Computer Networks II

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Credits
6
Types
Specialization compulsory (Computer Engineering)
Requirements
  • Prerequisite: XC
Department
AC
This course explains in detail the architecture and protocols of the Internet, especially focusing on the hardware / software combination that enable programmable networks and flexible, reliable and dynamic communication.

Teachers

Person in charge

  • Davide Careglio ( )

Others

  • Marc Ruiz Ramírez ( )

Weekly hours

Theory
2
Problems
1
Laboratory
1
Guided learning
0
Autonomous learning
6

Competences

Technical Competences

Common technical competencies

  • CT6 - To demonstrate knowledge and comprehension about the internal operation of a computer and about the operation of communications between computers.
    • CT6.1 - To demonstrate knowledge and capacity to manage and maintain computer systems, services and applications.
    • CT6.4 - To demonstrate knowledge and capacity to apply the characteristics, functionalities and structure of the Distributed Systems and Computer and Internet Networks guaranteeing its use and management, as well as the design and implementation of application based on them.
  • CT7 - To evaluate and select hardware and software production platforms for executing applications and computer services.
    • CT7.3 - To determine the factors that affect negatively the security and reliability of a hardware/software system, and minimize its effects.

Transversal Competences

Sustainability and social commitment

  • G2 [Avaluable] - To know and understand the complexity of the economic and social phenomena typical of the welfare society. To be capable of analyse and evaluate the social and environmental impact.
    • G2.3 - To take into account the social, economical and environmental dimensions, and the privacy right when applying solutions and carry out project which will be coherent with the human development and sustainability.

Technical Competences of each Specialization

Computer engineering specialization

  • CEC2 - To analyse and evaluate computer architectures including parallel and distributed platforms, and develop and optimize software for these platforms.
    • CEC2.2 - To program taking into account the hardware architecture, using assembly language as well as high-level programming languages.
    • CEC2.3 - To develop and analyse software for systems based on microprocessors and its interfaces with users and other devices.
    • CEC2.4 - To design and implement system and communications software.
  • CEC4 - To design, deploy, administrate and manage computer networks, and manage the guarantee and security of computer systems.
    • CEC4.1 - To design, deploy, administrate and manage computer networks.

Objectives

  1. Students must understand the technological aspects that impact on economic, social and environmental phenomena.
    Related competences: G2.3,
  2. The student must know how the whole Internet and how they communicate the applications installed in the terminals.
    Related competences: CT6.4,
  3. Students will be able to manage and maintain systems, services and applications.
    Related competences: CT6.1,
  4. Students will be able to design, deploy, mantain and manage computer networks
    Related competences: CEC4.1, CEC2.4,
  5. The student will become familiar with the technology, protocols, terminology and specific recommendations of major international character of the area of systems based on microprocessors
    Related competences: CEC2.3, CT7.3, CEC2.2,
  6. Students must know how to differentiate and understand the various aspects to ensure safety and reliability of a system.
    Related competences: CT7.3, CEC2.4,
  7. Students will become familiar with the technology, protocols, terminology and specific recommendations of major international the Internet.
    Related competences: CEC4.1, CT6.1, CT6.4,

Contents

  1. Presentation of the course and review of previous concepts
    Review the basics of communications between terminals connected to a network stack and TCP / IP protocols and architecture of Local Area Networks (LAN) and wide area network (WAN).
  2. Architecture and addressing in Internet
    Introduction to various topics of this first part of the syllabus. It examines the hierarchy of the Internet and the definitions of autonomous systems (AS) and Internet Service Provider (ISP). The main actors and organizations of Internet are identified.
  3. Exhaustion IPv4 and introduction of IPv6
    We analyze the problem of IPv4 address exhaustion. IPv6 is introduced as a replacement for IPv4 and its operation explained.
  4. Intra-domain routing
    The OSPF routing protocol for dynamic networks intradomain will be introduced and examples of operation will be given both during theoretical classes and in the laboratory.
  5. MPLS protocol
    Presentation of MultiProtocol Label Switching. Objectives of this protocol. Functioning. Label exchange protocol. Label format. Databases. Traffic Engineering Extensions (TE): OSPF-TE, MPLS-TE and RSVP-TE.
  6. Inter-domain routing protocol: BGP
    BGP-based inter-domain dynamic routing explained. Examples of operation. Databases. Attributes and routing policies. Most common scenarios. BGP improvements: communities, route reflection, sub-AS confederation and route flap damping.
  7. Advanced networking concepts
    This part focuses on some advanced networking concepts. Multicast transmission is introduced, its operation and some protocols such as DVMRP, MOSPF, M-BGP, PIM and BIER are explained. The Software Defined Networks (SDN) and Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) architecture and its application in the current communication model are presented.
  8. Current research activities
    Some research topics related to future Internet networks will be presented and group complementary activities proposed.

