CPEN 305:Computer Networks

History and overview of computer networks including reasons for studying the course, description of the key components of network, networking software and hardware, terminologies, and role of networks in computer engineering. Communication network architecture: networks architecture - point-to-point and multi-point configurations, networking topologies – mesh, star, bus, ring; networking and internetworking devices - routers, repeaters, switches, gateways; connection oriented and connectionless services. Network protocols: network protocols – syntax, semantics and timing; TCP/IP protocol, OSI layering protocol software, network standard and standardization bodies. LAN and WAN architecture systems: LAN topologies – star, ring and bus; LAN technologies - Ethernet, token Ring, Gigabit Ethernet; error detection and correction, CSMA networks, circuit and packet switching, protocols – IP addressing, IP assignment and configuration, DNS, HTTP, UDP and STMP, IPv4 and IPv6, connection establishment, congestion control, flow control, virtual circuits, quality of service. Client-server computing: client-server interaction, web technologies, characteristics of web servers, support tools for website creation and web management. Data security: basics of secure networks, encryption and privacy, authentication protocols, packet filtering, firewalls, virtual private networks, transport layer security.