Course: TCP/IP networking

Weekly outline

General

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In this course you will learn and understand how computer networks are built and run. You will be able to:

test and clarify your understanding of the networking concepts by connecting computers to form LANs, autonomous routing domains and interconnections;

test the performance of TCP versus UDP and of traffic control settings;

develop and test various communicating programs using sockets;

be familiar with IPv6 as well as IPv4 and the interworking between them;
understand congestion control, TCP and QUIC;

run Mininet in your computer and deploy real networks in an emulated environment.
This is a master level course for master and PhD students.

Lectures
Lectures are on Thursdays 12:15-14:00 in room CM2 and simultaneously by zoom in room 631 4376 4890. Recordings are posted on youtube as soon as possible after the lecture.

Speakup
We use speakup for polls in class. During the lecture, you can go to web.speakup.info in a web browser. Or you can download the speakup app for your smartphone. This works in class and also if you are attending the lecture on zoom.

The room key is written on the board in class, the room name is tcpip.
Lecture Notes

"Computer Networking : Principles, Protocols and Practice" by O. Bonaventure, 1st or 2nd edition: pdf, epub, mobi

"Rate adaptation, Congestion Control and Fairness: A Tutorial" by JY Le Boudec: pdf

Labs
There is a lab every week, on Fridays 11:15-13:00 in rooms INF1 and INF019 (only for those who have only a Mac with processor M1) and 13:15-15:00 in room INM202 and INF019 (only for those who have only a Mac with processor M1). The lab session is simultaneously streamed on zoom in room 620 0940 7593, for those of you who are not allowed on campus or prefer to work from home; parallel breakout rooms will be setup as required.

The labs are designed to be done on your own machine for most students (except those who have only a Mac with processor M1) and do not require physical presence at EPFL. You can do them at any time. You can use the lab sessions, live and in zoom, for support; you can also use the questions and answer forum on moodle to ask questions about the lab (and about the lecture).
Every lab lasts for 2 weeks, but for the last one. For each lab, you are graded by doing lab quizzes on Moodle. Lab quizzes have to be completed at the latest on the Wednesday that follows the last lab session for the current lab.
In most labs, there is a more advanced section called research exercise, which is for bonus. Do it only if (1) you feel comfortable with all the rest of the lab and the lecture, (2) you have enough time and (3) you like the topic.

Online Lecture Quizzes
There is one online lecture quiz every week on lecture. The goal is to train your understanding of the lecture. It is also a training for the labs and for the final exam. The quizzes are mandatory, you are considered to have completed the lecture quiz when you achieve a grade of 70% or more. The lecture quiz grade only counts to determine if you passed the quiz or not, once you pass we don't use the lecture quiz grade. You must be up to date with your lecture quizzes in order to do lab quizzes.

Exam

There is one written exam in the exam session. It is closed book. We will provide you with a printed copy of the exam booklet, which contains formulas and material that is too tedious to be learnt by heart. We recommend that you train with the old exams. Such conditions are subject to change if the covid situation imposes.
Grading

The course grade is the average between the lab grades and the final exam. More exactly:

Theory grade T = final exam

Lab grade = average of 7 labs ( last lab counts as one half)
Research exercise bonus = average of all lab bonuses (max bonus is 0.5 in scale 1-6)
L = min (6, Lab grade + Research exercise bonus)

Final grade = ½ ( T+L) rounded to next quarter integer.

All grades except final grade are non-rounded.
- Important Announcements Forum
- Question & Answer Forum
- Contact Information Page
- Old Exams Page
- Exam booklet File
- Virtual machine image:
  Labs require the use of a virtual machine. In order to make things easier for students, we prepared a preconfigured virtual machine image. It can be downloaded from here:
  Virtual machine (link 1)
  Virtual machine (link 2, only from inside EPFL or with VPN)
20 September - 26 September
Thursday Sept 23, 12:15-14:00, CM 2 and zoom 631 4376 4890

