Princeton University
Computer Science Dept.

Computer Science 461
Computer Networks

Spring 2003
Directory
General Information | Assignments

Course Summary

This course studies computer networks and the services built on top of them. Topics include packet-switch and multi-access networks, routing and flow control, congestion control and quality-of-service, Internet protocols (IP, TCP, BGP), the client-server model and RPC, elements of distributed systems (naming, security, caching) and the design of network services (multimedia, peer-to-peer networks, file and web servers, content distribution networks). Prerequisite: COS 217.

Administrative Information

Lectures: MW 1:30-2:50, Room: 108 Friend Center

Professor: Vivek Pai
Office: 322 CS Building
Phone: 258-2086
Office Hours: MW 3:00-4:00, or by appointment
Email: vivek@cs.princeton.edu


Teaching Assistant: Yitzhak Mandelbaum

Office: 001C CS Building
Phone: 258-7418
Office Hours: Mon 3:00-4:00, Tu 11:00-12:00
Email: yitzhakm at cs.princeton.edu


Undergrad Coordinator: Tina McCoy

Office: 410 CS Building
Phone: 258-1746
Office Hours: Mon 3:00-4:00, Tu 11:00-12:00
Email: tmmccoy@cs.princeton.edu


Discussion Forum: pu.cs.461 newsgroup 

Textbook

Computer Networks: A Systems Approach, Peterson and Davie (2nd edition). Morgan Kaufmann.

Policies

Lecture:
Attendance at lectures is expected but will not be recorded. Students are, however, fully responsible for all material presented in lectures. Class attendance is strongly recommended.
Due Dates:
Programming projects are due at 11:59 pm on the date specified. Projects may be turned in up to one week late, at a penalty of 10% per day. Exceptions to these rules will be made only under exceptional circumstances, and then only with an appropriate written excuse.
Exams:
Exams are scheduled in advance. Unless prior arrangements are made, a grade of zero will be recorded for missed exams.
Newsgroup:
Please monitor the newsgroup regularly because we will use it to make announcements. You are expected to be aware of any material posted by the Professor or TA.
Grading:
The grade weighting for the semester will be:
Exams:  35%
Programing Projects:  65%
These weights are subject to minor adjustments.

   February 2003
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
-- -- -- -- -- --  1
 2  3  4  5  6  7  8
 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28
 
03 -  Lecture 1 - Introduction - jpg, ppt
Chapter 1
05 -  Lecture 2 - Introduction (cont) - jpg, ppt, followup
10 -  Lecture 3 - Point-to-Point Links - jpg, ppt, followup
Sections 2.1-2.5
12 -  Lecture 4 - Shared Media - jpg, ppt, followup
Sections 2.6-2.8
17 -  Snow emergency - class cancelled
19 -  Lecture 5 - Switched Networks - jpg, ppt, followup
Sections 3.1 - 3.3
Project 1 Due
24 -  Lecture 6 - IP and the Internet - jpg, ppt, followup
Section 4.1
26 -  Note: make-up class begins at 12:30
Lecture 7 - Scalable Routing - jpg, ppt
Sections 4.2-4.4
Lecture 8 - Transport Protocols and TCP - jpg, ppt, followup
Sections 5.1 - 5.2

 

     March 2003
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
-- -- -- -- -- --  1
 2  3  4  5  6  7  8
 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
 
03 -  Lecture 9 - TCP (cont)
05 -  Lecture 10 - Congestion Control - jpg, ppt
Sections 6.1-6.4
10 - Lecture 11 - catch-up
Section 6.5
12 -  Midterm Exam - samples 99, 00, 01
15 -  Spring recess begins
23 -  Spring recess ends
24 -  Lecture 12 - Quality of Service - jpg, ppt
Sections 7.2 & 9.3
Project 2 Due
26 -  skipped due to USITS
31 -  Lecture 13 - Multimedia - jpg, ppt
Sections 5.3 & 7.1

 

     April 2003
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
-- --  1  2  3  4  5
 6  7  8  9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30
 
02 -  Lecture 14 - Remote Procedure Call - jpg, ppt
Sections 3.1.4 & 3.4
07 -  Lecture 15 - Switches and Routers - jpg, ppt
09 -  Lecture 16 - Switches and Routers (cont) - jpg, ppt
Section 9.1
14 -  Lecture 17 - skipped - attended Sandy Fraser talk
Section 9.2.2
16 -  Lecture 18 - Naming - jpg, ppt
Chapter 8
18 -  Project 3 Due
21 -  Lecture 19 - Security - jpg, ppt
23 -  Lecture 20 - Content Distribution Networks - jpg, ppt
28 -  Lecture 21 - Replication - jpg, ppt
30 -  Lecture 22 - Peer-to-Peer Networks - jpg, ppt

 

      May 2003
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
-- -- -- --  1  2 3
 4  5  6  7  8  9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
 
05 -  Reading period begins
13 -  Reading period ends
Dean's date
Project 4 Due (note: extended until 15th)
Project 5 (extra credit) Due (note: extended until 15th)
14 -  Final exams begin
20 -  1:30pm, Final Exam, room 102 CS