Fall 2024
CS242

A study of computer networks, with a focus on the Internet

A systems-oriented approach to data networks.
Including a theoretical discussion of common networking problems and an examination of modern networks and protocols.
All while focusing on the Internet.

Instructors

Christine Bassem

Office hours:
Monday 2:30 to 3:30pm
Friday 1pm to 2:30pm
One-on-one meetings can be scheduled by email

Claire Cao - Class tutor

CS242 Fall 2024 Schedule

Follow this link for the Fall 2024 - Support calendar
Please note that this page will be updated frequently, and it will contain all course content and resources
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Sep
3
Introduction and Review
(slides)
Reading: Course syllabus and Chapter 1
4
5
6
Networks and delay
(slides)
Reading: Chapter 1
9
Assignment 1 due at 11:59pm (pdf file)
10
Finish up Chapter 1
Reading: Chapter 1
11
12
13
Transport Layer:
UDP
(slides)
Reading: Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.3
16
17
Sockets + Demo
(slides - tutorial)
Reading: Section 2.7
18
19
20
Reliable data transfer (1)
(slides)
Reading: Section 3.4
23
Assignment 2 due at 11:59pm
(pdf file - starter code)
24
Reliable data transfer (2)
(slides)
Reading: Section 3.4
25
26
27
Exam 1
Covers material up to and including UDP
30
Oct
1
rdt3.0 and pipelined transfer
(slides)
Reading: Section 3.5
2
3
4
TCP
(slides)
Section 3.5
7
Assignment 3 due at 11:59pm (pdf file)
8
Congestion
(slides)
Reading: Sections 3.6 and 3.7
9
10
11
Application Layer:
HTTP and Email
(slides)
Reading: Sections 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3
14
Fall break
15
Fall break
16
17
18
Email and DNS
(slides)
Reading: Section 2.4
21
22
P2P and Streaming
(slides)
Reading: Section 2.5 and 2.6
23
24
25
Let's talk about the project
Project description
28
Assignment 4 due at 11:59pm (pdf file)
29
Tanner Conference
30
31
Nov 1
Multithreaded servers - Code demo
(slides)
4
5
Network Layer:
Routers and forwarding (slides)
Reading: Sections 4.1 and 4.2
6
7
8
IP and subnets
(slides)
Reading: Sections 4.3 and 4.4
11
Project phase 2 due at 11:59pm
(Phase 2 description)
12
Routing - part 1
(slides)
Reading: Sections 5.1 and 5.2
13
14
15
Routing - part 2
(slides)
Reading: Section 5.2
18
Assignment 5 due at 11:59pm
(pdf file)
19
BGP
(slides)
Reading: Sections 5.3 and 5.4
20
21
22
Big picture and review
25
Project phase 3 due at 11:59pm
26
Project presentations
27
Thanksgiving break
28
Thanksgiving break
29
Thanksgiving break
Dec 2
3
TBD
4
5
6
Exam 2 in-class
Covers remaining material
9
[Tentative date] Assignment 6 due at 11:59pm
10
TBD
30
2
Reading period starts

Administrative details of CS242

Course Overview

Prerequisites The prerequisite for CS242 is CS230 - Data structures.

Textbook The course textbook is Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet, written by James F. Kurose and Keith W. Ross and published by Addison Wesley. Copies of the text are available in the College Bookstore. Every lecture, there will be required readings from the textbook and sometimes other sources. All readings will be based on the 8th edition of the book, but you might find older versions of the book for way cheaper. A small part of the readings can only be found in the 8th edition, but we can provide copies of these sections via the College Library, if you choose to buy a previous edition.

Course Group Make sure that you are added to the Course's Piazza group. This group has several purposes, one of which is class announcements.
I encourage you to use it for class discussions, and questions. If you know the answer to a classmate's question, feel free to post a reply yourself. Please do not post any code in your messages on the group!

Course Expectations and Syllabus

All important course information and policies can be found in the CS 242 course syllabus.

Special Accommodations

If you have a disability or condition, either long-term or temporary, and need reasonable academic adjustments in this course, please contact Accessibility and Disability Resources (ADR) to get a letter outlining your accommodation needs, and submit that letter to me. You should request accommodations as early as possible in the semester, or before the semester begins, since some situations can require significant time for review and accommodation design. If you need immediate accommodations, please arrange to meet with me as soon as possible. If you are unsure but suspect you may have an undocumented need for accommodations, you are encouraged to contact (ADR). They can provide assistance including screening and referral for assessments.

Disability Services can be reached at accessibility@wellesley.edu, at 781-283-2434, by scheduling an appointment online at their website, https://www.wellesley.edu/adr or by visiting their offices on the 3rd floor of Clapp Library, rooms 316 and 315.

Nondiscrimination and Harassment

Wellesley College considers diversity essential to educational excellence, and we are committed to being a community in which each member thrives. The College does not allow discrimination or harassment based on race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ethnic or national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, pregnancy or any other protected status under applicable local, state or federal law. If you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or harassment, support is available to you: