CSC 812: Data Communication and
Networks (3 Credit Units)
Introduction: History and development of computer network, network
topologies, ISO reference model, Physical layer, MAC layer, Network
layer,
Internetworking: Bridges, Switches, Repeaters and Routers,
Transport Layer: Connection Management, Flow control and buffering,
Application Layer: DNS, SNMP, MAIL, WWW, and FTP, Use of TCP/IP
Protocol Suite as running example.
Channels and channel capacity; introduction to information theory;
sharing network resources: telecommunication history; circuit
switching and packet switching; multiplexing; FDM, TDM, statistical
multiplexing; virtual circuits and datagrams; advantages and
disadvantages;
sharing the medium: Aloha, CSMA (persistent and non-persistent),
CSMA-CD, token passing, CDMA, wireless LANs and simple
performance analysis;
dealing with errors: errors, coding and redundancy; hamming theory
and codes; CRCs, ARQ protocols; CR selective retransmission and flow
control;
internetworking and the internet: ISPs, datagram forwarding; the DNS;
IPv4; addressing and forwarding; encapsulation and address resolution;
TCP and UDP; ports and congestion controls; example applications;
modelling data networks: services and protocols; layered architectures;
the OSI 7-layer model; introduction to queue theory; physical media;
LANs and bridging; WANs and point-to-point links; routing; addressing
and routing in the internet; end-to-end communication in the internet;
and application protocols.
Cyber space technology: Cyber Crime, Cyber Security and models of
Cyber Solution.
1. Introduction to Computer Networks
Historical Development:
• Evolution from ARPANET to the modern internet, emphasizing
milestones in circuit switching, packet switching, and protocol
standardization
.Network Topologies:
Star, Bus, Ring, Mesh: Advantages (e.g., fault tolerance in mesh)
and limitations (e.g., single-point failure in star)
• .
2. Network Architectures and Models
ISO-OSI Reference Model:
• Traditional 7-layer model vs. simplified 5-layer version
:
Layer Function
Physical Bit transmission via
electrical/optical signals
.
Data Link (MAC) Media access control (e.g.,
CSMA/CD), framing, and error
detection
.
Network Logical addressing (IP) and
routing
.
Transport End-to-end communication
(TCP/UDP)
.
Application Protocols like DNS, FTP, and
HTTP
SNMP, MAIL, WWW
•
TCP/IP Protocol Suite:
• Acts as the practical implementation of OSI, with layers: Network
(IP), Transport (TCP/UDP), and Application (HTTP)
• .
3. Physical Layer
Key Functions
:
• Bit Representation: Analog/digital signal conversion.
• Synchronization: Clocking mechanisms for coherent data
transmission.
• Transmission Modes: Simplex, half-duplex, and full-duplex.
• Modulation: Techniques like PCM and delta modulation
• .
Channel Capacity:
• Shannon’s theorem: C=B log2(1+SNR), where B = bandwidth
• .
4. MAC Layer and Medium Access
MAC Protocols
:
• Contention-Based:
• ALOHA: Pure and slotted variants.
• CSMA/CD: Used in Ethernet for collision detection
• .
Controlled Access: Token passing (e.g., Token Ring).
Wireless LANs: IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) and MACA protocol for collision
avoidance
• .
Performance Analysis:
• Throughput calculations for CSMA/CD under varying load
conditions
• .
5. Network Layer and Internetworking
Routing Algorithms:
• Shortest path, distance vector (RIP), and link-state (OSPF)
.Internetworking Devices:
Bridges/Switches: MAC address-based forwarding.
Routers: IP-based path determination
.IPv4/IPv6:
Addressing, fragmentation, and encapsulation
• .
6. Transport Layer
TCP vs. UDP:
• TCP: Connection-oriented, error recovery (ARQ), flow control
(sliding window)
.
UDP: Connectionless, low overhead
.Congestion Control:
Mechanisms like AIMD (Additive Increase Multiplicative Decrease)
• .
7. Application Layer Protocols
• DNS: Domain name to IP resolution.
• SNMP: Network monitoring and management.
• FTP/HTTP: File and hypertext transfer
• .
8. Error Handling and Data Integrity
• Error Detection: CRC, checksums.
• Forward Error Correction: Hamming codes
.
ARQ Protocols: Selective repeat and Go-Back-N
• .
9. Internetworking and the Modern Internet
• ISPs and Peering: Role in global connectivity.
• Encapsulation: OSI layer interactions (e.g., IP over Ethernet)
• .
10. Network Modeling and Performance
Queueing Theory:
• M/M/1 model for analyzing packet delay and congestion
.LANs/WANs:
Ethernet (10/100 Gbps), Wi-Fi standards (802.11ax), and SD-WAN
• .
11. Cybersecurity in Data Networks
Threats and Mitigation:
• Cybercrime: Phishing, DDoS attacks.
• Cryptography: Symmetric (AES) vs. asymmetric (RSA)
encryption
.
Network Security Protocols: IPsec, TLS/SSL, and firewalls
• .
