Computer Networks (CSCI 0431), Spring 2025

pete > courses > Computer Networks (CSCI 0431), Spring 2025

Computer Networks (CSCI 0431), Spring 2025

Who	Peter C. Johnson (pete@midd)
Where	75 Shannon St Room 202
When	Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:15pm–3:30pm

Schedule (tentative)

10 Feb	intro/overview Assignment 0 available
12 Feb	The Physical Layer Assignment 1 available
17 Feb	Link Layer I: SLIP & PPP
19 Feb	Link Layer II: Ethernet
24 Feb	Link Layer to Network Layer
26 Feb	Network Layer I: IP intuition Assignment 2 available
03 Mar	Network Layer II: IP details
05 Mar	helpers: ICMP & ARP
10 Mar	Internet structure
12 Mar	workshop
24 Mar	Transport Layer: UDP; application: DHCP
26 Mar	application: DNS I
31 Mar	application: DNS II
02 Apr	Transport Layer: TCP I (concepts) Assignment 3 available
07 Apr	ITS visit
future	transport layer: TCP
	applications: SMTP
	applications: HTTP
	applications: BitTorrent
	cryptography, PKI
	NAT, VPNs, Tor
	firewalls & DPI
	IPv6?
	QUIC?
	???

Coursework

Coursework will consist of weekly-ish programming assignments, a midterm exam, and a final exam. All three will feature core and extended components.

To earn a C, you must complete the core components of all coursework.

To earn a B, you must complete some portion of each of the extended components.

To earn an A, you must complete more extended components of each.

All coursework items (assignments and exams) will specify which components are core, which extended components must be completed for a B, and which extended components must be completed for an A.

Revisions

As with Systems Programming, you will have time to revise and resubmit your assignments, in case initial submissions do not meet the requirements. For each assignment, you will have 1 week from the date of receiving feedback to make your final submission; you may ask for feedback multiple times during that period, but the 1-week deadline is firm.

Exams

Both midterm and final will be overnight take-home exams to provide ample time. Midterm date is TBD. For the final, you will pick up the exam from me at any point during finals period (18 May–23 May) and submit your answers to me no more than 24 hours later.

Collaboration

All coursework will be completed and submitted individually. For further guidelines, see the Academic Integrity section below.

Software

All of the software we will be using is open source (and therefore free to use and modify).

FreeBSD setup and use

References

There is no required textbook. If you desire reference material beyond the course notes I will make available to you, consider the following.

TCP/IP Illustrated Vol. I, W. Richard Stevens (1 copy available in Armstrong, 1 copy available in my office)
The C Programming Language, Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie (1 copy in available in Armstrong, 1 copy available in my office)
Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach, James Kurose and Keith Ross (1 copy available in my office)
Computer Networks, Larry Peterson and Bruce Davie (1 copy available in my office)
Computer Networks, Andrew Tanenbaum (1 copy available in my office)

Academic Integrity

All work submitted in this course must be your own and no-one else’s. On all coursework, any assistance that is not explicitly allowed is prohibited; ask me for clarification if there is confusion at any point. You may discuss assignments with other students, but you may not view other students’ solutions, no matter how preliminary. Rule of thumb: don’t talk to other students around an open computer screen. You may not discuss exams with anyone except me.

If I determine that the work you submit is not your own, you will earn no credit for that piece of work and you will not be permitted to resubmit it. Such work includes, but is not limited to, solutions that are in any way informed by large language models such as ChatGPT.

When in doubt, ask.

Mask Policy

In 75 SHS 202, during class, masks are optional. If you feel gross, don’t come. (Detailed notes will be posted for catching up; Zoom is not an option.) If you recently felt gross and feel up to attending, please wear a mask.

In my office, for the forseeable future, masks are required.

ADA

Students who have Letters of Accommodation in this class are encouraged to contact me as early in the semester as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. For those without Letters of Accommodation, assistance is available to eligible students through the Disability Resource Center (DRC). Please contact ADA Coordinators Jodi Litchfield, Peter Ploegman, and Deirdre Kelly of the DRC at ada@middlebury.edu for more information. All discussions will remain confidential.