IS 450/650 Page

Course description (see also):

This is an introductory survey course in data communications and networking. It surveys basic theory and technology of computer networking. A single networking protocol stack also is covered in depth. Prerequisites: Completion of the IS B.S. gateway (calculus, programming, basic computer organization); beginning Fall 2010 Math 215 or 221 is also a prerequisite.

IS 450 is intended for upper-level IS students. Though it is an introduction to networking, it is not an introductory course. IS 450 provides the first of two networking courses required for the BS in IS. Similarly, IS 650 is the first of two networking courses in the MS degree.

Text

James F. Kurose and Keith W. Ross. Computer Networking: a Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet. Addison-Wesley, New York, fifth edition, 2010. ISBN-10: 0136079679; ISBN-13: 978-0136079675.

Hopefully Current Stuff

My IS 450/650 glossary is available, but in a very preliminary, rough form. Of course, most of the terms can be found in the text.

Pre-Basics: Math Preliminaries. This course requires comfort with high school algebra, number bases (namely, binary, decimal, and hexadecimal), and simple combinatorics (sets and counting in the MATH 215 text). Most students will have this background from freshman calculus, Math 215/221, and IS 310, or equivalents. Those lacking one or more of those areas need to catch up quickly, very quickly.
- Math review.
- Base conversion applet
- Number Bases from the Math Forum at Drexel University
- Number Bases from PurpleMath
- Hexadecimal from Wikipedia
- Finally, I have a few worked examples here.
Old tests and quizzes are here.
Examples listed approximately by text chapter (Kurose & Ross 5th ed.). Note that occasionally page numbers refer to the text used the semester the example was written.
1. Computer Networks & the Internet
  - An applet for calculating total delay based on distance, propagation speed (usually the speed of light), message size, and channel capacity (or throughput).
2. Application Layer
3. Transport Layer
  - A discussion of UDP and TCP headers, similarities and differences, and reasons for the similarities and differences.
  - Network as a pipeline example.
  - TCP Advertised Window Shift Counts
4. Network Layer
  - What's your IP address?
  - Subnet and CIDR masks:
    - A few simple subnet examples (quiz 5, Spring 2010).
    - Some straightforward mask and forwarding exercises.
    - CIDR example (section 4.4)
  - Receiver handling of a PPP frame
  - Configuration of a Belkin home router
5. Link Layer & LANs
  - Ethernet Spanning Tree example (section 4.7)
6. Wireless & Mobile Networks
7. Multimedia
8. Security (see also IS 430)
9. Etc., or things not covered in the current course.
  - ATM Adaptation Layer mechanics

From here one can also go

To Martens' Course Page
To Martens' home page
To the UMBC IS Dept
To UMBC