CSIT 560: Internet Infrastructure: Switches and Routers
Spring Semester 2009
Description
Electronic/optical switches/routers are needed to support the development and delivery of advanced network services over high-speed Internet. Switches and routers are the KEY building blocks of the Internet, and as a result, the capability of the Internet in all its aspects depends on the capability of its switches and routers. The goal of the course is to provide a basis for understanding, appreciating, and performing practical research and development in networking with a special emphasis on switches and routers. The course begins with a survey of the state of the art in switching and routing. Then, it examines the issues involved in designing switches and routers for both the optical domain and the electronic domain. The issues include protocols, architectures, algorithms, and performance evaluation. We will also examine the state-of-the-art commercial products and related them to what we cover in class.The course involves both a lecture component and project component. Projects will consist of practical designs of switches/routers and will typically be executed by a small teams (1-3 people). During the first few weeks of the course we will suggest a number of possible areas and projects. Teams should submit formal project proposals. The projects will require an oral presentation and a final report at the end of the semester. The course evaluation is based on a the project and a mid-term exam, and homeworks.
The course will rely on lecture notes, research papers, and book chapters to be provided to the students.