ECE 695U Principles of Network Management Systems

Spring 2007

Instructor:

Sanjay Rao
Assistant Professor, ECE
Room 246 EE Building
sanjay AT ecn DOT purdue DOT edu

Office Hours:    [246, EE Building]

Review Draft Slides of Presentation: Mon 1–2pm, Wed 1-2pm

Other Issues: Thu 2-3pm.

Lecture Location and Time
Tuesday and Thursday : 3:00 pm -4:15 pm, EE 226  

Course Description

We will study the construction of large, distributed, automated software systems that configure, monitor, operate, and control large-scale computer networks and internets. We will define the problem, investigate the scope, and examine principles. We will investigate existing tools, platforms, and paradigms, and seek abstractions that can be used to build efficient management software systems.

Course Materials:

The following book is recommended:

Comer, D., Automated Network Management Systems, Prentice Hall, 2006

Research papers that cover both historical perspective, and recent advances will be used.

You are expected to have undergraduate networking background. You many want to refer to the following text

for background/brushing up on topics when needed:

• Computer Networks - A Systems Approach, 3rd Edition by Larry L. Peterson and Bruce S. Davie, Morgan Kaufmann, 2003. 

Syllabus:

We will follow the reading list here. This is a tentative outline: both the order of topics and set of papers is

subject to change.

Here is a tentative schedule

Class Presentations:

Each student is expected to lead the discussion for 3 classes. A list of topics will be provided by the instructor. The presentations should be in powerpoint. The student should meet with the instructor prior to the presentation, with a first draft of the slides.

Topics for Round I: preferences due by Wed, 1/10 midnight

Topics for Round II: preferences due by Thu, 2/22 midnight

Class Project:

The course project is intended to be a mini-research project that allows each student team (1 or 2 people) to explore an aspect of computer networking that is of interest during the course of the semester. Each student team will work on a different topic. There will be three milestones in the project component: (1) project selection and proposal, (2) mid-term presentation, (3) final presentation and report. Further details will be provided during class.

Project proposal: Should be One Page that should clearly state:

• the problem you are solving
• motivations and challenges; why is this problem important and difficult?
• your proposed solution or approach and why it's new,
• your plan of attack with milestones and dates, and
• any resources you might need so we can take care of this early on in the semester.

Grading:

Class Presentations:   30%

Class Participation: 10%

Class Project 60%

TBD 10% [Either will be moved to class presentation, or to an assignment involving the router test-bed.]