Admas University

School of Postgraduate Studies

Course Outline

Course Title: Advanced Computer Networking

Course Code: CS 657
Credit Hour: 3
Description of Course
This Course aims to provide advanced background on relevant computer networking topics, allowing
postgraduate students to acquire and pursue deeper knowledge in the field.
It covers an encompassing view of recent TCP/IP developments, wireless LANs: IEEE
802.11,Bluetooth; virtual LANs; switching techniques and WAN technologies, network protocols and
their functions; point-to-point and multiple access protocols; peer-to-peer protocols, internetworking,
addressing, routing and routing protocols, routing in wireless networks; high-speed networks; the
network layer in the Internet (IP, ARP, ICMP); transport layer functions and protocols: addressing,
connection control, reliability, UDP, TCP, Quality of Service; application layer protocols and
services: DNS, SMTP, FTP, HTTP, WWW.
The course opens away for debating on the current trends and leading research in the computer
networking area. It involves both a lecture component and a project component.
Projects will consist of hands-on experiments and will typically be executed by small teams (2-3
people). During the first few weeks of the course we will suggest a number of possible areas and
projects. Teams should submit formal project proposals which will be reviewed and graded. The
projects will require a mid-semester status report and a demo and final report at the end of the
semester.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course students will be able to:
• Understand the principles behind the Networking and Internet protocols,
• Understand the limitations of the current Internet and its service model,
• Understand the main ideas behind some of the current innovations in networking including,
p2p protocols, wireless access systems,
• Identify and assess possible research opportunities and difficulties within the course scope.
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Course Content
1. Overview of Computer Networks
• Uses of computer networks
• Overview of Data Communications (types of connection, physical topology, network
categories, the Internet)
• Network Protocols and Standards
2. Network (Reference) Models (OSI and TCP/IP)
• The OSI Network Reference model
• Layers in OSI: Physical Layer, Data Link Layer, Network Layer, Transport Layer,
Session Layer, Presentation Layer, Application Layer
3. TCP/IP Model and their Differences with OSI
• Layers in the TCP/IP Model: Link Layer, Internet Layer, Transport Layer, Application
Layer
4. OSI and TCP/IP layering differences
• Managing TCP/IP networks: Management models and functions Local and Wide Area
Networks
• LANs, Ethernet (Traditional Ethernet, Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet), Token bus,
Token ring, Wireless LANs (802.11 and Bluetooth),Virtual LANs
5. Introduction to WANs Switching (circuit, message and packet switching)
• Next generation networking: Motivation and Challenge
• IPv6 Internetworking and mobility, internetworking with IPv6;
• IPv6 extensions and functionality,
• routing advances, mobile IP networking, micro and macro mobility, VoIP
fundamentals: how packetized voice works, voice quality, SIP, soft switches and
gateways, PBX replacement
6. Self-organizing networks:

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 • Ad-hoc, sensors and mesh networks; applications; communication support: information
dissemination, medium access mechanisms; self-organizing concepts in infrastructure
networks.
7. New trends in computer networking

Teaching Strategy
This course will be offered through lectures, presentations, class discussions and Group
work.

Method of Assessment
• Article Review…………………………………......20%
• Group Work and presentation……………………. 25%
• Test or other ……………………………………… 15%
• Final Exam…………………………………………40%
Teaching Support and Inputs for each content
Recommended book
• Andrew S. Tannenbaum, Computer Networks, Prentice Hall, 4th edition, 2003

Reading Materials

• B. A. Forouzan, Data Communications and Networking, McGraw Hill, 3rd edition, 2003.
• W. Stallings, Data and Computer Communications, Prentice Hall, 7th edition, 2004.
• W. Stallings, High-Speed Networks and Internets: Performance and Quality of Service,
Prentice Hall, 2nd edition, 2002.
• F. Halsall, Data Communications, Computer Networks and Open Systems, Addison -
Wesley,
4th edition, 1996.
• G. Held, Data over Wireless Networks, Bluetooth, WAP and Wireless LANs, McGraw
Hill, 2000.
• S. Hagen, IPv6 Essentials, OReilly, 2002.
• H. Soliman, Mobile IPv6 - Mobility in a wireless Internet, Addison-Wesley, 2004.

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• C. Perkins, RTP: Audio and Video for the Internet, Addison-Wesley Professional, 2003.

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