Hello Everyone, Welcome to Computer Networks '3002 for 2024. I'm the unit-coordinator for this semester, and will be presenting all of the lectures and some of the tutorial and laboratory sessions. Laboratories commence in week 2; tutorials in week 3. We'll spend part of the first lecture on Wednesday 28th February discussing how the unit will run this year, but first I'll head off some common questions that students are asking by email: Firstly, we're not using LMS/Blackboard for this unit. All teaching materials (except the lecture recordings) will be available from: [CITS3002]⬈ Below I've included answers to some of the general questions I've received over the past couple of weeks; hopefully they answer some of your questions, too. TEXTBOOKS - I've recommended a number of textbooks for the unit. None are strictly required for the unit, and we won't be following any of them chapter-by-chapter each week. Some (older editions) of the books are available in the Science Library, and you're welcome to quickly borrow my copy of any if you're considering buying your own copy. Tanenbaum is an award winning author, with many textbooks in the areas of networks and operating systems. We've used earlier editions of his Computer Networks text in previous years, and students have enjoyed his writing style. The 5th and 6th editions of his textbook provide more coverage of the Internet, and its protocols, and relates this to his more traditional material. Comer is a well recognized network engineer and writer. While his text won't cover our complete syllabus, its focus on internetworking is of great benefit for the second part of our unit. Past students have enjoyed his use of many 2-page sections in the text. A (free) copy of Beej'"s Guide to Network Programming" is considered essential reading. 90 MINUTE LECTURES - many students ask about the unit's 90-minute lectures and, particularly if they have to attend. Non-one is required to attend any lectures, tutorials, or laboratories, and we don't maintain any record of who attends. I have a strong belief that lectures (still) have value, and that the same value cannot be gained by just listening to the audio recording of lectures. The lecture slides will all be freely available as HTML and PDF files. I try to make the lecture times quite interactive, soliciting questions and feedback from students during the lectures, and running software demonstrations to explain concepts. Lectures won't simply involve a reading of the lecture slides, and it's often the case that the lectures don't *need* to stretch for the full 2 hours. This approach to lectures will only work, for you, if you arrive prepared - read the relevant lecture slides and sections from books before each lecture. This will make the material easier to understand, it won't be the first time you've seen it, and provides you with the opportunity to ask and listen to questions at the right time. TUTORIALS - With the welcome return of face-to-face teaching, we're continuting weekly tutorials, from week 3. Tutorials will involve around-the-table discussion on one or two questions each week, applying recent lecture material to contemporary networking topics. Tutorial material is not assessed (though we may look at past exam questions) and, sometimes, the questions will have no single correct answer. LABORATORIES - surprisingly (to me) many students, in the first week, ask if there's much programming "required" in this unit. The blunt answer is YES; it's a computer systems unit which strongly benefits by having its concepts explained and demonstrated through software, through examples presented in lectures, and the exercises that you'll develop and complete in laboratories and the project. (Politely) I'm amazing when students ask if they can avoid the programming and still succeed in the unit. NO. In summary, the focus of the unit is not on how to just use computer networks, but on how they work. The scheduled laboratory times are times at which there'll be someone there to assist you, not which you must dilligently attend. Most weeks before the project is handed out will have a laboratory sheet of 3-4 "standard" questions, and often a couple of more difficult questions, for you to attempt that week. Sample solutions to some questions will be provided. If you can successfully complete the sample questions, each week, then you're keeping up in the unit. Attendance at laboratories is not compulsory - in fact to sessions are over-allocated (the only way to appease UWA's timetabling software). Come along to a session if you need to use a computer, or if you need some help with a question. There's no requirement to stay the full 2 hours. Labs are open 24/7, but nearly every hour of the standard working day is allocated to the teaching of other units. Hope you enjoy the unit, and feel free to use this forum for as many questions as you have. Good luck,