82071 - Network Design M

Learning outcomes

Acquisition of skills in fundamental mathematical models and methodologies for performance evaluation and dimensioning of communication networks, and related applications to network design. Knowledge of main network models, quality of service mechanisms, control and management techniques and protocols for traffic and service engineering in evolving and emerging network scenarios, with applications to practical case studies.

Course contents

Introduction to performance evaluation in Communication and Computer Networks

TELETRAFFIC ENGINEERING

• Introduction to teletraffic engineering and queuing systems.
• Markov chains and birth-death processes.
• Markovian queuing systems and the Erlang formulas.
• Application to analysis, dimensioning and planning of circuit and packet switched networks.

END-TO-END CONTROL AND TRANSPORT LAYER PROTOCOLS

• Overview of the TCP protocol.
• TCP flow and congestion control: the AIMD concept.
• Mathematical models to estimate the throughput of a TCP connection.

 

Readings/Bibliography

For contents related to teletraffic engineering:

• F. Callegati, W. Cerroni, C. Raffaelli, "Traffic Engineering: A Practical Approach", Springer, 2023, ISBN: 978-3-031-09588-7

For contents related to TCP:

• K. R. Fall, W. R. Stevens, "TCP/IP Illustrated, Vol. 1", 2nd edition, Addison-Wesley, 2012, ISBN: 978-0-321-33631-6
• J. F. Kurose, K. W. Ross, "Computer Networking: A Top Down Approach", 8th edition, Pearson, 2021, ISBN: 978-1292405469

Teaching methods

Lectures and practical exercises in the classroom.

Case studies will be illustrated related to real-life examples of application of the course concepts.

Assessment methods

The final exam is based on a written test on queuing systems and TCP protocol performance evaluation. Each student will be asked to solve two exercises and answer a question in writing. The exercises are of the same type as those presented in class and available as handouts, whereas the question can cover any course topic. Each exercise or question will be evaluated with a grade between 0 and a maximum value that can vary between 10 and 13, depending on the difficulty. The duration of the written test is between two and two and a half hours, depending on the difficulty of the exercises proposed. Students will not be allowed to use textbooks, notes or other material during the test.

 

Students with specific learning disorders (SLD) or temporary or permanent disabilities are kindly requested to contact the relevant office at https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en . The office is in charge of proposing possible adaptations, which must be submitted 15 days in advance to the approval of the instructor, who will also assess the appropriateness in relation to the educational objectives of the course.

Teaching tools

In case of possible practical exercises, open-source software tools will be used for traffic analysis and performance evaluation.

Office hours

See the website of Walter Cerroni