IST 233 Introduction to Computer Networking Course Syllabus Fall ...

IST 233 Introduction to Computer Networking Course Syllabus Fall 2011 Lectures: Tuesday/Thursday, 12:30 to 1:30, Life Sciences Building, Room 105 Labs: Friday, various times, Hinds 025 (ITELL) Primary Instructor: Dave Molta ([email protected]), 212 Hinds Hall, 443-4549 Office Hours: Tuesday, 1:30 to 2:30; Wednesday, 4:00 to 5:00; others by appointment Lab Instructor: Bahram Attaie ([email protected]), 200-B Hinds Hall, 443-2359 Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday, 2:00-4:00 Graduate Assistant: Rich Festante ([email protected])

Course Description IST 233 provides a technical and operational overview of digital computer networks, the foundation for all modern information systems and services. In this course, you will learn about the major software and hardware technologies used on home and enterprise computer networks as well as the global Internet. You will learn how information is encoded into digital packets, how it is transported across local networks like the one at SU, and how SU and other organizations interconnect over the Internet backbone. This course will emphasize the critical importance of open network standards and protocols, which allow software and hardware from a variety of vendors to interoperate while also driving down the cost of network systems. In addition to the exploring the capabilities and limitations of today’s most popular networks, including Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Cellular, we’ll also cover topics closely related to networks, including security, operational management, and networked applications. This course utilizes a blended course delivery strategy that we hope allows students with a range of different technical backgrounds to advance their understanding of this essential component of information management and technology. You will be expected to read about and learn core concepts on your own, completing weekly online assessments related to that material and asking good questions. Key concepts will be discussed in two weekly one-hour lectures, supplemented where appropriate by guest speakers, videos, and technology demonstrations. You will complete weekly lab assignments, including prelab modules on your own computer and more advanced exercises in our state-of-the-art network lab, the ITELL. After completing this course, you should be able to intelligently interact with information professionals about critical issues related to computer networking. If you choose to pursue further study in computer systems or networking, this course will provide you with a strong foundation to succeed in those studies.

Network Technology Overview On a list of the most significant inventions in human history, the Internet surely has a prominent position. While computers have helped us crunch numbers and manage information for over 50 years, the emergence of the Internet as a global computer network accessible to billions of people is a much more recent phenomenon. The Internet, built using an array of different network hardware and an open suite of network protocols known as TCP/IP, has transformed computers from computational devices to platforms for communication, collaboration, and commerce. Sun Microsystems, one of the early innovators in computer technology, used the following slogan to emphasize the fundamental importance of computer networks: The network is the computer. In other words, without networks, computers are just fast calculators. With networks, the world changes. We are all experiencing a new age -- the Internet Age – that is transforming society in just as profound a way as machines did during the industrial age. We live an Internet Lifestyle, frequently accessing Internet services for commerce and friendship, and increasingly turning to the Internet as our primary form of entertainment. The latest phase is the Mobile Internet, made possible by advances in wireless communication, smartphones, and other portable devices. The Mobile Internet allows us to stay connected to other people 24 hours per day. In addition to changing the way we live as individuals, the Internet has also had a profound impact on business and non-profit enterprises, allowing them to reach new markets and changing the way work gets done by employees. In network diagrams, the Internet is often depicted as a grey cloud. As a user, you don’t have to know what’s happening inside the cloud in order to use Internet services. In fact, there’s a major information technology trend known as “cloud computing” that assumes the Internet and its various services will be available 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. For some, ignorance is bliss, but gaining a richer understanding of what’s going on inside the cloud is not only intellectually fascinating, it is also the absolute foundation for all other applications of information technology. If you don’t understand how digital computer networks work, you aren’t likely to achieve much success as an information technology (IT) professional. For anyone planning to pursue a career in IT or a related field, it is essential to understand the fundamental network infrastructure on which enterprise IT systems and services are built. Even if you are not planning a career in IT, because the Internet is transforming virtually every modern service, from banking to entertainment, a deeper understanding of how the Internet works can provide significant insights into the capabilities and constraints of modern technology. From a user’s perspective, the Internet is a collection of networked applications. But to the students who learn the content of this course, it is a much more complex mesh of hardware and software, continually evolving and expanding in scope and capabilities. Built on technology first invented about 40 years ago, it is a true testament to both human ingenuity and the benefits of working together to achieve common goals. A set of network protocols originally developed to connect universities engaged in government military research has been able to expand or scale to meet the communication needs of billions of people across the globe. Like running water, electricity, and telephone service, the Internet has become a new type of public utility, a ubiquitous and essential 2

service that is useful to nearly everyone. Internet penetration – the percentage of a nation’s population that has access to Internet services – is arguably the most important measure of a nation’s “modernity.” And as recent events across the globe have shown, the Internet has the potential to transform nations politically.

