After successful completion of the course, students are able to identify, analyze, assess and simulate various network architectures, network protocols and network data with emphasis on IP-based realtime multimedia communications. Knowledge of students will include a broad range that spans from theory on standardization organization, versioning and numbering of standards in the area of data communications, over modern transport-layer (SCTP, DCCP, MPTCP, QUIC) and application-layer protocols (DNS, HTTP, FTP, SMTP, POP3, SIP, RTP, RTCP, WebRTC, etc.) to advanced architectures like the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and theoretical and practical basics on modeling and simulation. Central aspects that are common to all architectures and protocols are their inherent security threats and corresponding countermeasures. On successfully passing the CN2 lab part, students can record and filter network data, analyze the data and have first experience in simulating simple communication networks and the challenges of building appropriate (good) simulation models.

Higher layer communication protocols (above and including transport layer), protocols for multimedia communication, additional transport protocols, network simulation, practical exercises on communication protocols and network analysis.

Theory part: Lecture slides and presentation as video, weekly online question and discussion hour. Online exam (details to be provided during preliminary discussion).

Lab part: Solving of assignments in the distance learning CN2 lab with automatic verification of result correctness. Writing of scientifically sound reports, Online examination of lab part (focus: knowledge and comprehension).

First class and preliminary discussion: Tue, 2.3.2021 at 9:00 a.m. (sharp). 

Access credentials for the CN2 preliminary discussion (Zoom online-telco) are available on successfull TISS-registration for the CN2 VU in the TISS CN2 lecture's news tab.

• Lecture is scheduled for 2 hours on Tue and 2 hours on Wed until end of April (4 lecture hours per week).
• Weekly question hours (tentative): Tue, 10:00-11:00 (tentativ, subject to agreement with students), starting the second lecture week.
• Online Laboratory: starts at the beginning of May til end of semester, all Tuesdays, 9:00-12:00 (exception: lab scheduled for Whitsunday Tuesday (vacation) is shifted to the following Wednesday, 9:00-12:00).

Contact address for questions concerning CN2 lecture, lab, or administration:  cn2vu@tuwien.ac.at

Starting with SS 2021 the following rules apply to CN2 lecture content, lab assignments and examination method:

• Technical prerequisite for participation: PC or Laptop (supported OS: Linux, Windows or MacOS) with Internet Access and webcam. Students who can't fulfill the requirements are requested to contact us asap to discuss potential alternatives with the TU distance teaching colleagues and the ETIT dean of studies.

• Slides and videos of the Lecture part are offered for download weekly between beginning of March and end of April. Questions concerning the content of slides and videos can be asked in a weekly online question hour. The lecture closes with an online examination (end of April or beginning of May, registration via TISS starting mid of April, details in the lecture and in the weekly question hours).

• Knowledge of the theory part, confirmed by a positive grade on the lecture examination (at least 50% of score) is prerequisite for attending the lab part of the VU. Not passing the lecture part results in a negative grade for the VU CN2 for this semester. 

• The laboratory part is done in groups of 2 students as distance learning and includes three to four assignments that must be solved and submitted together with a report that must comply to formal requirements. Registration for the lab groups and grading uses TUWEL and will start after the lecture exam has been graded. The score of the lab part is composed of the score on the reports and the score of the final lab online examination.

• Lecture and lab score contribute equal share to the final grade. Positive score on each, lecture and lab part, is a condition for passing the CN2 VU.

Summary: Online lecture examination, practical laboratory, submission and reports, online laboratory examination.

Detailed discussion during first CN2 lecture. Online access details available after successful registration for the CN2-VU in TISS.

Registration required for administrative purposes, planned capacity 42 participants (limit for lab participants because of available Lab PCs) - in the case of more lab participants an additional lab term on Wednesday 9:00-11:00 may be opened.

Laboratory group registration is mandatory and handled separately (by TUWEL) few days after passing the lecture examination.

Theoretical knowledge of Communication Networks 1 lecture content required, in particular Internet basics, protocols (IP, UDP, TCP) and network architectures. Basic programming knowledge required (C++ for NS3 simulation), practical experience with Linux and Wireshark is helpful for the laboratory part.