Computer Networks

This course studies the standard models for the layered approach to communication between autonomous devices in a network, the main characteristics of data transmission across various physical link types and the implications for protocol designs. It considers how to design networks and protocols for diverse situations, analyses several application and support protocols from a distributed systems viewpoint, and identifies significant problem areas in networked communications. Topics include: communication network architectures, signalling and modulation across physical media, real-world local and wide-area networks, internet protocol fundamentals, performance and monitoring of networks, routing, network security, and application protocols for distributed systems including web, email, video, internet-of-everything, peer-to-peer and other contemporary network topics.