Ateneo - UPO

The course explain how a device network works from the application layer until the network layer following the TCP/IP's iso/osi stack.

James F. Kurose, Keith W. Ross, Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach 8th Edition.

Understand how devices connected via networks can communicate each other.

The student should know the topics proposed in the Computer Architecture and Operating Systems courses

Lessons in class and in the computer lab. During the course, students will be proposed assignments for both theory and practice parts.

All along the course self-evaluation exercises are proposed to assess understanding of the concepts and of the technical aspects.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request
specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse
e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-
students-physical-or-learning-disabilities
Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted
the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination
modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The exam consists of a written test with 8 questions about the topics of the course: 4 questions about theory (each question with maximum score of 4 points), 2 questions about lab (each question with a maximum score of 4 points) and, finally, 2 questions with exercises (each question with a maximum score of 5 points). The final mark is the sum of the scores assigned to each answer.

Grades are awarded on a scale of thirty, according to the following criteria:
• Not suitable
Knowledge and understanding of the subject: significant deficiencies and inaccuracies. Analytical and synthesis skills: negligible; frequent generalizations. Use of references: completely inappropriate.
• 18–20
Knowledge and understanding of the subject: very limited; evident flaws. Analytical and synthesis skills: barely sufficient. Use of references: barely appropriate.
• 21–23
Knowledge and understanding of the subject: knowledge is just above the minimum requirement. Analytical and synthesis skills: fair analytical and synthesis abilities; arguments are logical and coherent. Use of references: uses standard references.
• 24–26
Knowledge and understanding of the subject: good knowledge. Analytical and synthesis skills: good analytical and synthesis abilities; arguments are presented coherently. Use of references: uses standard references.
• 27–29
Knowledge and understanding of the subject: very good knowledge. Analytical and synthesis skills: strong analytical and synthesis abilities. Use of references: in-depth exploration of the subject matter.
• 30–30 cum laude
Knowledge and understanding of the subject: excellent knowledge. Analytical and synthesis skills: strong analytical and synthesis abilities. Use of references: significant in-depth analysis.

The course deals with the following:
-Intuitive introduction to the network describing in a qualitative way its structure and functionalities.
-Application level: protocols for e-mail, web and DNS.
-Session level: socket and socket programming.
-Transport level: protocols TCP and UDP
-Network level: protocols IP and ICMP
-Routing protocols: routing algorithms, notion of Autonomous System, protocols RIP, OSPF, BGP.
Besides the description of the mentioned protocols, the course aims at endowing the student with a direct experience on management of computer networks and the related issues.
Therefore, part of the course consists of practical lessons in which the student is given exercises to complete in lab hours or as a homework.

To reach the minimum required levels of knowledge associated to the course, and the corresponding skills, the student is required to have a suitable understanding and knowledge of
- the structure of the Internet and any modern computer network,
- the design choices needed to create and manage a large-scale data transmission system,
- the main techniques used for error recovery and to achieve a reliable data transfer
- the general communication and programming structures used by distributed client-server applications.
At the end of the course the student should be able to identify the key aspects of a data communication network, and to have a general understanding of the workings of the Internet and any network based on the IP technology, with the skill to apply these understandings to everyday scenarios. They will also be able to understand the communication dynamics behind the distributed software applications.