Use the Tab and Up, Down arrow keys to select menu items.
The Internet in its current form crucially relies on various communication protocols, which are distributed procedures and algorithms governing how different computers in the Internet can reach each other and exchange messages and data reliably. Two core classes of protocols are routing protocols, which help to find paths between arbitrary computers, and transport protocols, which achieve reliable data transfer over an inherently unreliable network. In this course we develop an advanced understanding of the operation, performance and scalability of selected protocols in these two classes (for example the OSPF routing protocol, and the TCP and other transport protocols). Students will implement and simulate selected aspects of such protocols and evaluate their performance.
After reviewing the IPv4 and IPv6 protocols and essential helper protocols like DHCP, the first half of the course focuses on one particular routing protocol, the OSPF protocol. The lecture will focus on its design and key protocol mechanisms, and how these are motivated by scalability considerations.In the labs, students will explore the configuration and test of OSPF routing in a simulated / emulated environment. In an assignment, students will implement and simulate parts of a routing protocol. In the second half of the course. we discuss transport protocols. In the lecture part, the study of TCP started in COSC264 is continued. In particular, congestion control algorithms and their behavior will be studied. Furthermore, modern Internet transport protocols like QUIC will be covered. The lab part and the second assignment are designed jointly: the labs will build up the required pre-requisites and skills for the assignment. In this assignment, students will implementand simulate a transport protocol. In the labs, students will learn some fundamentals of (network) simulation and related statistics and develop parts of their simulator.
1: Explain and critique the design of the OSPF and RIP routing protocols, including scalability considerations. [WA1, WA10]2: Implement and test relevant parts of a given specification of a routing protocol. [WA1, WA2, WA3, WA5, WA9, WA10]3: Analyze and configure OSPF routing for a given network topology. [WA1, WA5, WA10]4: Explain and critique the design of modern TCP and other modern transport protocols such as QUIC or multi-path TCP, including congestion control considerations. [WA1, WA10]5: Analyze packet traces using a modern network packet analyzer to explore the behavior of a TCP connection. [WA5]6: Design, implement and evaluate the performance (through simulation) of a transport protocol including a congestion control algorithm. [WA1, WA3, WA4, WA5, WA9]7: Explain the operation of other important Internet protocols and technologies such as IPv6 and DHCP (and possibly others such as VLANs, MPLS). [WA1]
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:
Employable, innovative and enterprising
Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.
COSC264
Students must attend one activity from each section.
Andreas Willig
For precise assessment due dates, please refer to the AKO | Learn page.
Students will be provided with two booklets for the main part of the course.
The Computer Science department's grading policy states that in order to pass a course you must meet two requirements:1. You must achieve an average grade of at least 50% over all assessment items.2. You must achieve an average mark of at least 45% on invigilated assessment items.If you satisfy both these criteria, your grade will be determined by the following University-wide scale for converting marks to grades: an average mark of 50% is sufficient for a C- grade, an average mark of 55% earns a C grade, 60% earns a C+ grade and so forth. However if you do not satisfy both the passing criteria you will be given either a D or E grade depending on marks. Marks are sometimes scaled to achieve consistency between courses from year to year.Students may apply for special consideration if their performance in an assessment is affected by extenuating circumstances beyond their control.Applications for special consideration should be submitted via the Special Considerations website within five days of the assessment.Where an extension may be granted for an assessment, this will be decided by direct application to the Department and an application to the Examinations Office may not be required. Special consideration is not available for items worth less than 10% of the course.Students prevented by extenuating circumstances from completing the course after the final date for withdrawing, may apply for special consideration for late discontinuation of the course. Applications must be submitted to the Examinations Office within five days of the end of the main examination period for the semester.
Please click HERE for the CSSE Department's policy for the academic remedy of applications for a special consideration for final exams.
Domestic fee $1,058.00
International fee $5,388.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see Computer Science and Software Engineering .