Introduction do Data Networks

C programming language.

Theoretical lessons: presentation, discussion, and demonstration of topics related to the proposed syllabus.

Practical lessons: presentation of Winsock related topics, mainly through the use of examples, and programming assignments.

This curricular unit aims at giving the students the ability to understand and explain the main characteristics and issues of data networks. It covers a wide range of subjects, such as data transmission media, local area network technologies, and the main communication protocols on which the Internet is based (i.e., the TCP/IP protocol stack). This curricular unit also aims at enabling the students to be able to plan and develop distributed applications/application protocols based on the Sockets paradigm.

Theoretical Component

• Introduction to data communication networks
• Standards
  • Introduction
  • OSI reference model
  • TCP / IP protocol stack
• Wired local area networks
  • Topologies
  • Transmission media
  • Structured cabling systems
  • Medium access control (MAC) protocols
• Ethernet technologies
  • MAC addresses
  • Frame structure
  • CSMA / CD Protocol
  • Physical layer
    • Bus, hub, bridge, and switch
    • Collision and broadcast domains
    • 10 Mbps (legacy), 100 Mbit/s, 1 Gbit/s, and 10 Gbit/s
• Wireless local area networks
• TCP / IP protocol stack
• IPv4 Protocol
• Direct and indirect IP routing
• ARP and RARP protocols
• Static and dynamic IP address configuration
• IP addressing and subnetting
• UDP Protocol
• Error control and flow control approaches
• TCP Protocol
• Application-level protocols

Laboratory component

• Implementation of distributed applications based on Microsoft Windows Sockets (Winsock)

• A final theoretical exam:
• 50% of the final grade;
• Required minimum grade of 25%.

• Mini-tests at the end of theoretical classes:
• Mini-tests starting in the second week of classes (one per class);
• Each one counts for 0.2 points in the final grade;
• Maximum weight in the final grade: 7.5%.

• Mini-tests at the end of laboratory classes:
• Mini-tests starting in the second week of classes (one per class);
• Each one counts for 0.2 points in the final grade;
• Maximum weight in the final grade: 7.5%.

• Students with worker-student status and Erasmus students who have not taken any mini-tests in theoretical and practical classes may take an alternative test on the day of the regular exam (15% of the final grade).

• Two laboratory tests during the semester:
• 35% of the final grade (17.5% each);
• First laboratory assignment: eighth week of the semester;
• Second laboratory assignment: last week of the semester;
• During the special exam period, students who have access to it may, if they wish, take an alternative test to the laboratory tests, provided they inform the teacher (35% of the final grade).

• Classification improvement conditions:
• The final theoretical exam can be retaken during any exam season;
• The evaluation that results from the laboratory tests cannot be improved, except during the special exam period;
• The evaluation that results from the min-tests cannot be improved.

NAO