CAD for Computer Communication Networks

(2-0-3-3)

CMPE Degree: This course is Not Applicable for the CMPE degree.

EE Degree: This course is Not Applicable for the EE degree.

Lab Hours: 0 supervised lab hours and 3 unsupervised lab hours.

Technical Interest Group(s) / Course Type(s): Computer Systems and Software

Course Coordinator: Douglas M Blough

Prerequisites: ECE 2036 and ECE 3600

Catalog Description

Models and algorithms for simulation-based design and evaluation of computer networks and network protocols.

Textbook(s)

Course Outcomes

Not Applicable

Strategic Performance Indicators (SPIs)

Outcome 1 (Students will demonstrate expertise in a subfield of study chosen from the fields of electrical engineering or computer engineering):
1. Explain how discrete-event simulation methods can be used to simulate computer networks.
2. Describe models for simulating various network protocols, e.g. TCP, BGP, CSMA/CA.

Outcome 2 (Students will demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate advanced problems and apply knowledge of mathematics and science to solve those problems):
1. Analyze how the number of simulation events scales with the number of nodes for different network topologies and traffic patterns.

Outcome 3 (Students will demonstrate the ability to utilize current knowledge, technology, or techniques within their chosen subfield):
1. Simulate a variety of network topologies and protocols using a modern network simulation tool such as ns-3.

Topical Outline

1. Network Simulation Basics
a. Creating topologies
b. Defining data flows
c. Defining queuing disciplines
d. Trace file analysis methods
e. Using network animation
2. Introduction to Simulation
a. Discrete Event Simulation (DES)
b. Simulating Networks with DES
c. Modeling Network Elements
d. Levels of abstraction
3. Overview of Network Simulation Tools
a. ns3
b. Opnet
c. Omnet++
d. GloMoSim
4. Measuring Network Performance via Simulation
a. Performance Metrics
b. Goodput, Throughput, Loss, Delay, Jitter, etc.
c. Factors Affecting Performance
d. Predicting Effect of Changes
5. The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
a. Modeling TCP
b. Existing TCP Variations
c. Factors Affecting TCP Performance
d. New TCP variations
e. Congestion Avoidance in TCP
f. Using TCP over satellite links
g. Using simulation to measure TCP performance
6. Multicast
a. Multicast group management
b. Source based trees vs. Core based trees
c. Modeling multicast in network simulations
d. Measuring multicast routing protocol overhead
7. Simulating Routing Protocols
a. Routing in Network Simulators
b. Modeling EIGRP and BGP
8. Active Queue Management (AQM) and Queuing Disciplines
a. DropTail, RED, Priority, WFQ, SCFQ, others
b. Implementation of active queues in network simulators
c. Measuring the affect of AQM
9. Wireless Network Simulation
a. Wireless channel models
b. Interference modeling
c. SNR/SINR -> transmission rate
d. CSMA/CA and 802.11
10. Streaming Video/Audio Models
a. Creating an MPEG video model
b. Measuring MPEG performance
c. Performance tradeoffs in streaming applications
11. Modeling Web Browsing
a. Using request/response distribution models
b. Using page distribution models
c. Measuring HTTP Performance