Computer Network Architecture

Part I - Conceptual and Philosophical Aspects

1. An overview of the area of network and current and future prospects
2. An introduction to the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) Reference Model
3. The Layer Design Principles for data communication
   • The Layer and Interface Definitions
   • The definition of Entity and its relationship with layers
   • Defining the interaction of layers: The Service Access Point (SAP)
4. Service concepts and its relationship for Layers, Entities and SAPs
   • Conneciton and Connectionless Oriented Services
   • Connection types: Circuit switched and Packet switched communications
   • Services, Layers and the Temporal Ordering Diagram
   • Services and the communication's primitives
5. A small revision of Finite State Machine (FSM)
6. The formal definition of Protocol
7. An introduction to the Forward and Backward Error Control
8. An introduction to the Flow Control
   • Loss of primitive and primitive timeout
   • Numbering, reordering and duplication of primitives: The concept of Credit.
   • Modeling of the window: the sliding window

Part II - Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model

1. Physical Layer (Phy)
   • Introduction to the glossary of terms: connectors, cables, topology, backbone
   • Example of Electrical aspects
   • Functionalities
   • Concepts of Topology and the Physcal Network
   • Hardware Specifications and the features of Code/Decode
   • Manchester encoding / NRZ / NRZI
   • Introduction to the Modulation Techniques
     • TDM (Time Division Multiplexing),
     • FDM (Frequency Division Multiplexing)
       • AM (Amplitude Modulation)
       • FM (Frequency Modulation)
     • The concept of Filters: Cut-off frequency and gain
     • Wireless Communications
   • The definition of Communication Channel
     • Analogue and digital communications: an overview of PCM (Pulse Code Modulation)
     • Noise (Signal Noise Relationship)
     • The law of Shannon
   • Physical medium
     • Twisted Pair (TP)
       • Unshielded Twiested Pair (UTP or simply TP)
       • Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)
       • An introduction to the EIA TIA 568 standard
       • The TP connectors
       • TP applications
     • Optical Fiber
       • An overview of wave length
       • An overview of the optical fiber structure
       • Single Mode Fiber (SMF)
       • Multi Mode Fiber (MMF)
       • The optical fiber connectors
       • Optical fiber applications
     • Coaxial Cables
       • An overview of the coaxial cable structure
       • Thin cable
       • Thick cable
       • The coaxial cable connectors: BNC and Vampire connector
       • Coaxial cable applications
   
   
2. Link Layer (L)
   • Introduction to the Link layer architecture
     • Medium Access Control (MAC) sublayer
     • Logical Link Control (LLC) sublayer
   • Reference Architecture for the MAC sublayer
     • The physical layer interface
     • The concept of flags
     • Bit or Character stuffing.
   • Concepts of Link Address: unicast, multicast and broadcast
   • Introduction to the medium access disciplines
     • Random Access Control
       • Aloha network
       • Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA)
         • CSMA Persistent
         • CSMA Non-persistent
         • Collision Detection (CD)
         • Collision Avoidance (CA)
     • Deterministic Access Control (Real time)
       • Distributed (Token based)
         • Token Passing
         • Timed Token
       • Centralized (Bus Arbitrator)
         • Deadline Monotonic (Static DM)
         • Earliest Deadline First (Dynamic EDF)
     • Point to Point Access Control
     • MAC performance comparison
   • Introduction to the logical link disciplines
     • LLC Operating Modes
       • LLC Mode 1: Connectionless Oriented Link Services
       • LLC Mode 2: Connection Oriented Link Services
       • LLC Mode 3: Connectionless Services with Acknowledgment
     • Review of MTU calculation
     • LLC Addressing
     • LLC capabilities
       • Multiplexing
       • Spliting
   • Network Elements for Local Area Networks (LAN)
     • Repeater: Architectural Aspects, Capabilities and Limitations
     • Bridge: Architectural Aspects, Capabilities and Limitations
     • HUB: Architectural Aspects, Capabilities and Limitations
     • Switch: Architectural Aspects, Capabilities and Limitations
   • LAN, MAN, WAN and Fieldbus
   
