Networks
and
Distributed Systems


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Announcements:

Nov 27: Here's a short guide on how to prepare your project poster presentation on Dec 11 and project report due on Dec 20.

Nov 21: There will be no class on 11/22. Have a great Thanksgiving Holiday!

Nov 21: Reading list for the next class (11/27) is here.

Nov 8: reading list for lecture 9 posted.

Nov 6: One part of Lab 2 posted

Nov 3: reading list for lec 8 posted few days ago. Here's the link Lec 8 (note: Use google to download the papers.).

Nov 1: Notes for lecture 7 posted

Oct 25: reading list for lec 7 posted Lec 7.

Oct 23: Lab1 grade is posted. If you disagree with your lab1 grade, please contact Jay.

Oct 20: Readings for Lec 6 posted Lec6. Use google for optional readings.

Oct 18: Lab1 solution is posted

Oct 17: Notes for lecture 5 posted

* Class schedule: Mon 7pm (WWH-102).

* Class instructors:
Lakshmi Subramanian (Office Hour: Mon 5-6pm)
Jinyang Li (Office hour: Tue 5-6pm)

* Class TA: Jay Chen (Office hour: Wed 5-6pm)

* Class mailing list

* Policy on academic integrity

What is the course about?

This is a graduate level course on computer networks and large-scale distributed systems. In this class, we will teach the design and implementation techniques essential for engineering both robust networks and Internet-scale distributed systems.

The goal of this class is to guide students so that they can:

This course will have three components

We will read about 40-50 research papers on various aspects of networks and distributed systems. Topics include routing protocols, network congestion control, multicast, wireless networking, peer-to-peer systems, overlay networks and applications, distributed storage systems and network security. Students are expected to read papers before the class and participate in the discussion during the class. The lecture will be conducted in an interactive fashion. We will lead the discussion, but we expect everyone to participate. You will be graded for class discussion.

The final course project (conducted in a group of 2-3 students) should be a research-oriented project which can be one of:

Prerequisites:
1. Undergraduate Networks and/or Operating Systems
2. Programming experience in C/C++ or Java is helpful for the final project.

How does this course differ from Data Communication and Networks  offered by Prof. Conron?

The two courses are largely non-overlapping. While the course by Prof. Conron covers the basics of networking and is based on renowned textbooks, this course is dealing with some of the current state of the art in networking where we deal on new works in the space of wireless, Peer-peer, overlay networks, sensor networks. network security and many others. There's no textbook, you need read many research papers (with our guidance) to learn the current challenges and solutions in networking research.

If you have been exposed to a networking course in your undergrad (i.e. you know the basics of TCP/IP, socket programming), we highly encourage you to take this class. If not, we would encourage you to take Prof. Conron's class.

Still not sure? Check us out on Sep 11, Monday. See you there!

Questions or comments? email the instructors