trong>Winter 2025 Computer Networks & Security (SFWR ENG 4C03)

Instructor: Rong Zheng

Email: rzheng@mcmaster.ca

Lecture time: MoTh 9:30AM - 10:20AM, Tu 10:30AM - 11:20AM

Class Room: CNH 104

Tutorial: We 11:30AM - 12:20PM (ABB 163, JHE 326H), Mo 11:30AM - 12:20PM (ABB 164), Th 11:30AM - 12:20PM (JHE 326H)

Office Hours: Tue. 5 – 6pm

Avenue: http://avenue.mcmaster.ca/

TAs:

Philips Tran (tranp30), Yunkai Yu (yu284), Billy Chan (chanc187), Kishor Pandya (pandyk3)

Textbook:

James F. Kurose, Keith W. Ross, "Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet", 8^th ed. Pearson Education

Synopsis:

Computer networking is a rapidly advancing field. The Internet is already an integral part of society. It is important for computer scientists and computer engineers to be familiar with the fundamentals as well as practices of computer networking. This graduate course will emphasize on the algorithms, protocols and performance evaluation of the Internet. Topics include TCP/IP protocol stack, routing, congestion control, wireless networks and selected materials in network security.

Grading:

Online quizzes (~5): 25% (typically due in one week)
5 Assignments: 35% total
Final: 40%
3% bonus for top 15% students who answer the most questions and/or ask the most GOOD questions on Avenue
3% bonus of classroom participation: for top 15% students who ask meaningful questions or answer questions in class

MSAF policy:

Missed quizzes with MSAF approvals will be counted toward the total quiz grade

Missed assignments with MSAF approval need to be completed in 10 days from the due day; otherwise, starting from the 11^th day, the late submission policy applies.
The list of approved MSAFs will be shared with students in the last week of class

Late submission policy:

a deduction of 10% of the maximum mark available from the actual mark achieved by the student shall be imposed upon expiry of the deadline;
a further deduction of 5% of the maximum mark available from the actual mark achieved by the student shall then be imposed on each of the next subsequent days;

Academic Dishonesty

You are expected to exhibit honesty and use ethical behavior in all aspects of the learning process. Academic credentials you earn are rooted in principles of honesty and academic integrity.

Academic dishonesty is to knowingly act or fail to act in a way that results or could result in unearned academic credit or advantage. This behaviour can result in serious consequences, e.g. the grade of zero on an assignment, loss of credit with a notation on the transcript (notation reads: "Grade of F assigned for academic dishonesty"), and/or suspension or expulsion from the university.

It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty. For information on the various types academic dishonesty please refer to the Academic Integrity Policy, located at

http://www.mcmaster.ca/academicintegrity

The following illustrates only three forms of academic dishonesty:

Plagiarism, e.g. the submission if work that is not one's own or for which other credits has been obtained.
Improper collaboration in group work.
Copying or using unauthorized aids in tests and examinations.

MOSS will be used for plagiarism detection for programming assignments in this course.

Faculty Notices

"The Faculty of Engineering is concerned with ensuring an environment that is free of all discrimination. If there is a problem, individuals are reminded that they should contact the Department Chair, the Sexual Harassment Officer or the Human Rights Consultant, as the problem occurs."

Tentative Schedule:

Lecture	Topic	Reading	Assignments	Tutorial	TA
Week 1 (Jan. 6 – Jan. 10)	Course overview Evolution of the Internet	[Kur05] Chapter 1
Week 2 (Jan. 13 – Jan. 17)	Fundamental of the Internet Application Layer	[Kur05] Chapter 1 - 2	Q1 (5pt)	Wireshark walkthrough	TA1
Week 3 (Jan. 20 – Jan. 24)	Application Layer	[Kur05] Chapter 2	Q2 (5pt)	Q&A	TA1
Week 4 (Jan. 27 – Jan. 31)	Transport Layer	[Kur05] Chapter 3	A1: Wireshark (5pt)	Socket programming examples	TA1
Week 5 (Feb. 3 – Feb. 7)	Transport Layer	[Kur05] Chapter 3	Q3 (5pt)	Q&A	TA2
Week 6 (Feb. 10 – Feb. 14)	Routing	[Kur05] Chapter 4	A2: Socket Programming (10pt)	More on socket programming	TA2
Week 7: Midterm recess
Week 8 (Feb. 24 – Mar. 28)	Routing	[Kur05] Chapter 4	Q4 (5pt)	Routing algorithm examples	TA2
Week 9 (Mar. 3 – Mar. 7)	Link layer	[Kur05] Chapter 5	A3: Wireshark (5pt)	Q&A	TA3
Week 10 (Mar. 10 – Mar. 14)	Wireless Networks	[Kur05] Chapter 6	A4: Mininet I (5pt)	Linux, VM, network emulation	TA3
Week 11 (Mar. 17 – Mar. 21)	Wireless Networks	[Kur05] Chapter 6	Q5 (5pt)	Q&A	TA3
Week 12 (Mar. 24 – Mar. 28)	Network Security	[Kur05] Chapter 8	A5: Mininet II (10pt)	MAC and self-learning algorithm examples	TA4
Week 13 (Mar. 31– Apr. 4)	Network Security	[Kur05] Chapter 8	Q6 (5pt, used to substitute the lowest quiz score)	Q&A	TA4
Week 13 (Apr. 7)	Final review			Q&A	TA4

Slides