CSC/ECE 776 Design & Performance Evaluation of Network Systems & Services

Introduction to the design and performance evaluation of network services. Topics include top-down network design based on requirements, end-to-end services and network system architecture, service level agreements, quantitative performance evaluation techniques. Provides quantitative skills on network service traffic and workload modeling, as well as, service applications such as triple play, internet (IPTV), Peer-to-peer (P2P), voice over IP (VoIP), and access services. 3 credit hours

  
   
   
Prerequisite
  

CSC(ECE) 570 and CSC(ECE) 579 or permission of instructor

 
Course Objectives  

Under the guidance of the instructor and in an interactive and participatory manner, students will

  • Apply the basic principles of top-down design of networks based on requirements
  • Describe end-to-end services and network system architectures
  • Utilize network traffic and application workload modeling for real workload characterization
  • Critically evaluate the performance of multiplexed/scheduled network resources.
  • Categorize admission and access control methods
  • Incorporate end-to-end quality of service, service level agreements and service envelopes into the design of networks
  • Use quantitative/mathematical performance evaluation techniques including simulation methods

There will also be special topics, including closed-loop congestion control, pricing/charging, more advanced mathematical techniques and optimization

 
Course Requirements  

HOMEWORK: Three or four sets of problems from the textbooks

EXAMINATIONS: Midterm and final exam, open book

SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS: No mandatory software. A variety of optional simulation software such as ns 2 and Opnet is available

PROJECTS: Students declare groups of two, and topic for project that includes essay, simulation study and presentation to the class

 
Textbook  

Main sources on reserve (no mandatory textbook):

Communication Networking: An Analytical Approach, A. Kumar, D. Manjunath, and J. Kuri, Morgan Kaufmann, Elsevier, 2004
ISBN: 0124287514

Broadband Integrated Networks, Mischa Schwartz, Prentice Hall PTR, 1996, ISBN 0-13-519240-4

ATM Network Performance, George Kesidis, 2nd edition, Kluwer Academic, Boston, 1999, ISBN: 0792377109

Pricing Communication Networks: Economics, Technology and Modelling, Costas Courcoubetis and Richard Webber, Wiley, 2003, ISBN 0470851309

The Art of Computer Systems Performance Analysis: Techniques for Experimental Design, Measurement, Simulation, and Modeling, Raj Jain, Wiley, New York, 1991, ISBN 0471503363
Computer and Internet Requirements  

NCSU has recommended minimum specifications for computers used for classes. Depending on your computer needs, we recommend your computer meet or exceed the following minimum specifications below.

PCs must have an Intel-compatible 800 MHz processor, 256 MB RAM, 8 GB hard drive with 1 GB free space available, 256 Color Display, CD-ROM drive, 800x600 (min.) video adapter, sound card, and speakers. The operating system should be Windows 2000 or XP. Real One Player Basic (available free online) and high speed Internet connection such as cable, DSL, T1 or LAN will be required for EOL courses.

MAC users must have a G3 processor with firewire and USB factory built-in, 256 MB RAM, 10 GB with 1GB free space available, 256 Color Display, CD-ROM drive, 800x600 (min) video adapter, sound card, and speakers. The operating system must be MacOS 10.3 (minimum) along with the above RealOne and Internet specifications above .

For more detailed information on computer specifications and recommendations, please refer to our website at: http://engineeringonline.ncsu.edu/currentstudents/computeraccess.htm

 

Instructor  

Dr. Michael Devetsikiotis, Professor
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
North Carolina State University
3060 Engineering Building II, Campus Box 7911
Raleigh, NC 27695-7911

Phone: (919) 515-5253
Fax: (919) 515-5523
E-Mail: mdevets@ncsu.edu