Intro, Archi

Friday Sept 24, 11:15-13:00 INF 1 and INF019 (M1 processor),13:15-15:00 INM 202 and INF019 (M1 processor), and zoom 620 0940 7593
Lab 0
- Do you plan to do your lab only with a Mac equipped with M1 processor (recent Mac) ? Choice
  
  Make a choice
- intro.pdf File
- archi.pdf File
- archiSols.pdf File
- Video: Intro-Archi-Part1 URL
- Video: Intro-Archi-Part2 URL
- Intro-Archi-Part2 (Additional time) URL
- Quiz 1
  
  Not available unless: The activity Do you plan to do your lab only with a Mac equipped with M1 processor (recent Mac) ? is marked complete
- Lab 0
- Lab0 Folder
- Lab0 - Part 1: IPv4, Packet inspection & Ping Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 1 is marked complete
- Lab0 - Part 2: Traceroute, Netstat & MAC addresses Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 1 is marked complete
- Lab0 - Part 3: Names in the Internet, IPv4 & IPv6 Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 1 is marked complete
- Lab0 - Bonus: Wireshark VS Tshark Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 1 is marked complete
- lab0_solution.pdf File
27 September - 3 October
Thursday Sept 30, 12:15-14:00, CM 2 and zoom 631 4376 4890
IP1
Friday Oct 1, 11:15-13:00 INF 1 and INF019 (M1 processor),13:15-15:00 INM 202 and INF019 (M1 processor) and zoom 620 0940 7593
Lab 0, continued
- ip1.pdf File
- ip1Sols.pdf File
- Video: IP1 URL
- Quiz 2
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 1 is marked complete
4 October - 10 October
Thursday Oct 7, 12:15-14:00, CM 2 and zoom 631 4376 4890

IP1 (end)
Friday Oct 8, 11:15-13:00 INF 1,13:15-15:00 INM 202 and zoom 620 0940 7593
Lab 1
- Video: IP1-end URL
- Quiz 3
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 2 is marked complete
- Lab 1
- Lab 1 Folder
- Lab1 - Part1: Iperf Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 3 is marked complete
- Lab1 - Part 2: Mininet Environnement Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 3 is marked complete
- Lab1 - Part 3: Basic connectivity within LAN Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 3 is marked complete
- Lab1 - Part 4: Man-in-the-middle attack Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 3 is marked complete
- Lab1 - Part 5: Bonus Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 3 is marked complete
- lab1_solution.pdf File
11 October - 17 October
Thursday Oct 14, 12:15-14:00, CM2 and zoom 631 4376 4890

MAC Layer

Friday Oct 15, 11:15-13:00 INF 1,13:15-15:00 INM 202 and zoom 620 0940 7593

Lab 1, continued
- mac.pdf File
- macSols.pdf File
- Video: MAC URL
- Quiz 4
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 3 is marked complete
18 October - 24 October
Thursday Oct 21, 12:15-14:00, CM2 and zoom 631 4376 4890
MAC layer (end)
Transport Layer

Friday Oct 22, 11:15-13:00 INF 1,13:15-15:00 INM 202 and zoom 620 0940 7593

Lab 2
- transport.pdf File
- transportSols.pdf File
- Video: Mac-end-Transport-part1 URL
- Quiz 5
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 4 is marked complete
- Lab 2
- Lab2 Folder
- Lab2 - Part 1.1: Layer 2 Vs 3 - Using a switch as a networking device Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 5 is marked complete
- Lab2 - Part 1.2: Layer 2 Vs 3 - Configure a switch to handle loop Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 5 is marked complete
- Lab2 - Part 1.3: Layer 2 Vs 3 - Using a router as a networking device Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 5 is marked complete
- Lab2 - Part 2: Connecting virtual environment to the real world using NAT Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 5 is marked complete
- Lab2 - Bonus - Part 1: Point-to-point wired connection of two physical machines Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 5 is marked complete
- Lab2 - Bonus - Part 2 for Linux: Sharing Internet access Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 5 is marked complete
- Lab2 - Bonus - Part 2 for Windows/Mac: Sharing Internet access Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 5 is marked complete
- lab2_solution.pdf File
25 October - 31 October
Thursday Oct 28, 12:15-14:00, CM2 and zoom 631 4376 4890

