CSC458/2209 - Assignments - Problem Sets

For problem sets 1 and 2, we will grade each question in a 0-2 scale. You will get a 0 if nothing is turned in; 1 when you have some understanding of the problem; and 2 when you demonstrate a strong understanding of the problem. Keep your answers concise, and clear. Note the late submission policy described in the course information sheet.

Problem Set # 1

• 10% of the overall mark.
• Due date: Oct 13, 9:00PM EST
• Submission guidelines:
  • The assignment should be submitted electronically (on MarkUs) as a single file.
  • The filename must be ps1.pdf. Anything other than that will not be accepted by the system.
  • Note that, if you resubmit your assignment, the previous file will be overwritten.
• Textbook problems (5th edition):
• Chapter 1: 3,11, 19, 20
• Chapter 2: 6, 40, 42
• Chapter 3: 4, 21

Problem Set # 2

• 10% of the overall mark.
• Due date: Nov 25, 09:00PM EST
• Submission guidelines:
  • The assignment should be submitted electronically (on MarkUs) as a single file.
  • The filename must be ps2.pdf. Anything other than that will not be accepted by the system.
  • Note that, if you resubmit your assignment, the previous file will be overwritten.
• Textbook problems (5th edition):
• Chapter 3: 55, 64
• Chapter 4: 9
• Chapter 5: 12, 25, 39
• Chapter 6: 5, 17

CSC458/2209 - Assignments - Programming Assignments

Programming Assignment 1

For this assignment, we will use MiniNet to create a virtual network to build a simple router.

• Assignment description.
• 15% of the overall mark.
• Due date: Oct 20 Oct 23, 9:00PM EST.
• When you submit your assignment on MarkUs, we will run a subset of marking script tests and give you feedback. Starting from Oct 10th, you can submit up to 8 times each day.
• Make sure to check out guidelines for programming assignments before starting.
• You can find examples of good and bad programming practices here.
• This assignment is to be done in groups of two or three students. Feel free to use Piazza to find teammates.
• You will need to know (or learn!) socket programming for this assignment. This is covered in tutorial # 1. You can find some useful links about socket programming here.
• Submission guidelines: The assignment should be tested on teaching lab machines and submitted electronically. Please compress and submit the whole contents of the router folder as a single file on MarkUs as a single file.
  • MarkUs
  • Use your teaching lab credentials to log in.
  • The file name must be pa1.tar.gz.
  • Note that, if you resubmit your assignment, the previous file will be overwritten.
  • Please see the deliverables section in the Programming Assignment Guidelines for information on what should be included in the submission.

Programming Assignment 2

For this assignment, we will explore the impact of router buffer sizes on network performance.

• Assignment description.
• 15% of the overall mark.
• Due date: Dec 2, 9:00PM EST.
• Please note that the assignment is to be completed individually.
• Submission guidelines: Please compress and submit the whole contents of the router folder as a single file on MarkUs as a single file.
  • MarkUs
  • Use your teaching lab credentials to login.
  • The file name must be pa2.tar.gz.
    • Please cd into your assignment folder and tar the whole folder into a tar.gz file.
    • Then, name your code as pa2.tar.gz and upload to your markus repository.
    • No other format or structure will be accepted.
    • Do not submit multiple tar.gz files into your repository.
  • Note that, if you resubmit your assignment, the previous file will be overwritten.
  • Please see the description page for details on what you need to submit.

References and Resources

• "Unix Network Programming" by Stevens is the reference of choice for programming the Unix sockets API. There will also be a review session before the first assignment is due which will provide an introduction to socket programming.

• "TCP/IP Volume 1: The Protocols", also by Stevens, is an excellent reference to the specification and common implementations of TCP/IP and some of the related protocols. Although this book is not a required course text, it is an excellent reference. Some of the assignments refer to chapters in this book for additional reading.