Activities

Activity Evaluation act


Presentation of the course and review of previous concepts

The student has to know the basics of communications between terminals connected to a network stack and TCP / IP protocols and architecture of Local Area Networks (LAN) and wide area network (WAN).
  • Theory: Presentation of the course and review of previous concepts
  • Problems: Problems to review of previous concepts
  • Laboratory: Explanation of the behavious of the laboratory practices, introduction to materials and device to be utilized, introduction to the evaluation method.
  • Autonomous learning: Review the basics of communications between terminals connected to a network stack and TCP / IP protocols.
Objectives: 2
Contents:
Theory
2h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
2h

Introduction to administration and maintenance of ISPs

Students will become familiar with specific terminology and recommendations of major international fora regarding Internet. Students must understand the hierarchy of the Internet and how communication work between the different levels.
  • Theory: Introduction to the topics of this first part.
Objectives: 2 7
Contents:
Theory
2h
Problems
1h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
6h

IPv6 addressing

The student will know the situation of IPv4 addressing and its exhaustion and will know how to get information to keep up to date. She will learn about IPv6 addressing, how IPv6 addresses are assigned, and how IPv4 and IPv6 compatibility is achieved in today's Internet.
Objectives: 2 3 7
Contents:
Theory
3h
Problems
2h
Laboratory
2h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
8h

Intra-domain dynamic routing: the OSPF protocol

Students will become familiar with the OSPF protocol through theoretical examples in class, practical problems and configuration problems through exercices and in the laboratory.
  • Theory: Explanation of dynamic routing based on OSPF
  • Problems: We propose and solve problems related to the configuration of OSPF and with the analisys of the convergence time of OSPF in case of changes or failures and system performance.
  • Laboratory: Configuration of OSPF on Cisco router
  • Autonomous learning: Review of the material presented in lectures and problems. Find the solution of the exercises.
Objectives: 2 3 4 6 7
Contents:
Theory
3.5h
Problems
2h
Laboratory
2h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
10h

MPLS protocol

The student will become familiar with advanced networking concepts currently in use. The student will know, compare and distinguish the different solutions.
  • Theory: Different architectures of interconnection network from full mesh to multistage networks will be presented. Their performance will be studied and compared as well as their fields of application discussed.
  • Problems: We solve problems in class related with the architecture of interconnection networks and the performance evaluation of these architectures.
  • Laboratory: Configure MPLS-TE and MPLS routers
  • Autonomous learning: Review of the material presented in lectures and problems. Find the solution of the exercises.
Objectives: 1 3 4 6
Contents:
Theory
3h
Problems
2h
Laboratory
2h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
8h

Midterm control evaluation

Midterm control evaluation on the subjects exposed to the theory classes.
Objectives: 1 2 3 7
Week: 9
Theory
1h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
6h

Interdomain routing: the BGP protocol

Students will become familiar with the BGP protocol through theoretical examples in class, practical problems and configuration problems in the laboratory.
  • Theory: Explanation of dynamic routing based on BGP. Introduction to the concept of routing policy.
  • Problems: We propose and solve problems related to configuration of BGP and to the analysis of the convergence time of BGP in the event of changes or failures and system performance.
  • Laboratory: Lab1. BGP configurations. Lab2. Routing policy with attributes Lab3. Routing policy with communities Lab4. Route reflection and sub-AS confederation
  • Autonomous learning: Review of the material presented in lectures and problems. Resolution of the exercises.
Objectives: 1 2 3 6 7
Contents:
Theory
7h
Problems
6h
Laboratory
8h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
16h

