ECE 453/553 -- Computer Networks --- Spring 2020
Instructor: Micah Beck
Office: Min Kao 433
Office Hours: TBA
Email: mbeck@utk.edu
Class Time: 9:05-9:55 pm MWF
Classroom: Min Kao Engineering 404
TA: Michael Price
TA Office Hours: Mon 11:30am-12:30pm
TA Office: Min Kao 313
TA email: mprice35@vols.utk.edu
Course Curriculum (draft)
Textbook
We will use Version 6.1 of this book available for free download from https://github.com/SystemsApproach/book/releases:
Title: Computer Networks: A Systems Approach
Authors: Larry Peterson and Bruce Davie
Copyright: Elsevier, 2012
Source: https://github.com/SystemsApproach
License: CC BY 4.0
Homework
Homework #1 Answers: 1. (C) 2. (B) 3. (C) 4. (A) 5. (D) 6. (A) 7. (C) 8. (D)
An Interview With the Inventor of the Spanning Tree Protocol
Radia Perlman is an American computer programmer often described as the 'Mother of the Internet' for her invention of the spanning-tree protocol.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06jxlfh
On the Design of TCP/IP
An interview of Vint Cerf and David Reed on the origin of TCP/IP and the Marina Del Rey meeting.
http://www.nethistory.info/Archives/tcpiptalk.html
Some recent papers on Network Architecture
"Interoperable Convergence of Storage, Networking and Computation"
Micah Beck, Terry Moore, Piotr Luszczek, Anthony Denalis
Future of Information and Communication Conference, 14-15 March 2019, San Francisco.
Course Requirements and Grading
- There will be two midterm exams and a final exam.
- Homework will be assigned on a regular basis.
The final course grade will be calculated as
10%(H) + 25%(M1') + 25%(M2') + 40%(F)
where
- H = homework grade
- M1' = MAX(final exam grade, midterm 1 grade)
- M2' = MAX(final exam grade, midterm 2 grade)
- F = final exam grade
For example, a student who scores 70 on midterm 1, 85 on midterm 2, 84 on the final, and 75 on the homework will have an overall score of
10%(75) + 25%(MAX(84, 70)) + 25%(MAX(84, 85)) + 40%(84) = 83.35
The intention of this grading scheme is that students have two chances to show their mastery of the material covered in the two midterms: on the midterm and on the cummulative final.
The 90% of the course grade that is awarded on the basis of exams is available to every student at the time they take the final.
While it is possible for a student to skip the midterm exams and rely solely on the homework and final for their course grade, students are strongly advised against this approach.
Here are some reasons for this advice:
- Taking the midterm exams is a no-risk proposition: it can only improve a student's final course grade.
- The midterms are more focused, and so it should be easier to study the material covered deeply and get a good grade.
- There is less presure on students when taking midterms than during the final exam period.
- Taking the midterms is the best preparation for the final exam.