Transport Layer (end)
IP multicast

Friday Oct 29, 11:15-13:00 INF 1,13:15-15:00 INM 202 and zoom 620 0940 7593

Lab 2, continued
- mcast.pdf File
- mcastSols.pdf File
- Video: transport-end-multicast URL
- Quiz 6
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 5 is marked complete
1 November - 7 November
Thursday Nov 4, 12:15-14:00, CM2 and zoom 631 4376 4890
multicast (end)
OSPF

Friday Nov 5, 11:15-13:00 INF 1,13:15-15:00 INM 202 and zoom 620 0940 7593

Lab 3
- ls.pdf File
- lsSols.pdf File
- Video: multicast-end-ls-part1 URL
- Quiz 7
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 6 is marked complete
- Lab3
- Lab 3 Folder
- Lab3 - Part 1.1 - [Not graded] Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 7 is marked complete
- Lab3 - Part 1.2 Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 7 is marked complete
- Lab3 - Part 2 Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 7 is marked complete
- Lab3 - Part 3 Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 7 is marked complete
- Lab3 - Part 4 Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 7 is marked complete
- Lab3 - Part 5 Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 7 is marked complete
- Lab3 - Bonus - Part 6 Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 7 is marked complete
- Lab3 - Link to the scoring system URL
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 7 is marked complete
- lab3_solution.pdf File
8 November - 14 November
Thursday Nov 11, 12:15-14:00, CM 2 and zoom 631 4376 4890

OSPF (end)
Congestion Control 1 (guest star: Hossein Tabatabaee)

Friday Nov 12, 11:15-13:00 INF 1,13:15-15:00 INM 202 and zoom 620 0940 7593
Lab 3, continued
- cc1.pdf File
- cc1Sols.pdf File
- Video: ls-end-cc1-part1 URL
- Quiz 8
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 7 is marked complete
15 November - 21 November
Thu Nov 18, 12:15-14:00, CM 2 and zoom 631 4376 4890

Congestion Control 1 (guest star: Hossein Tabatabaee)
Congestion Control 2

Fri Nov 19, 11:15-13:00 INF 1,13:15-15:00 INM 202 and zoom 620 0940 7593

Lab 4
- cc2.pdf File
- cc2Sols.pdf File
- Video: cc1-end-cc2-part1 URL
- Feedback form for Hossein's lecture URL
- Quiz 9
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 8 is marked complete
- Lab 4
- Lab4 Folder
- Lab4 - Part1: Network Setup Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 7 is marked complete
- Lab4 - Part 2: OSPF Basics Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 7 is marked complete
- Lab4 - Part 3.1: OSPF Playground Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 7 is marked complete
- Lab4 - Part 3.2: OSPF Playground - Broken Link Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 7 is marked complete
- Lab4 - Part 4: Bonus Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 7 is marked complete
- lab4_solutions.pdf File
22 November - 28 November
Thu Nov 25, 12:15-14:00, CM 2 and zoom 631 4376 4890

Congestion control (end)
BGP

Fri Nov 26, 11:15-13:00 INF 1,13:15-15:00 INM 202 and zoom 620 0940 7593
Lab 4, continued
- bgp.pdf File
- bgpSols.pdf File
- Video: cc2-end-bgp-part1 URL
- Quiz 10
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 9 is marked complete
29 November - 5 December
Thursday Dec 2, 12:15-14:00, CM 2 and zoom 631 4376 4890
BGP

Friday Dec 3, 11:15-13:00 INF 1,13:15-15:00 INM 202 and zoom 620 0940 7593
Lab 5
- Video: bgp-part2 URL
- Quiz 11
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 10 is marked complete
- Lab 5
- Lab5 Folder
- Lab5 - Part 1: TCP vs UDP flows - Basics Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 10 is marked complete
- Lab5 - Part 2: TCP vs UDP flows - Competing flows Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 10 is marked complete
- Lab5 - Part 3: Congestion Control Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 10 is marked complete
- Lab5 - Part 4: TCP - Fairness between TCP connections and delay Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 10 is marked complete
- Lab5 - Part 5: TCP - Fairness of TCP connections traversing multiple bottlenecks Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 10 is marked complete
- Lab5 - Bonus: ECN in TCP CUBIC and in DCTCP Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 10 is marked complete
- lab5_solution.pdf File
6 December - 12 December
Thursday Dec 9, 12:15-14:00, CM 2 and zoom 631 4376 4890
BGP (end)
Appli

