Instructor: Albert L. Crawford 
Office: Baxter 104C
Office Hours: to be determined and posted
E-mail: crawford@hilltop.ic.edu
Web page: http://hilltop.ic.edu/~crawford

Text: "Computer  Networks" by Andrew S. Tanenbaum, 3rd Edition.  Published 1996 by Prentice Hall.

The Catalogue Description: Topics include basic hardware, software and architectural components for computer communications, computer networks, switching, routing, protocols and security. Also topics involving interfacing operating systems and networks are covered. Students will get hands on experience with local area networks. Formerly CSC361. Prerequisite: CSC170. Corequisite: MTH201.

Course Schedule: During the semester each student will be required to do four group projects designed to give the student hands on experience with network and their operating systems.  These will include Windows 95, Windows NT, Novel, and UNIX as described below..  In addition, the first seven chapters of the text book will be covered.  They will take about two weeks each.

Projects: The class will be divided into groups of three to five students.  These groups will be assigned projects requiring the installation, administration and management of a Windows 2000 network and a UNIX (Linux) network.  Each individual will maintain a notebook of his/her activities.  This notebook will be done in enough detail so that a student who has not completed a project will find the notebook helpful in doing the project.  The following is a tentative description of the projects.  The notebook will be weighted at 100 points.  It may be collected at the end of each activity.

In addition, each student will be asked to write two or three server based internet applications.  These will be installed on a web server and called using a standard web browser.  This project will require the student to develop his own web site on an advanced lab computer for testing purposes.

Quizzes: There will be 0 to 10 in class quizzes given throughout the semester. These will be weighted from 10 to 20 points each. These may be either announced or unannounced. No makeups will be given for quizzes.

Lecture Exams: There will be two regular hour exams covering the text material during the semester. These exams will be weighted at 100 points each.

Project Exam: At the end of the semester each student will be required to do a two hour project that involves setting up the networks that were studied in class.  The student will be allowed to use his/her notebook while doing this test.  The project exam will be weighted at 100 points.

Final: The final examination will be weighted at 150 points and will cover the material from the entire course with the material from the last third of the course being given the most weight.

Makeup of work: Should an absence be known ahead of time the student should so inform the instructor and get his approval. Work that is due during such an absence should be turned in prior to the absence or sent to class with a classmate. If an exam is scheduled during such an absence the student may be required to take the exam early.

Makeups for missed regular exams will not be given unless the reason for the absence is determined by the instructor to be valid and necessary. It is the students responsibility to make the reason for the absence known to the instructor as soon as is reasonably possible.

Grades: All grades will be based on a 90, 80, 70, 60 percentage of all points for grades of A, B, C, and D. Any "curves" that will be placed on the grades will be made on the individual tests and not at the end of the semester. Such curves are not likely. Final grades will not include a "+" or "-".

Course Requirements: It is expected that all assignments be complete and turned in on time. Late or incomplete assignments will be given a score of -100% until they are completed. At that time they will be given a score of zero.

Cheating: I do not expect this paragraph to apply to anyone. However, in the very unlikely event that a student is caught cheating please see the student "blue book" for the penalties that the instructor has the authority to apply.

Attendance: Again, I do not expect this paragraph to apply to anyone. However, you are expected to attend class. Any unexcused absence is considered excessive. If such absences reaches three or more the student will receive a letter grade reduction in his/her semester grade and given a warning. Upon the next unexcused absence the student will be dropped from the class with a grade of F. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class.