Computer Networks

Code:

L.EIC025

Acronym:

RC

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Informatics Engineering and Computing

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Informatics and Computing Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L.EIC	364	Syllabus	3	-	6	52	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

Provide the students with basic training in Computer Networks - knowledge of the essential architectural concepts and principles, the more used technologies and solutions and also the main standards. Furthermore, the student must be capable of analyzing and evaluating the performance of different types of systems and communication networks.

Learning outcomes and competences

The student should be able to: a) understand and explain the main concepts of computer networks; b) select, compare and use the main technologies of computer networks; c) implement, configure and evaluate key mechanisms and components of computer networks.

 

Working method

Presencial

Program

Introduction to computer networks. Transmission and data communication techniques. Data link control. Models for performance evaluation. Medium access control. LANs. Internet. Routing. Congestion control. Applications.

Mandatory literature

Andrew S. Tanenbaum, David J. Wetherall; Computer Networks, 5/E, Prentice Hall, 2011. ISBN: ISBN-10: 0132126958

Complementary Bibliography

Dimitri Bertsekas, Robert Gallager; Data Networks, 2nd Edition, Prentice-Hall International, 1992. ISBN: 0-13-200916-1
Peterson, Larry L.; Computer Networks. ISBN: 978-0-12-374013-7
Stevens, W. Richard; TCP/IP illustrated. ISBN: 0-201-63346-9
Stallings, William; Data and Computer Communications. ISBN: 0-13-243310-9
James F. Kurose, Keith W. Ross; Computer Networking - a Top-Down Approach, 5th Edition, Pearson, 2010. ISBN: 0-13-607967-9

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical classes are dedicated to the formal exposition of contents, including problems’ solving to illustrate and discuss cases. In laboratory classes the students will carry out two assignments to get acquainted with the development of communications protocols: a data link protocol, and planning and configuration of a computer network.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	60,00
Trabalho laboratorial	40,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	50,00
Frequência das aulas	56,00
Trabalho laboratorial	56,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

To be elligible to take the exam, students must do both lab assignments, present them and deliver the respective reports.

Calculation formula of final grade

Designating by
L1 the grade of 1st lab
L2 the grade of 2nd lab
H the grade of homeworks
AD the continuous assessment grade

the continuous assessment grade (AD) is calculated using this formula:
   AD = 0.4*L1 + 0.4*L2 + 0.2*H

Students may choose to keep the distributed assessment grade obtained in one of the 3 previous academic years and just take the final exam.

Further designating by
E the grade of final exam
ADA the adjusted continuous assessment grade = MIN(AD, E+5)
CF the final grade

the final grade (CF) is calculated using this formula:
   if (AD < 8.0 or E < 8.0), then CF = "RFC" (fail)
   else CF = 0.4*ADA + 0.6*E

Both AC and E have a minimum grade of 8.0.
Grades are in a scale of 0 to 20 points.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

The special evaluation students can choose to do the laboratory assignments, following identical conditions as the ordinary students, or to do an individual assignment done outside the classes, according to the specific aims proposed for each case.

Classification improvement

The continuous assessment grade can be improved in the next ocurrence of the course. It is used in the final grade calculation for both the normal and the resit exams.