Network Protocols           TDC 375-701              Autumn 2009

Instructor: John Kristoff
            http://condor.depaul.edu/~jkristof/
            jtk@depaul.edu
            http://www.cymru.com/jtk/
            jtk@cymru.com
            tc.jtk (Skype)
            tcjtk  (AIM)
            tcjtk  (MSN Messenger)
            tcjtk0 (Google Talk)
            tcjtk  (Yahoo! IM)

Summary of the course

This course will cover a limited range of network protocol
implementations and designs, particularly a subset of the TCP/IP
protocol suite including, but not limited to IP, IPv6, ICMP, IGMP, UDP,
TCP, DNS, BGP, RIP, OSPF/IS-IS. Time permitting we will also touch on
network management with SNMP, IP multicast protocols, SCTP, tunneling
and others as interest dictates.

While we will focus our attention on the ubiquitous TCP/IP protocol
suite, the lectures will be roughly evenly split between protocol
basics, design/operational considerations (e.g. why are things the way
they are) and real-world case studies.

The real-world case studies will draw from the instructor's current and
active participation in the Internet operational community. This part of
the course will attempt to show how network protocols really do or don't
work and offer a rare glimpse from the front lines of security threats
(e.g. Storm Worm, Conficker, Slammer, route hijacking), network
monitoring and analysis tools (packet capture parsing software, DNS
server probing, rogue C&C server monitoring) and network upgrade and
enhancement attempts (implementing CoS/QoS, VoIP, router upgrades, IPv6,
IP multicast, DNSSEC, standards and community participation).

Course Textbook

TCP/IP Protocol Suite, 4th Edition, Behrouz A. Forouzan,
  ISBN-13: 978-0073376042
  CDM Assigned and Required Book

Like many college text books of this sort, it appears written by someone
with little operator or real-world implementation experience so there is
all sorts of "good stuff" that is missing, but otherwise it seems
relatively OK.  I'll do my best to fill in some of those missing pieces.
Do expect some parts of the homework to come from end-of-chapter
questions in this book.

If I could make you buy other books, these would be good ones.  Note,
these are optional, but if networking is going to be your thing you
should pick up at least the first two sooner or later (and read them).

TCP/IP Illustrated Volume I, W. Richard Stevens,
  ISBN-13: 978-0201633467
Interconnections: Bridges, Routers, Switches and Internetworking
  Protocols (2nd Edition), Radia Perlman,
  ISBN-13: 978-0201634488
Internet Core Protocols: The Definitive Guide: Help for Network
  Administrators, Eric Hall,
  ISBN-13: 978-1565925724

Grading: Homework 25%
         Quizzes  25%
         Mid-term 25%
         Final    25%
         extra credit may be available at the instructor's discretion

Homework

Homework is scheduled to be assigned every week except the week before
an exam or the week of an exam.  Each homework problem set consists of
short answer problems based on the current week's lecture, reading
material and other assigned projects.  A maximum of the three best
homework grades will be applied to your overall homework grade.  Special
note to those who may have trouble returning homework, no late homework
will be permitted.  Also note, you are expected to be able to perform
all homework assigned, regardless if you do not turn it in or not.  It
may show up again in some form on a quiz or exam.  Please submit
homework via course online.

Quizzes

Quizzes are scheduled every week except the first week, the week during
an exam or a week after the exam.  Each quiz consists of short answer
problems based on the prior weeks' lecture, reading material and other
assigned projects.  A maximum of the three best quiz results will be
applied toward your overall quiz grade.  Special note to those who may
have trouble attending class or staying late, no make-up quizzes will
be permitted.  Also note, like homework, quiz material may show up again
in some form on an upcoming exam.

Mid-term / Final Exam

Each exam covers material covered in the past half of the class.  Each
exam will consist of a variety of problem types, including multiple
short essays.  The entire class period will be dedicated towards an
exam.  Make-up exams may given in extenuating circumstances.  Contact
the instructor, preferably with as much advance notice as possible to
discuss a make-up exam.  Warning, make-up exams are not guaranteed to be
the same or as easy as the in-class exam.  You will be allowed one 8'x11'
sheet of paper, double sided is OK with which to write notes and use to
help with the exam.  No, you may not share notes with anyone else.

Reading Assignments

Module 1
  Chapter 1 - Introduction
  Chapter 2 - The OSI Model and the TCP/IP Protocol Suite
  Chapter 4 - Introduction to the Network Layer
Module 2
  Chapter 5 - IP Addresses
Module 3
  Chapter 6 - Delivery and Forwarding of IP Packets
  Chapter 7 - Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4)
Module 4
  Chapter 8 - Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)
  Chapter 9 - Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMPv4)
  Chapter 11 - Unicast Routing Protocols (RIP, OSPF, BGP)
Module 5
  Mid-term Exam
Module 6
  Chapter 13 - Introduction to the Transport Layer
  Chapter 14 - User Datagram Protocol (UDP)
Module 7
  Chapter 15 - Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
Module 8
  Chapter 18 - Host Configuration: DHCP
  Chapter 19 - Domain Name System (DNS)
Module 9
  Chapter 26 - IPv6 Addressing
  Chapter 27 - IPv6 Protocol
Module 10 (time permitting and as interest dictates)
  Chapter 24 - Network Management: SNMP
  Chapter 12 - Multicasting and Multicast Routing Protocols
  something else?

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