Teaching Philosophy and Chapter Sequencing

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What is the goal of this book in relation to computer networking?

To provide a modern introduction to the dynamic field of computer networking.

How does the first chapter of the book set the context for the rest of the content?

By providing a broad overview of computer networking and the Internet.

What components of a computer network are discussed in the introductory chapter?

Basic hardware and software components.

How is the structure of computer networks overviewed in the first chapter?

Starting from the network's edge and moving towards the network core. Signup and view all the answers

What is highlighted about the Internet in the introductory chapter?

That it is a network of networks. Signup and view all the answers

What does the introductory chapter aim to help readers see?

The forest through the trees. Signup and view all the answers

What is the recommended sequence for covering chapters 2 through 5?

In sequence, following the top-down philosophy. Signup and view all the answers

Are there interdependencies among the last four chapters?

No, there are no interdependencies among the last four chapters. Signup and view all the answers

What do many instructors do after teaching the first five chapters?

They teach one of the last four chapters for 'dessert'. Signup and view all the answers

What are students and instructors encouraged to do regarding the book?

E-mail the authors with any comments. Signup and view all the answers

What kind of suggestions have been incorporated into later editions of the book?

Suggestions from instructors and students. Signup and view all the answers

What are instructors encouraged to send for the book's website?

New homework problems (and solutions). Signup and view all the answers

What are some error-detection and -correction techniques discussed in Chapter 5?

Parity checks, Checksumming methods, Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) Signup and view all the answers

What are the different types of multiple access links and protocols covered in Chapter 5?

Channel Partitioning Protocols, Random Access Protocols, Taking-Turns Protocols, DOCSIS Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Link-Layer Addressing and ARP in Switched Local Area Networks?

They help in identifying devices on the network and facilitate communication. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the role of Ethernet in the context of Link-Layer Switches.

Ethernet is a common technology used in LANs to connect devices to switches. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) as discussed in Chapter 5?

VLANs help in logically segmenting networks to improve performance and security. Signup and view all the answers

How does Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) contribute to link virtualization in networking?

MPLS allows for the creation of virtual paths within a network to efficiently route data. Signup and view all the answers

What are the new topics discussed in Chapter 8 of the textbook?

Streaming video, adaptive streaming, CDNs, Netflix, YouTube, Kankan video streaming systems, and endpoint authentication. Signup and view all the answers

What kind of audience is the textbook intended for?

Undergraduate and first-year graduate students in computer science and electrical engineering departments, as well as practitioners in the telecommunications industry. Signup and view all the answers

What programming languages are assumed the student has experience with?

C, C++, Java, or Python. Signup and view all the answers

What advanced mathematical concepts are deliberately avoided in the textbook?

Advanced calculus, probability, or stochastic process concepts. Signup and view all the answers

What effort has been made in the textbook regarding the inclusion of advanced mathematical concepts?

Some homework problems have been included for students with an advanced background in calculus, probability, or stochastic processes. Signup and view all the answers

What sections of the textbook have been expanded or modernized?

Streaming video, endpoint authentication, and end-of-chapter problems. Signup and view all the answers

What are some of the key architectural principles in computer networking discussed in Chapter 2?

Protocol layering and service models Signup and view all the answers

What aspects of data are examined in a computer network in Chapter 2?

Delay, loss, and throughput Signup and view all the answers

What are the factors taken into account in the simple quantitative models for end-to-end throughput and delay in Chapter 2?

Transmission, propagation, and queuing delays Signup and view all the answers

What will be discussed in the second half of Chapter 2?

Broader and more abstract view of computer networks Signup and view all the answers

What is the principal vehicle for discussing computer networks and their protocols in this book?

The public Internet Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the topics that will be covered towards the end of Chapter 2?

Brief history of computer networking Signup and view all the answers

Why does the text emphasize application-layer issues early on in the course?

To serve as a motivational tool for students and introduce network application development. Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of covering network applications near the beginning of the course?

It provides motivation for the remainder of the text. Signup and view all the answers

How does teaching networking applications early on benefit students and instructors?

It allows students to see how popular applications and protocols work and how to create their own network applications. Signup and view all the answers

Why do many instructors find teaching networking applications at the beginning of the course to be a powerful tool?

Students are thrilled to learn about how networking applications work. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of a top-down approach in teaching networking applications?

It enables instructors to introduce network application development early on. Signup and view all the answers

How does an early emphasis on application-layer issues differ from most other texts?

Most other texts have only a small amount of material on network applications. Signup and view all the answers

What are some examples of applications that run on the Internet?

Electronic mail, Web surfing, social networks, instant messaging, Voiceover-IP (VoIP), video streaming, distributed games, peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, television over the Internet, remote login Signup and view all the answers

Why are Internet applications considered distributed applications?

They involve multiple end systems that exchange data with each other Signup and view all the answers

Where do Internet applications run?

On end systems; they do not run in the packet switches in the network core Signup and view all the answers

What is needed to transform an idea for a distributed Internet application into reality?

Writing programs that run on the end systems Signup and view all the answers

In what programming languages can you write programs for a distributed Internet application?

Java, C, or Python Signup and view all the answers

What do the programs running on different end systems need to do in a distributed Internet application?

They need to send data to each other Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of an Application Programming Interface (API) in the context of the Internet?

To specify how a program running on one end system asks the Internet infrastructure to deliver data to a specific destination program running on another end system. Signup and view all the answers

Using the postal service analogy, what steps must Alice follow to send a letter to Bob?

Put the letter in an envelope; write Bob’s full name, address, and zip code in the center of the envelope; seal the envelope; put a stamp in the upper-right-hand corner of the envelope; and drop the envelope into an official postal service mailbox. Signup and view all the answers

What does the postal service analogy illustrate in terms of the Internet API?

The postal service analogy helps in understanding how end systems must follow specific rules to deliver data successfully to the intended destination program. Signup and view all the answers

How does the Internet API relate to the concept of programming on end systems?

The Internet API guides a program running on one end system in instructing the Internet to deliver data to another program running on a different end system. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the Internet API in the context of application layer programming?

The Internet API provides rules for how a program on one end system can request the Internet to deliver data to a specific program on another end system. Signup and view all the answers

How does the concept of an Internet API help in understanding the delivery of data over the Internet?

The Internet API acts as a set of rules that a sending program must follow to allow the Internet to deliver data to the correct destination program on another end system. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of HTTP?

HTTP is used for transmitting hypertext over the internet. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the role of FTP in computer networking.

FTP is used for transferring files between a client and a server on a computer network. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of SMTP in the Internet?

SMTP is used for sending and receiving email messages. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of DNS?

DNS is the Internet's directory service used for translating domain names into IP addresses. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the concept of socket programming.

Socket programming is creating network applications that communicate over a network. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of cookies in web applications?

Cookies are used to maintain state and track user activities on websites. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of clients in a network?

Clients tend to be desktop and mobile PCs, smartphones, etc. Signup and view all the answers

Where do most of the servers from which we receive search results, emails, web pages, and videos reside?

Most of the servers reside in large data centers. Signup and view all the answers

What is the access network in a computer network?

The access network physically connects an end system to the first router. Signup and view all the answers

What types of access networks are shown in Figure 1.4?

Home, enterprise, and wide-area mobile wireless networks. Signup and view all the answers

Where does the access network connect an end system?

To the first router on a path to any other distant end system. Signup and view all the answers

What types of devices are considered clients in a network?

Desktop and mobile PCs, smartphones, etc. Signup and view all the answers