Unit One Objectives        CSCI 361      Introduction to Computer Networks
Tobin Maginnis				 Updated 5-Feb-2008

Computer Networks, 4th ed - Chapter 1 - Introduction - A. S.Tanenbaum
 1)Contrast "autonomous," "interconnected," and "distributed" computer systems
   and explain the concept of client/server computing.
 2)Describe the four basic motivations for employing computer networks in a
   company and explain how one of these has led to productivity gains in
   business over the last decade.
 3)Explain how computer networks combined with applications like Google search,
   Google books, and Wikipedia are changing the role of libraries.
 4)Define copyright, fair use, and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
   Describe the role of peer-to-peer and explain how it has evolved as a
   result of copyright rulings.
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmca
Omit)Contrast mobile versus wireless configurations and explain how it seems
   a certainty that we will use wireless networking but, it is uncertain how
   we will use it.
 6)Describe five ways that use of the Internet has created social "issues."
 7)Using a PMS diagram, show the difference between point-to-point and
   broadcast networks in terms of topology and routing and describe three
   types of broadcasts. Also, explain how it is possible for a point-to-point
   network to emulate a broadcast network.
 8)Describe the fundamental design problem in broadcast networks and describe
   static and dynamic broadcast subnets and their design tradeoff.  Explain
   how CSMA/CD is a dynamic broadcast protocol.
 9)Define LAN, MAN, & WAN. Contrast the speed of various network topologies.
   If networks are run with copper wire, then because of resistance & capacitance,
   the longer the distance, the slower the network speed.  Thus, ranked by speed,
   LANs are the fastest, then MANs, then WANs. (Because of error
   detection/correction encoding, wireless networks are always the slowest.)
   If networks are run with fiber optic cable, then distance does not matter
   for a LAN vs MAN vs WAN! Check Question: Which is faster, trans-Pacific
   undersea cables or satellite communication? Explain why.
10)Contrast the terms "host," "subnet," and "router" in terms of function
   and components. (See also section 1.2.6.)
11)Contrast "repeater," "hub," "switching hub," "bridge," "router,"
   "switching router," and "gateway."
12)Contrast "Bluetooth," "RFID tags," versus "Wireless" networking.
13)Explain the difference between "layer protocol" and "layer interface." 
   (See also section 1.3.5.)
14)Contrast "computer architecture," "network architecture," and "protocol
   stack."
   a)Architecture provides a general class distinction among objects. For
     example beer architecture has pale/dark lager, pale/dark ale, or what
     most people drink, Pilsner pale lager beer. There are sport, SUV,
     sedan, coupe architectures to describe types of automobiles.
   b)Computer architecture describes key CPU attributes such as Reduced
     Instruction Set Computer (RISC), Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC),
     Minimal (MISC), Zero (ZISC), Very Long Instruction Word (VLIW), etc.
   c)Network architecture describe the key protocol attributes such as
     datagram, virtual circuit, store and forward, fault tolerant, packet
     switching, message delimited, byte stream, etc.
   d)Protocol stack is a series of interface-linked protocol modules, or
     layers, that make up a network architecture.
15)Define "encapsulation" and describe the role of the "header."
16)Describe the five basic design issues for a networking model. 
17)Contrast the terms "connection-oriented" and "connectionless" services.
18)List the five basic network primitives and describe how they are used to
   implement a client server model to exchange data.
19)Contrast the role of the subnet "chained layers" versus the host layers.
   (See Figure 1-20) Give the name of the data unit at each chain layer
   and the general name of the "end-to-end" data unit.
20)Describe the function of physical layer and list four parameters it
   must deal with. 
21)Describe four functions of the OSI data link layer.
22)Describe three functions of the OSI network layer.
23)Describe four functions of the OSI transport layer.
24)Describe IP, TCP, UDP, SCTP, ssh, FTP, SMTP, and DNS.
Omit)Contrast OSI and the TCP/IP reference models.  Explain why there are only
   three layers in the TCP/IP model.
26)In Fig 1-22 at the network layer, Tanenbaum left out ARP, ICMP, and SNMP.
   Define and explain why are they needed.
27)Explain how the Internet has a "backbone" and explain how the Internet
   backbone has changed over the years.
28)Describe the Internet topology architecture.  Contrast the Internet versus
   the internet.
29)Define "data communication services," and contrast X.25, Frame Relay,
   and ATM.
30)Define IEEE 802.11, "ad hoc networking," "access point," and packet
    handoff.
Omit)Contrast the terms "common carriers" and "PTT."
Omit)Define the relationship between ITU, ITU-T, member classes, study groups,
   and the role of ITU-T.
Omit)Contrast the terms "ISO," "ANSI," "NIST," and "IEEE."
Omit)Contrast the terms "IAB," "RFC," "IRTF," "IETF," and "ICANN."