Instructional Team The instructional team for IST 233 includes a primary instructor responsible for overall course design and delivery, including presentation of core content in class twice per week; a lab instructor responsible for Friday lab sessions, a graduate assistant and several undergraduate teaching assistants (TA’s). We will all play important roles and we are all committed to helping you successfully complete this course. If you need help, you can reach out to any of us. Primary Instructor Dave Molta ([email protected]) 212 Hinds Hall 443-4549 (office) Office Hours: Tuesday, 1:30 to 2:30; Wednesday, 4:00 to 5:00; others by appointment Lab Instructor Bahram Attaie ([email protected]) 200-B Hinds Hall 443-2359 (office) Office Hours: TBA Graduate Assistant Rich Festante ([email protected])

Learning Outcomes This course consists of 11 learning modules as well as a semester team project. Each of the learning modules will include an exploration of fundamental concepts and vocabulary, essential design principles, and hands-on experiential learning. After the successful completion of this class, students will be able to -

explain the basic design and operation of the Internet, including the software and hardware components used to provide Internet services. describe the key industry standards that define the Internet as an “open” communications platform explain how digital messages are transported across physical network media, including copper cables, fiber-optics, and radio waves. describe and configure software and hardware required to support and troubleshoot network services using Ethernet and Wi-Fi network technologies. explain how modern telecommunications is being transformed from an analog communication system designed for voice and video to a digital communication system supporting a broad range of information services 3

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describe the key components and design principles associated with wide area networks as used by carriers and enterprises to deliver global network services explain the fundamental characteristics of packet-switched data networks and the key Internet protocols that make up the TCP/IP communications suite. describe the major security threats associated with computer networking and the most common tools and techniques used to mitigate these threats. explain the protocols, tools, and strategies used in the effective management of modern communication networks. describe the relationship between the Internet infrastructure and key networked application architectures describe the key design principles associated with modern communication networks, including interoperability, scalability, and high-availability perform a multi-criteria evaluation of group of closely-related network-oriented products

Lectures, Laboratories, and Corporate Partners This course will combine twice-weekly large-group presentations with smaller lab sessions held on Fridays. Large class presentations will focus on key topics addressed in each chapter and will include a combination of lectures, demonstrations, videos, and guest experts. In addition, lecture notes and PowerPoint presentations covering textbook content will be made available on the LMS. We will look for opportunities to illustrate theoretical concepts by using Syracuse University’s network as our semester-long case study. Experience suggests that an in-depth understanding of networking requires both traditional “textbook” learning as well as hands-on experience with network technology. This class leverages a computer network laboratory facility housed in Hinds Hall known as the Information Technology Experiential Learning Laboratory (ITELL). ITELL began as a student-developed network playground and evolved into a “scaled-down mock up” of an enterprise computer network, employing virtualized computer servers and workstations, switches, routers, and network applications, the core building blocks of enterprise and public computer networks. Working in ITELL, students will gain understanding and experience in network design, configuration and management. In addition to working in ITELL, students will learn about computer networking by exploring their own living laboratory, consisting of their own personal computer, the Syracuse University computer network, and the Internet. Although this course is not designed as a certification prep course, all students will gain access to hands-on learning materials available through the Cisco Networking Academy program and also to computer-based training offered through the Juniper Networks Academic Alliance. You’ll have access to a range of learning materials as well as powerful online network simulation software that you will be able to install on your own computer. This real-world focus will help bridge the gap between underlying network protocols and applications, providing indepth exposure to the network services that students use every day for work and play.

