CS 4396 - Computer Networks Lab
Spring 2025

Course Information: This course aims at helping students get more insight into how the Internet works and gain hands on experience in building and configuring simple IP networks and related services.

Course Timing and Place: Friday 10:00am at ECSW 1.355

Instructor Information:
Dr. Kamil Sarac (ksarac@utdallas.edu)
    Office: ES 4.207
    Phone: 972 883 2337
    Office hours: By appointment.

Teaching Assistant: - TBA

Resources:

· Course Syllabus

· Tentative Schedule

Lab Info:

In this course, you will use GNS3 network emulator to perform the lab exercises in a virtualized environment. You can download and install all necessary software including GNS3 and a hypervisor (VirtualBox or others) on your personal computer to do the labs. Please refer to www.gns3.com web site for the hardware requirements. We will also provide a number of PCs with the necessary software installed on them in ECSS 3.217 for you to do the lab exercises.

Please refer to tentative schedule page for the outline of the labs that we will be doing during the semester. 

Before you do the labs

• Read the relevant chapter on the topic from the manual and any other computer networks text book and do your own research online (if/when needed) to familiarize yourself with the lab topic.

The labs

• Labs can be done on the systems at ECSS 3.217 or on your personal computer systems
• Complete exercises (several hours, average: 3 hours)
• Save your data

After the labs

• Use data you saved to answer questions in the manual in your lab report
• Write lab report
• Submit lab report by the due date

Rules for using the PCs in ECSS 3.217.

• If sharing the system with another group, please work with them to create a schedule for team use. Please let me know if you need my help with scheduling issues.
• Note: Do not skip the reading suggestions prior to working on the labs. Otherwise, you may not be able to complete the labs in a reasonable time.
• TA help will likely be limited to the 'experience' and 'presence' of the TA during your lab work.

What to submit with your lab report?

• Include the names and e-mails of both students on the Lab report - each group member will submit the same lab report. This is so that if a group member forgets to submit the lab report on time, it will not cost to other group member anything.
• Submit lab reports electronically via e-Learning system. Indicate the lab partner name on the report.

How is the report graded?

• Completeness and correctness: 80%
• Quality of Presentation: 20%

Miscellaneous:

• If you encounter a problem and cannot figure out how to proceed (after spending some time on it), you can contact the TA or the instructor to seek help. Please note that if your problem is due to you making configuration mistakes on the systems, we may not be able to spot the problem easily. However, we will be able to give you some good suggestions on what to look for and how to proceed.
• Class participation in terms of asking questions is highly encouraged. Please do not be afraid to ask questions no matter how simple you might think the answer could be. This type of interaction helps improve the effectiveness of the class and breaks the monotony.
• The presentation slides will be available on e-Learning. I will try to put them up before each class meeting but no guarantees on that.
• After the grades for your quiz and lab reports are announced, you will have one week to appeal for your grades. So, please keep this in mind if you think that there is a problem/issue with the grading of your work.
• You should plan on taking the quizzes on the scheduled times. No late/early quizzes unless in case of an emergency situation such as health emergency or similar un-avoid-able situations and you need to provide convincing documentation for it. The quizzes will be closed books and closed notes. No calculators (unless otherwise stated) and no other electronic devices such as cell phones, tables, etc. are allowed during the quizzes.