Course pages 2016–17
Network Architectures
This course is mainly based around reading papers and learning how to find the positive and negative (in that order) in those papers. There is a preliminary schedule of when you will be speaking, and link to papers you'll be talking about.
Student's speaking assignments are to give a 20-25 minute prepared talk on the paper. I am very happy to discuss paper assignments and talks beforehand. Advice on critical reading/reviewig, writing, presenting a paper is offered in the Research Skills Programme
We'll go through these topics at roughly one per week. There are also guest lectures from experts on their topics.
One thing I'd like readers to bear in mind is that one can take an evolutionary approach to network architecture change, or one can try to be revolutionary. In discussing a given paper, try to see which approach it is taking and whether this supports or undermines the viability of the proposed idea - this notion originated with Constantine Dovrolis and Jenifer Rexford in this nice counterpoint discussion. An important evolutionary refinement is Punctuated Equilibrium: which may be how technology (including networks) evolve really.
A very interesting complex systems/systems bio/eco/evolutionary view on how layered architectures evolve is this paper on Architecture, constraints, and behavior by John C. Doyle and Marie Cseteb.
Forwarding/Addressing & IPv6 & The Internet Architecture for Oct 11 & 13
This paper by Dave Clark of MIT is the starting point for all network architecture papers in form and content: The Design Philosophy of the DARPA Internet Protocols See also:
Radical Alternatives to The Internet Architecture Oct 18
Background for Essay 1 for Oct 31
See Essay 1
Wirelesss and Mobile- Oct 20/Oct 25 Lecture & Talk
Topology - to Oct 27/Nov 1 Lecture & Talk
Background for Essay 2 for Nov 28
See Essay 2
Transport/End-to-End -- Nov 3/Nov 8
Data Centers Nov 10/Nov 15
Cascades and Cross Layer Nov 17/Nov 22
IoT & IPv6 Nov 24/29
Background for Essay 3 for Jan 20, 2016
See Essay 3
Wrapup tue Dec 1
There's now a suitable (draft) book for this course, from MIT
The Management reserve the right...
Please advise if you find any missing or incorrect links here to me
Last year’s course materials are still available.