% Final: 30% comprehensive

9. 9 Homeworks Each student must provide His own solution Due at the beginning of the class on due day Ok to discuss problems with other students Not ok to share solutions

10. 10 Exams Goal: Ensure you grasp fundamentals of networking May include multiple choice questions Final exam will be comprehensive – based on Text, lectures, homework assignments and projects

11. 11 Late submission policy Homework No late homework will be accepted Projects No late projects will be accepted Final exam Miss the final exam without a valid excuse => F Make-up exam only under truly extraordinary circumstances

12. 12 Specific Teaching Goals The design of this course and its policies attempts to Prepare and reward good students because Network impact quality of life Unskilled practitioners are dangerous Skilled practitioners are valuable Improve your skills in Network design and analysis Performance analysis Documentation design

13. 13 So what is a good student? A good student is someone, who Is motivated (tries hard) Has aptitude (can do the work) Has good background (knows the prerequisites/basics)

14. 14 Why you shouldn’t take this course? You are not ready for hard work You don’t have 2 hours/week You just want to sit and listen You are not ready to take the initiative Only key concepts will be covered in class Students are expected to read the rest from the book

15. 15 NonGoals of the course This course is not intended to Focus on the implementation specifics of a vendor Provide Cisco/3com/Novell (or any other brand) certification But, I can promise the following This course make these things easier to learn Once you know the general principles and “Big Picture”

16. 16 Summary Computer networking is important for all areas of computing Goal: to prepare you for a career in networking Get ready to work hard

17. 17 End-user perspective Like many people Your perspective about networks Is that of a user of the network As opposed to the network engineer As students You view the Internet as a connection thru a wall plug What happens behind the wall plug is magic !!