Friday Dec 10, 11:15-13:00 INF 1,13:15-15:00 INM 202 and zoom 620 0940 7593
Lab 5, continued
- appli.pdf File
- appliSols.pdf File
- Video: bgp-part2-appli-part1 URL
- Quiz 12
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 11 is marked complete
13 December - 19 December
Thursday Dec 16, 12:15-14:00, CM 2 and zoom 631 4376 4890
Appli (end)
IP2

Friday Dec 17, 11:15-13:00 INF 1,13:15-15:00 INM 202 and zoom 620 0940 7593

Lab 6
- ip2.pdf File
- ip2Sols.pdf File
- Video: appli-end-ip2-part1 URL
- Quiz 13
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 12 is marked complete
- Lab 6
- lab6 Folder
- Lab6 - Part 1: Standard BGP mode of operations. Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 12 is marked complete
- Lab6 - Part 2: Policy routing Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 12 is marked complete
- Lab6 - Bonus - Part 1: Running BGP only on edge routers. Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 12 is marked complete
- Lab6 - Bonus - Part 2: Broken Link. Quiz
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 12 is marked complete
- lab6_solution.pdf File
20 December - 26 December
Thursday Dec 23, 12:15-14:00, CM 2 and zoom 631 4376 4890
IP2 (end)

Get prepared for the exam
Do again the quizzes of the course, in the lecture notes and in moodle.
Take the exams of the past three years. The exams of the past three years lasted for 3 hours.
- Feedback on evaluation File
- Video: ip2-end URL
- Quiz 14
  
  Not available unless: The activity Quiz 13 is marked complete
27 December - 2 January

Not available
3 January - 9 January

Not available
10 January - 16 January

Not available
17 January - 23 January

Not available
24 January - 30 January
Thursday 2022 February 3rd, 8:15

Exam
- Exam Rooms by Sciper File
- Exam solution File
Deferred Exam
The oral exam is for students who could not attend the written exam for medical reasons.
The exam consists in 30 mn preparation time + 30 mn examination time.
No document allowed. We will provide the exam booklet.
- Oral Exam Scheduler
  Not available unless:
  
  You belong to Oral Exam Group
  
  It is before 7 March 2022, 2:00 PM

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
No events, Monday, 1 July No events, Monday, 1 July	No events, Tuesday, 2 July No events, Tuesday, 2 July	No events, Wednesday, 3 July No events, Wednesday, 3 July	No events, Thursday, 4 July No events, Thursday, 4 July	No events, Friday, 5 July No events, Friday, 5 July	No events, Saturday, 6 July No events, Saturday, 6 July	No events, Sunday, 7 July No events, Sunday, 7 July
No events, Monday, 8 July No events, Monday, 8 July	No events, Tuesday, 9 July No events, Tuesday, 9 July	No events, Wednesday, 10 July No events, Wednesday, 10 July	No events, Thursday, 11 July No events, Thursday, 11 July	No events, Friday, 12 July No events, Friday, 12 July	No events, Saturday, 13 July No events, Saturday, 13 July	No events, Sunday, 14 July No events, Sunday, 14 July
No events, Monday, 15 July No events, Monday, 15 July	No events, Tuesday, 16 July No events, Tuesday, 16 July	No events, Wednesday, 17 July No events, Wednesday, 17 July	No events, Thursday, 18 July No events, Thursday, 18 July	No events, Friday, 19 July No events, Friday, 19 July	No events, Saturday, 20 July No events, Saturday, 20 July	No events, Sunday, 21 July No events, Sunday, 21 July
No events, Monday, 22 July No events, Monday, 22 July	No events, Tuesday, 23 July No events, Tuesday, 23 July	No events, Wednesday, 24 July No events, Wednesday, 24 July	No events, Thursday, 25 July No events, Thursday, 25 July	No events, Friday, 26 July No events, Friday, 26 July	No events, Saturday, 27 July No events, Saturday, 27 July	No events, Sunday, 28 July No events, Sunday, 28 July
No events, Monday, 29 July No events, Monday, 29 July	No events, Tuesday, 30 July No events, Tuesday, 30 July	No events, Wednesday, 31 July No events, Wednesday, 31 July

