Module 23640 (2013)
Syllabus page 2013/2014
06-23640
Networks and Distributed Systems (Extended)
Level 4/M
Links | Outline | Aims | Outcomes | Prerequisites | Teaching | Assessment | Books | Detailed Syllabus
The Module Description is a strict subset of this Syllabus Page. (The University module description has not yet been checked against the School's.)
Relevant Links
Outline
This module will explore the basic concepts, technologies and standards in the areas of Computer Networks and Distributed Systems. It will cover topics related to the Internet architecture and protocols, networking technologies, distributed systems and algorithms. It will also introduce the students to the recent trends in network technologies and systems, such as wireless networks, mobile computing, cloud computing and online social network applications. The module will be based on the discussion of real-world case studies, research papers and standardisation documents.
Aims
The aims of this module are to:
- Provide a sound understanding of the Internet architecture, protocols and technologies
- Introduce the key concepts at the basis of the design of distributed algorithms and systems
- Review the state-of-the-art of networked systems and analyse the current trends in research and industry
Learning Outcomes
| On successful completion of this module, the student should be able to: | Assessed by: | |
| 1 | demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental concepts and issues involved in computer networking | Examination |
| 2 | demonstrate an understanding of the engineering principles of network and protocol design | Examination, Continuous Assessment |
| 3 | demonstrate an understanding of the layered organization and structuring of computer networks, distinguish the problems involved at each layer and understand the techniques and algorithms that have been devised to address these problems | Examination, Continuous Assessment |
| 4 | recognise and appreciate fundamental characteristics of distributed systems: geographical distribution, concurrency, lack of global time, delay in communication, heterogeneity and existence of failures | Examination, Continuous Assessment |
| 5 | explain the main types of architectures and mechanisms of communication, such as client-server and communication protocols | Examination, Continuous Assessment |
| 6 | demonstrate an understanding of fundamental issues in distributed systems design such as timing, coordination and consensus | Examination, Continuous Assessment |
| 7 | apply the theoretical concepts and abstractions discussed in the module to the analysis of real-world case studies and design of novel and innovative networked systems | Examination, Continuous Assessment |
| 8 | explain and analyze the design, organization and operation of state of the art technologies and systems such as cloud computing, mobile computing and online social networks | Examination, Continuous Assessment |
| 9 | apply state-of-the-art techniques and technologies, including those recently presented in research papers and standardisation documents, in the development of networked and distributed systems | Examination, Continuous Assessment |
Restrictions, Prerequisites and Corequisites
Restrictions:
May not be taken by anyone who has taken or is taking 06-23644 (Networks and Distributed Systems).
Prerequisites:
-Very good programming skills (including concurrency/multi-threading)
in an object-oriented programming language or C in a *nix environment.
-Very good knowledge of data structures and algorithms (including algorithm complexity), operating systems fundamentals, computer architecture, and hardware-software interface issues.
Co-requisites:
None
Teaching
Teaching Methods:
3 hours lectures a week, plus exercise classes
Contact Hours:
Assessment
- Sessional: 2 hour examination (80%), continuous assessment (20%)
- Supplementary (where allowed): 2 hour examination (100%)
Recommended Books
| Title | Author(s) | Publisher, Date |
| Computer Networking. A Top-Down Approach. 5th Edition | James F. Kurose and Keith W. Ross | Pearson, 2010 |
| Distributed Systems. Concepts and Design. 5th Edition | George Coulouris, Jean Dollimore, Tim Kindberg and Gordon Blair | Addison Wesley, 2011 |
| Computer Networks. 5th Edition | Larry L. Peterson and Bruce S. Davie | Morgan and Kaufmann, 2011 |
| Patterns in Network Architecture | John Day | Prentice-Hall, 2008 |
| An Engineering Approach to Computer Networking | Srinivasan Keshav | Addison-Wesley, 1997 |
| Distributed Systems: Principle and Paradigms. 2nd Edition | Andrew S. Tanenbaum and Marteen Van Steen | Prentice Hall, 2006 |
| Distributed Systems. 2nd Edition | Sape Mullender | Addison-Wesley, 1993 |
| Research papers and standardisation documents (see module web page) |
Detailed Syllabus
-
Intro to Distributed Systems and Networking
- Basic Concepts and System Models
- Protocols Layers and Service Models
- Design Patterns of Networked Systems
- The Internet Architecture
- Delay Loss and Throughput in Packet-Switched Networks
- Application Layer
- Principles of Network Applications
- Web and HTTP
- Electronic Mail
- DNS
- P2P Applications
- Transport Layer
- UDP
- Principles of Reliable Data Transfer
- TCP
- Network Layer
- Forwarding and Routing
- Router Design
- IP
- Routing in the Internet
- The Link State Routing Algorithm
- The Distance Vector Routing Algorithm
- Intra-AS Routing in the Internet: RIP
- Inter-AS Routing: BGP
- Link Layer
- Link Layer Services
- Examples of Multiple Access Protocols
- Link Layer Addressing
- Wireless and Mobile Networks
- WiFi
- Cellular Networks
- Cellular Internet Access
- Designing Distributed Applications
- Interprocess Communication
- Client-server Communication
- Distributed Objects
- Middleware Systems
- Group Communication
- Time and Global States
- Clocks, Events and Process States
- Coordination and Agreement
- Distributed Mutual Exclusion
- Elections
- Coordination and Agreement in Group Communication
- Consensus
- Replication
- Current Trends in Distributed and Networked Systems
- Mobile and Ubiquitous Computing
- Cloud Computing
- Dealing with Big Data
- Online Social Networks
Last updated: 22 August 2013
Source file: /internal/modules/COMSCI/2013/xml/23640.xml
Links | Outline | Aims | Outcomes | Prerequisites | Teaching | Assessment | Books | Detailed Syllabus