Introduction to networks

The course introduction provides a general overview of network applications and their communication needs, followed by an overview of networks and their interconnection within the Internet. The central part of the course presents and illustrates the fundamental concepts associated with network design: connectivity, resource sharing, switching, quality of service and architecture (including the concepts of service and protocol). These concepts are illustrated and explored in depth within the framework of standardized local area networks and their connection to the TCP/IP Internet. A case study on Ethernet local area networks connected to the Internet (networks used in the practical work rooms) punctuates the course. The concepts are illustrated in tutorials and practical work.