Advanced networking concepts

The student will learn some advanced network concepts such as multicast transmission, its operation and the main protocols and the SDN/NFV architecture and its application in the current communication model.
Objectives: 2 7
Contents:
Theory
2h
Problems
2h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
2h

Presentation of research topics

Students will become familiar with the research and recommendations of major international networks in the field.
  • Theory: Introduction to the topics of this part: architecture of interconnection networks. Protocols. Examples. Some research for future interconnection networks.
Objectives: 1 5
Contents:
Theory
2h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
2h

Development of a presentationt on a topic related to research in Internet.

Each group must select a topic and present after 3 weeks a presentation describing the problem, analyzing the available solutions and, where appropriate, proposing new solutions.
  • Theory: Introduction to research in the field of interconnection networks. Presentation of a set of issues.
  • Problems: Analysis of the problems of interconnection networks and references to possible solutions and a first introduction to qualitative comparison.
  • Guided learning: We will follow up the report during the 3 weeks of preparation.
  • Autonomous learning: Development in small groups (2 / 3 people) a report related protocols and interconnection networks for future high performance systems.
Objectives: 1 5 6
Contents:
Theory
2h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
14h

Lab final exam

Prepare the lab exam study notes and previous practices
  • Laboratory: Final exam lab around 7 previous sessions
Objectives: 3 4 5
Contents:
Theory
0h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
1h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
6h

Final control evaluation

Final control evaluation on the subjects exposed to the theory classes.
Objectives: 1 4 5 6
Week: 14
Theory
1h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
6h

Final exam

Final exam on the subjects exposed to the theory classes
Objectives: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Week: 15 (Outside class hours)
Theory
1.5h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
4h

Teaching methodology

1. Activities focused on acquiring theoretical knowledge.
2. Activities (meetings) focused on acquiring the laboratory for testing.
3. The theory classes would be divided into classes of exposure, readings of articles or group work.

Theory:
- Theoretical sessions (2 hours / week)
- Completed application session with the concepts through problem solving (1 hour / week).

Laboratory
- Classes 2 hours every 2 weeks when they learn to set some important protocols. The goal is to complete the practical aspects seen in theory.
- Preparation: reading statement and additional documentation
- Working in the lab in group
- Work at home to finish (report)

Workgroup activities:
- Classroom (teacher and students)
- No person (each student on their own).

Evaluation methodology

1. A mid-term exam (C1) in the middle of the semester and a second exam at the end (C2) on the material presented in the theory classes.
Theory = 0.5 x C1 + 0.5 x C2

2. Realization of practices. It will be evaluated through a control at the end of each session and a final laboratory exam. The average of the marks of the sessions (50%) and the final exam (50%) will generate the grade "Lab".

3. Implementation of a complementary activity (AC) in a group (2/3 people) proposed by the theory and/or laboratory teachers and presentation in class. The grade for this activity (AC) will be the average grade between the prepared material and the oral presentation.

The final grade (NF) of the subject will be calculated as follows:
NF = 0.6 x Theory + 0.25 x Lab + 0.15 x AC

Students who have taken both tests but have not passed can take a final exam (EF) to improve their theory grade. In this case, the final grade would be:
NF = 0.6 x EF + 0.25 x Lab + 0.15 x AC

The level of achievement of the transversal competence is evaluated based on the final grade. All these evaluation acts are reflected in the note (NF) described above. The grade for the competition will be calculated as follows:
A if NF >= 8.5; B if NF >=7; C if NF >= 5; D if NF < 5

Bibliography

Basic:

Complementary:

Web links

Previous capacities

Students should've learned the basics of communication between terminals connected to a network. This requires having studied the stack TCP / IP protocols and architecture of Local Area Networks (LAN) and wide area network (WAN). In particular protocols and algorithms related to network architecture and protocol stack TCP / IP as the technological aspects of networks (planning and design of a Local Area Network).