   
3. Network Layer (N)
   • Introduction to the Network layer architecture
     • Subnetwork Access (SNAC) sublayer
     • Subnetwork Dependent Convergence (SNDC) sublayer
     • Subnetwork Independent Convergence (SNIC) sublayer
   • The roles of network equipments: DTE, DCE, DSE, CPE and BGC
   • Horizontal and hierarchical network addressing
   • Architectural Overview of a Router
     • Ports, Queues and Physical links
     • Introduction to the Routing in communication's networks
       • The network as a graph
       • Route Definition
       • Routing algorithms: Link State and Distance Vector
     • Network routing Protocols, Variables and Routing tables
       • Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP) Family
       • Exterior Gateway Protocol (EGP) Family
     • Static versus Dynamic routing
     • Examples of Routing Protocols
       • RIP - Routing Information Protocol
       • OSPF - Open Shortest Path First
       • BGP - Border Gateway Protocol
   • Network Services
     • Network Expedited Services
     • Review of Error Control for Network Services
     • Review of Flow Control for Network Services
     • Algorithm for Fragmentation and Remouting of Packets
     • ConnectionLess Network Services (CLNS)
     • Connection Oriented Network Services (CONS)
   
   
4. Transport Layer (T)
   • The origin of Client-Server Model
   • The End-to-End Communication and the Virtual Circuit
   • Relationship between TSAPs and CEP (Connection End Points)
   • Capabilities of the Transport layer
   • Three-way handshake: philosofy and connection
   • Quality of Service (QoS) in the OSI Reference Model
   • Transport Services
     • Review of Error Control for Transport Services
     • Review of Flow Control for Transport Services
     • Algorithm for Segmentation and Remouting of Segments
     • Transport Expedited Services
     • Multiplexing
     • Spliting
     • Transport Classes of Services
       • Class 0: Basic Services
       • Class 1: Basic Error Detection Services
       • Class 2: Multiplexing Services
       • Class 3: Error Detection and Multiplexing
       • Class 4: Error Recovery and Multiplexing
     • Comparative table of Transport services
   • Examples of Transport Protocols
     • UDP - User Datagram Protocol
     • TCP - Transport Control Protocol
     • SCTP - Stream Control Transport Protocol
   
   
5. Session Layer (S)
   • Session layer concepts
     • Connection resources
     • Dialog unit
     • Activities
     • Synchronization points
   • Session Services
     • Context management
     • Synchronization services
     • Typed Data
     • Expedited Services
     • Reliable and Unreliable Data Services
     • Event notification
   • Session context versus Transport connections
   • Example of Session Protocol: ISO IS-7498
   
   
6. Presentation Layer (P)
   • Presentation layer escope
   • Presentation Address
   • Abstract syntax versus Transfer Syntax
   • Binary representation (Transfer) of data types (Abstract)
     • Nummeric data types: Little Endian versus Big Endian
     • Character strings: ASCII, EBCDIC, etc.
     • Data type alignement
   • The definition of Presentation Context
   • Examples: BER (Basic Encoding Rules) and ASN.1 (Abstract Syntax Notation One)
     • Abstract syntax
       • ASN.1 (Abstract Syntax Notation One)
       • XML (eXtended Markup Language)
       • XDR (eXternal Data Representation)
     • Transfer Syntax
       • BER (Basic Encodign Rules)
   
   
7. Application Layer (A)
   • Object based design
   • The Application Association (AA) definition
   • Functionalities based on a set of protocols
     • The Application Service Element (ASE)
     • The relationship between ASEs and Protocols
   • The Definition of Single Association Object (SAO)
     • The set of ASEs
     • The Single Association Control Function (SACF)
     • A supporting Application Association (AA)
     • Presentation Service Access Point (PSAP)
   • The Application Entity Definition (AE)
     • The set of Single Association Objects (SAO)
     • The Multiple Association Control Function (MACF)
     • The Presentation Address definition (List of PSAPs)
   • Application layer architecture
     • Application Process
     • Executive Function (for example, the operating system)
     • Application Entity
     • Multiple Association Control Function (MACF)
     • Single Association Object (SAO)
     • Application Service Element (ASE)
     • Presentation Address
     • Application Association
   • International Standard: ISO IS 9545
   • Examples
     • Common Application Service Elements (CASE)
       • Association Control Service Element (ACSE)
       • Remote Operation Service Element (ROSE)
       • Concurrency, Commitment and Recovery (CCR)
       • Reliable Transfer Service Element (RTSE)
     • Specific Applicaton Service Elements (SASE)
       • File Transfer Access and Management (FTAM)
       • Message Handling System (MHS)
       • Virtual Terminal (VT)
       • Job Transfer and Management (JTM)
       • Manufacturing Message Specification (MMS)

Part III - The Internet Architecutre Overview

1. An overview of the area of network and current and future prospects
2. Internetworking Layer
   • Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP)
   • Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)
   • Internet Protocol (IP)
   • IP Routing
   • Routing Protocols
3. Transport Layer
   • Socket: The Abstract Interface
   • Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
   • User Datagram Protocol (UDP)
4. Domain Name System (DNS)
5. A look on important Internet Applications