Textbook Panko, Raymond R. and Julia L. Panko, Business Data Networks and Telecommunications, Eighth Edition, Pearson Education, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-13-610015-7. The textbook is authoritative, 4

up-to-date, and concise. It is designed for information management students but it has an excellent depth of technical coverage. The author has been teaching introduction to networking for many years and his textbook includes elements that are proven to enhance student learning. You can expect to be challenged by the textbook content but the material is presented in a clear and concise manner, with many diagrams, charts, and illustrations that emphasize the most important terms and concepts. The textbook has a list price of $173 and is available for purchase in the SU Bookstore and through online sources. Because we will use this textbook again next semester, I have been told you can expect to resell your textbook, if you choose, for at least 50% of list price. Alternatively, a 6-month rental of the book is available at http://coursesmart.com. Important Note: The eighth edition of Panko is required for this course and students will be held accountable for all assigned content from the eighth edition. Using earlier editions of the textbook for this course will be confusing and is likely to adversely impact your performance in this course.

Course Policies Prerequisites: Although there are no formal prerequisite courses for this class, students with minimal technology experience will benefit from first completing IST 195 (Information Technology) prior to taking IST 233. All students are expected to have a working knowledge of PC’s and the Internet. Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS): We will make extensive use of SU’s Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS) in this class. It will be used as a repository for course-relevant information, including lecture and lab pre-reads, and also as a platform for administering quizzes and other assessments. Attendance: Regular class attendance has been shown to have an extremely high correlation with achievement and grades in this course. Attendance is therefore strongly encouraged and rewarded. Students will accumulate points for all classes attended. Be sure to sign the attendance sheet circulated at the start of each class with a single unique signature because I compare signatures across class sessions to eliminate the practice of students signing in for missing friends. Students arriving more than 10 minutes late to class are considered absent for attendance purposes. Participation and Instructor Interaction: Participation requirements for this class are limited to posting occasional questions on the LMS. However, you are strongly encouraged to ask questions in class and labs and to look for opportunities to interact with one of the course instructors, before or after class/lab, during office hours, or whenever an opportunity might arise. Online Assessments/Quizzes: Weekly multiple-choice online assessments (quizzes) based on textbook readings will be administered via Blackboard and must be completed by the start of class on the date noted on the syllabus. You are expected to complete these quizzes without assistance from other students. Questions will be randomly generated from a large test-bank supplied by the author of the textbook. You will have the opportunity to repeat the assessment up to two additional times and we will count the highest score. Although these assessments are open-book, they are 5

timed. It is very difficult to score well on assessments if you have not taken the time to complete the readings and study the textbook material in advance. Pre-Lab Quizzes: To prepare students for Friday labs, we have developed a weekly pre-lab exercise, which exposes you in advance to the key concepts that will be covered during the lab. Each of these pre-lab exercises will have a quiz associated with it, which must be completed by the start of labs on Friday. Exams: There will be three exams, including a comprehensive final exam administered during the officially scheduled University final exam time. Prior to each exam, a review sheet will be distributed to students. All exam questions are developed directly by the instructor and they are analyzed for statistical validity. Assignment Deadliness: Projects are due at the start of class on the date noted on the syllabus. Late assignments will be decreased by 2 percent for each calendar day late. Make-Up Quizzes, Labs, Exams: Make-up quizzes, labs, and exams will only be administered for cases of official university absence or because of a personal or family emergency. In all of these cases, excuses must be formally documented and approved by the instructor or through the iSchool Student Services office. If you cannot provide formal documentation for an absence, make-ups will not be made available. E-Mail: An e-mail list will be available to the class. By sending e-mail to [email protected], you can send e-mail to all students in the class, your instructors, and the teaching assistants. Your instructors will use this to broadcast weekly course-related announcements. These announcements will also be posted on the LMS. Notebook Computers and Mobile Devices: While the instructor is a huge fan of portable computing and communication devices, the use of such technology during lectures is not permitted unless it is used for a specific in-class activity formally sanctioned by your instructor. There will be a 10minute grace period at the start of class during which students can use mobile devices, after which time they should not be accessed. Violations of this policy may negatively impact student attendance grades. Labs: You will be expected to complete individual pre-lab assignments using your own computer. Macintosh users should be aware of the fact that some assignments may require use of Microsoft Windows applications. This can be accomplished either by using special software on your Mac (Bootcamp, Parallels, VMWare Fusion) or by completing these tasks in an iSchool computing lab. In addition, you will complete 12 lab exercises in the Information Technology Experiential Learning Lab (ITELL). It is essential that you arrive on time for labs. Students arriving late will have their lab grade lowered by 20% for each 5 minutes they are late. Student Progress: The instructor recognizes that students taking this class have a broad range of technical knowledge and experience. A key goal of this course is to motivate every student to improve individual knowledge and understanding of networking. If you have special needs or if issues arise during the semester that impact your class performance, please make someone on the instructional team aware of it. If something in class is confusing, take advantage of office hours,

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private appointments, and e-mail. We are willing to make time for every student who demonstrates a desire to learn. Faith-Based Observances: Syracuse University recognizes the diverse faith traditions represented among its campus community and supports the rights of faculty, staff, and students to observe according to these. A more detailed student policy can be found at http://supolicies.syr.edu/studs/religious_observance.htm. Under this policy, students are provided an opportunity to make up examination, study, or work requirements that may be missed due to religious observance provided they notify their instructors before the end of the second week of classes. Students will have access to an online notification system for this purpose on MySlice during the first two weeks of the semester. Academic Integrity: The academic community of Syracuse University and of the School of Information Studies requires the highest standards of professional ethics and personal integrity from all members of the community. Violations of these standards are violations of a mutual obligation characterized by trust, honesty, and personal honor. As a community, we commit ourselves to standards of academic conduct, impose sanctions against those who violate these standards, and keep appropriate records of violations. The academic integrity statement can be found at: http://supolicies.syr.edu/ethics/acad_integrity.htm. Students with Disabilities: If you believe that you need accommodations for a disability, please contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS), http://disabilityservices.syr.edu, located in Room 309 of 804 University Avenue, or call (315) 443-4498 for an appointment to discuss your needs and the process for requesting accommodations. ODS is responsible for coordinating disability-related accommodations and will issue students with documented disabilities Accommodation Authorization Letters, as appropriate. Since accommodations may require early planning and generally are not provided retroactively, please contact ODS as soon as possible.

Assessment and Grading Online Assessments/Quizzes (60 points): There will be 11 short online assessments administered on the LMS. These assessments will be made up of multiple-choice and true-false questions extracted from the textbook test bank. They are designed to motivate you to stay current on readings and they will provide you with timely feedback on your academic performance. On-Line Question Postings (20 points): Over the course of the semester, each student will be assigned two weeks during which he/she will be expected to post two questions related to course readings on the LMS. You will be assigned specific weeks based on your last name. These questions will include both a statement of fact and a question related to that fact. A subset of these questions will be addressed in class. Exams (280 total points): There will be 3 exams in this course, including a comprehensive final exam administered during final exam week. Exams will consist entirely of multiple-choice questions developed by your primary instructor. Make-up exams will be offered only in extraordinary circumstances, at the discretion of the instructor. Labs (120 points): Labs will be conducted in the Information Technology Experiential Learning Lab (ITELL) on Friday’s. There will be pre-lab materials posted to the LMS by the start of class 7

each Tuesday. You will be required to complete any pre-lab readings and exercises and online assessments prior to the start of lab on Friday. The point system used for labs will allow students to miss one lab and still achieve a maximum lab grade. Except for instances of documented illness, family emergency, or official University responsibilities, make up labs will not be allowed. Network Technology Evaluation Project (120 points): All students will be required to participate in a project team (4 to 6 students) that will complete a network technology evaluation. This evaluation will be similar to a comparative product review that you might see in a computer magazine or on a web site. For example, students might choose to do a comparative evaluation of four different smartphones, focusing special attention on the network capabilities of these devices. Detailed guidelines for this project will be posted on the LMS. Attendance (60 points): You are expected to attend class on a regular basis. Attendance will be tracked and will constitute approximately 10% of your grade. Students attending all class sessions will get full credit. Show up for class and you might learn something. Grading for this course is based on a modified point system with grades based on 660 points. Assessment Criterion Online assessments/quizzes Question Postings Exam 1 Exam 2 Final Exam Labs Project Attendance Total

Total Points 66 20 70 70 140 120 125 65 676

Maximum Points 60 20 70 70 140 120 120 60 660

Note that the number of total points is slightly larger than the maximum points on which grades are based because online assessments, attendance, and the semester project includes extra points. NOTE: Unless explicitly approved in advance by the instructor, there will be no makeup quizzes, labs, or exams in this course. In addition, under no circumstances will there be an opportunity to submit extra credit assignments. The following table shows the mapping of points to final grades. Points 620+ 590 570 550 530 510 490

Letter Grade A AB+ B BC+ C

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470 400 Less than 400

CD F

It is your responsibility to track your grade status throughout the semester.

