Course pages 2016–17
Introduction to networking and systems measurements
Principal lecturers: Dr Andrew Moore, Dr Noa Zilberman
Taken by: MPhil ACS, Part III
Code: P50
Hours: 16 (6 lectures and 10 supervised laboratory sessions (guided tutorials/practicals))
Prerequisites: Undergraduate courses in digital communication
Aims
Provide research skills for characterization and modelling of systems and networks using measurements.
Syllabus
- Introduction to performance measurements, performance characteristics [1 lecture]
- Performance measurements tools and techniques [2 lectures + 4 guided tutorials/practicals]
- Reproducible experiments [1 lecture + 2 guided tutorials/practicals]
- Common pitfalls in measurements [1 lectures]
- Device and system characterisation [1 lecture + 4 guided tutorials/practicals]
Objectives
On completion of this module, students should:
- Describe the objectives of measurements, and what they can achieve;
- Characterise and model a system using measurements;
- Perform reproducible measurements experiments;
- Evaluate the performance of a system using measurements;
- Evaluate the performance of a device using measurements;
- Operate measurements tools and be aware of their limitations;
- Detect anomalies in the network and avoid common measurements pitfalls.
Practical work
Guided lab experiments resulting in 4 practical write ups.
Assessment
- Practicals write ups, summarising guided lab experiments - 4 writeups submitted together. (20%)
- One paper (5000 words), summarising the evaluation of a device or a system (80%)
Recommended reading
A reading list will be provided in course materials.