This document outlines the structure and content of a module on computer communications and networks. The module aims to provide an understanding of networking principles, technologies, and protocols. It is divided into four parts that cover: data transmission basics, packet transmission and local area networks, internetworking concepts and protocols like IP and TCP, and finally network applications. Assessment will involve a two hour written exam based on previous years' papers, with no coursework required.

1. Computer Communications
and Networks
Email: vj2713@gmail.com

2. Introduction
 Practical matters
 Module goals, structure and contents
 Initial introduction to some key ideas and
issues

3. Lectures
 Tuesday 17:00 in LT3
 Friday 13:00 in LT2

4. Related modules
 G53ACC - Advanced Computer
Communications
 G5BIAW - The Internet and the World
Wide Web

5. Objectives
 To understand the basic principles of data
communications and computer networks.
 To appreciate the complex trade-offs that are
inherent in the design of networks.
 To provide a guided tour of network technologies
from the lowest levels of data transmission up to
network applications.
 To learn about current networking technologies,
especially Internet protocols.

6. Assessment
 Two hour written examination
 The style of question will be based upon those
from previous years. Their content will of course
be different.
 Last year’s exam paper is on sale in the bookshop
and previous papers are in the library.
 No coursework

7. Text books and notes
 Notes are available at:
 http://www.cs.nott.ac.uk/~mvr/ccn
 The core recommended course text is:
 Computer Networks and Internets, Douglas E.
Comer, Prentice Hall
 Supplementary texts are:
 Tannenbaum, Computer Networks, Prentice Hall
 Halsall, Data and Computer Communications,
Macmillan

8. What is a computer network?
 An interconnection of autonomous
computers (as opposed to communication
between separate but interdependent parts
of a single computer)

9. Some goals of computer networks
 Access to remote resources
 Human communication
 Mobile computing
 Computing power through parallelism
 Optimising resources - load balancing
 Incremental growth of computer systems (reduced
cost and risk)
 Increased robustness through graceful degradation

10. Uses of computer networks
 Email, World Wide Web, Video
Conferencing, File Transfer, Collaborative
Virtual Environments, Remote control of
robots and machines, Dial up databases,
Webcasting, Distributed Programs,
Hacking, Banking, Internet telephone

11. Classifying networks
 By size
 Local area networks (LANs) versus Wide area
networks (WANs)
 By connectivity
 Point to point versus broadcast networks
 By communication medium
 By mobility
 Fixed versus mobile

12. Size - differences between local
and wide area networks
 ‘Speed’ - bandwidth and latency
 Management
 Security
 Reliability
 Billing
 Heterogeneity (and standards)

13. Connectivity - point to point
networks
tree
star
irregular
mesh

14. Connectivity - broadcast
networks
satellite/radio wire

15. Medium - differences between
communication media
 ‘Speed’ - bandwidth and latency
 Range
 Sharing
 Topology
 Installation and maintenance costs
 Reliability

16. Mobility - issues arising in
mobile networks
 Mobile networking has emerged in the last
decade. Introduces new issues of:
 energy efficiency
 location and tracking
 semi-persistent connections
 complex administration and billing as
devices and users move around the
network

17. Common issues in networking
 Addressing
 Routing
 Framing and encoding
 Error detection and correction
 Flow and congestion

18. Module contents and structure
Part 4: applications
Part 3: internetworking
Part 2: packet transmission
Part 1: data transmission

19. Part 1: data transmission
 Transmission media;
 Local asynchronous communication (RS-232);
 Long distance communication (modems and
carriers)

20. Part 2: packet transmission
 Packets, frames and error detection
 Local area networks (LANs)
 Hardware addressing
 LAN wiring and physical topology
 Extending LANS: Fiber Modems, repeaters,
bridges and switches;
 WAN Technologies and routing
 Network ownership and service paradigm
 Protocols and layering

21. Part 3: internetworking
 Concepts, architecture and protocols
 IP addresses
 Binding protocol addresses (ARP)
 IP Datagrams and datagram forwarding
 IP encapsulations, fragmentation and
reassembly
 The future of IP
 An error reporting mechanism (ICMP)
 TCP (reliable transport service)

22. Part 4: applications
 Client-server interaction
 The socket interface
 Example applications