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Tentative Topics, Reading Assignments, Tasks and Events The instructor will make a diligent effort to follow the schedule outlined below. Unless you hear otherwise, you are responsible for completing the reading assignments below by the start of class on the date indicated. Supplemental readings, usually web-based articles related to that week’s topic, may be assigned by your instructor throughout the semester. Supplemental reading assignments will be posted on the LMS by Saturday prior to the week that they will be discussed in class. Date T Aug 30 Th Sep 1 F Sep 2 T Sep 6 Th Sep 8 F Sep 9 T Sep 13 Th Sep 15 F Sep 16

Topic Readings Course Overview and Intro History of the Internet No Lab Networking: How We Got Panko Chapter 1 Here Networking: How We Got Here Lab 1: Cool Tools and Home Network Routers Panko Chapter 2 Network Standards Network Standards Lab 2: Sniffing the Network: Packet Analysis

T Sep 20

Network Security

Th Sep 22 F Sep 23

Network Security Lab 3: Network Security

T Sep 27

Network Management

Th Sep 29

Network Management Lab 4: Network Management Review/Catch-Up Exam 1 Lab 5: Product Evaluation Lab

F Sep 30 T Oct 4 Th Oct 6 F Oct 7 T Oct 11

Physical Layer Propagation

Th Oct 13 F Oct 14

Physical Layer Propagation Lab 6: Terminating UTP

Tasks/Events

On-Line Questions: A to B On-Line Assessment 1 Submitted

Pre-Lab 1 Submitted On-Line Questions: C to D On-Line Assessment 2 Submitted Pre-Lab 2 Submitted

Panko Chapter 3

Panko Chapter 4

On-Line Questions: E to J On-Line Assessment 3 Submitted Pre-Lab 3 Submitted On-Line Questions: K to L On-Line Assessment 4 Submitted Project Preliminary Results Posted Pre-Lab 4 Submitted On-Line Questions: M to O

Panko Chapter 5

Pre-Lab 5 Submitted Submit list of 3 Project Ideas On-Line Questions: P to Z On-Line Assessment 5 Submitted Pre-Lab 6 Submitted

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cable T Oct 18

Switched Wired Networks

Th Oct 20

Switched Wired Networks Lab 7 : Ethernet Switch Configuration

F Oct 21 T Oct 25

Wireless Networks I

Th Oct 27

Wireless Networks I

F Oct 28

Panko Chapter 6

Pre-Lab 7 Submitted Panko Chapter 7

Lab 8: Wireless Lab I

T Nov 1

Wireless Networks II

Th Nov 3 F Nov 4

Wireless Networks II Lab 9: Wireless Lab II

T Nov 8

Review/Catch-Up

TCP/IP Internetworking I

Th Nov 17 TCP/IP Internetworking I F Nov 18 Lab 10: TCP/IP Lab I Nov 20-27 Thanksgiving Break T Nov 29 Th Dec 1 F Dec 2 T Dec 6 Th Dec 8 F Dec 9 W Dec 14

On-Line Questions: C to D On-Line Assessment 7 Submitted Project Overview and Bibliography Posted Pre-Lab 8 Submitted

Panko Chapter 8

On-Line Questions: E to J On-Line Assessment 8 Submitted Pre-Lab 9 Submitted On-Line Questions: K to L

Th Nov 10 Exam 2 F Nov 11 Project Team Meetings T Nov 15

On-Line Questions: A to B On-Line Assessment 6 Submitted Project Teams Formed

Panko Chapter 9

Project Test Plan Posted On-Line Questions: M to O On-Line Assessment 9 Submitted Pre-Lab 10 Submitted

Panko Chapter 10 On-Line Questions: P to Z On-Line Assessment 10 Submitted TCP/IP Internetworking II Preliminary Project Results Posted Virtual Lab 11 Submitted Networked Applications Panko Chapter 11 On-Line Assessment 11 Submitted Networked Applications Final Project Submitted Lab 12: Networked Pre-Lab 12 Submitted Applications Final Exam 5:15-7:15 TCP/IP Internetworking II

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