July 2024

Weekly outline

General

Lectures

Speakup

Labs

Online Lecture Quizzes

Exam

Grading

Virtual machine image:

20 September - 26 September

Thursday Sept 23, 12:15-14:00, CM 2 and zoom 631 4376 4890

Friday Sept 24, 11:15-13:00 INF 1 and INF019 (M1 processor),13:15-15:00 INM 202 and INF019 (M1 processor), and zoom 620 0940 7593

27 September - 3 October

Thursday Sept 30, 12:15-14:00, CM 2 and zoom 631 4376 4890

Friday Oct 1, 11:15-13:00 INF 1 and INF019 (M1 processor),13:15-15:00 INM 202 and INF019 (M1 processor) and zoom 620 0940 7593

4 October - 10 October

Thursday Oct 7, 12:15-14:00, CM 2 and zoom 631 4376 4890

11 October - 17 October

Thursday Oct 14, 12:15-14:00, CM2 and zoom 631 4376 4890

Friday Oct 15, 11:15-13:00 INF 1,13:15-15:00 INM 202 and zoom 620 0940 7593

18 October - 24 October

Thursday Oct 21, 12:15-14:00, CM2 and zoom 631 4376 4890

MAC layer (end)

Friday Oct 22, 11:15-13:00 INF 1,13:15-15:00 INM 202 and zoom 620 0940 7593

25 October - 31 October

Thursday Oct 28, 12:15-14:00, CM2 and zoom 631 4376 4890

Friday Oct 29, 11:15-13:00 INF 1,13:15-15:00 INM 202 and zoom 620 0940 7593

1 November - 7 November

Thursday Nov 4, 12:15-14:00, CM2 and zoom 631 4376 4890

Friday Nov 5, 11:15-13:00 INF 1,13:15-15:00 INM 202 and zoom 620 0940 7593

8 November - 14 November

Thursday Nov 11, 12:15-14:00, CM 2 and zoom 631 4376 4890

15 November - 21 November

Thu Nov 18, 12:15-14:00, CM 2 and zoom 631 4376 4890

Fri Nov 19, 11:15-13:00 INF 1,13:15-15:00 INM 202 and zoom 620 0940 7593

22 November - 28 November

Thu Nov 25, 12:15-14:00, CM 2 and zoom 631 4376 4890

Fri Nov 26, 11:15-13:00 INF 1,13:15-15:00 INM 202 and zoom 620 0940 7593

29 November - 5 December

Thursday Dec 2, 12:15-14:00, CM 2 and zoom 631 4376 4890

Friday Dec 3, 11:15-13:00 INF 1,13:15-15:00 INM 202 and zoom 620 0940 7593

6 December - 12 December

Thursday Dec 9, 12:15-14:00, CM 2 and zoom 631 4376 4890

Friday Dec 10, 11:15-13:00 INF 1,13:15-15:00 INM 202 and zoom 620 0940 7593

13 December - 19 December

Thursday Dec 16, 12:15-14:00, CM 2 and zoom 631 4376 4890

Friday Dec 17, 11:15-13:00 INF 1,13:15-15:00 INM 202 and zoom 620 0940 7593

20 December - 26 December

Thursday Dec 23, 12:15-14:00, CM 2 and zoom 631 4376 4890

Get prepared for the exam

27 December - 2 January

3 January - 9 January

10 January - 16 January

17 January - 23 January

24 January - 30 January

Deferred Exam