Undergraduate Course: Computer Communications and Networks (INFR09027)
Course Outline
| School | School of Informatics |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 9 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This is a comprehensive first course in Computer Communications and Networks, focusing
on fundamental concepts, principles and techniques. The course will introduce basic networking concepts, including: protocol, network architecture, reference models, layering,
service, interface, multiplexing, switching and standards. An overview of digital
communication from the perspective of computer networking will also be provided. Topics
covered in this course include: Internet (TCP/IP) architecture and protocols, network
applications, congestion/flow/error control, routing and internetworking, data link protocols,
error detection and correction, channel allocation and multiple access protocols,
communication media and selected topics in wireless and data centre networks. It will cover
recent advances in network control and management architectures by introducing the
concepts of software-defined networking (SDN) and network (function) virtualisation.
Students taking this course will gain hands-on experience in network programming using the socket API; network traffic/protocol analysis; and on assessment of alternative networked systems and architectures. |
| Course description |
* Introduction to Computer Networking and the Internet
* Digital Communication Basics
* The Application Layer with comprehensive treatment of networked applications (incl. multimedia data and applications)
* The Transport Layer
* The Network Layer
* The Data Link Layer
* The Medium Access Control Sub-Layer
* The Physical Layer
* Software-defined networking (SDN)
* Network virtualisation and network function virtualisation(NFV)
* Network management
* Introduction to data centre and wireless networks
* Overview and selected aspects of network security
Relevant QAA Computing Curriculum Sections: Computer Communications, Computer Networks
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | This course is open to all Informatics students including those on joint degrees. For external students where this course is not listed in your DPT, please seek special permission from the course organiser.
Students are also assumed to have basic programming expertise on Unix-type systems (e.g. Linux). Basic knowledge of operating systems would be helpful. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Explain key networking concepts, principles, design issues and techniques at all protocol layers.
- Contrast between different types of networks (e.g., wide area networks vs. local area networks, wired vs. wireless) in terms of their characteristics and protocols used.
- Describe different types of networked applications and what underlying network protocols are needed to meet their diverse requirements.
- Distinguish between control and data planes in computer networks, and their corresponding architectures in real-world networks (including the Internet).
- Understand reliable transport protocols and networked system architectures via implementation using Socket APIs, measurement and analysis.
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Reading List
* J. Kurose and K. Ross, "Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach", 6th edition, Pearson Education, 2012
* L. Peterson and B. Davie, "Computer Networks: A Systems Approach", 5th edition, Morgan Kaufmann, 2011
* A. Tanenbaum and D. Wetherall, "Computer Networks", 5th Edition, Pearson, 2013 |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Myungjin Lee
Tel: (0131 6)50 2713
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Victoria Swann
Tel: (0131 6)51 7607
Email: |
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