Weeks 33 - 40 (9/1/2025 - 10/25/2025)

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    Hi everyone, welcome to my 33rd-40th blogs! This is the Week 1-8 post for CST 311 Introduction to Computer Networks. While journal entries were not required for this particular course, I wanted to document the concepts and assignments from each week of class. All programming assignments were written in Python.

• Week 1: Introduction
• This week served as an introduction to the course and the topics that are discussed in detail as the course progressed. I learned about details such as layer models (ISO OSI, TCP/IP). ISO OSI has seven layers (Application, Presentation, Session, Transport, Network, Data Link, Physical) while TCP/IP has four (Application, Transport, Internet, Network). This chapter also covered basic internet and networking concepts alongside examples of common vulnerabilities used by bad actors, such as packet sniffing, IP spoofing, and DDoS attacks. Below, I have provided a list of the works that demonstrate and reinforce my understanding of this chapter.
• Quizzes:
• 1 - Section 1.1 (what is the internet?)
• 2 - Section 1.2 (network edge)
• 3 - Section 1.3/1.4 (network core, loss and throughput in networks)
• 4 - Section 1.5/1.6 (protocol layers, service models, networks under attack: security)
• Homework:
• Chapter 1 Part A - Conceptual
• This section focused on conceptual questions mostly derived from Chapter 1 slides.
• Chapter 1 Part B - Problem Solving
• This section focused on problem solving questions mostly derived from Chapter 1 slides.
• Labs:
• 1 - Wireshark Introduction
• This lab served as an introduction to the Wireshark packet analysis software.
• Programming Assignment 1 - Basic Socket Programming
• This programming assignment was a relatively straightforward exercise where I was given starter code and was asked to modify it to provided specifications.
• Week 2: Application Layer
• This week discussed the application layer of networks in great detail. We spent much time discussing the HTTP and DNS protocols, which belong to this layer. Below, I have provided a list of the works that demonstrate and reinforce my understanding of this chapter.
• Homework:
• Chapter 2
• This section focused on conceptual and problem solving questions mostly derived from Chapter 2 slides.
• Labs:
• 2 - Wireshark HTTP
• This lab's primary focus was on analyzing packet data for Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) attributes.
• 3 - Wireshark DNS
• This lab's primary focus was on analyzing packet data for Domain Name System (DNS) attributes.
• Week 3 and 4: Transport Layer
• These weeks discussed the transport layer in great detail. We especially had great emphasis on the TCP and UDP protocols, which belong to this layer. Below, I have provided a list of the works that demonstrate and reinforce my understanding of this chapter.
• Quizzes:
• 5 - Section 3.1/3.2/3.3
• 6 - Section 3.4
• Homework:
• Chapter 3
• This section focused on conceptual and problem solving questions mostly derived from Chapter 3 slides.
• Labs:
• 4 - Wireshark TCP
• This lab's primary focus was on analyzing packet data for Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) attributes.
• Midterm Exam:
• At 9:30AM September 27th, 2025, I took the midterm exam for this course.
• Programming Assignment 2 - UDP Pinger:
• This programming assignment was an exercise on the creation of two utilities: a pinger and a heartbeat. Each of these had client and server sided implementations.
• Week 5 and 6: Network Layer - Data Plane
• These weeks discussed the data plane of the network layer in great detail. Here we spent time learning about IP and NAT protocols, which belong to this layer. Below, I have provided a list of the works that demonstrate and reinforce my understanding of this chapter.
• Quizzes:
• 7 - Section 4.1/4.2
• 8 - Section 4.3 Part 1
• 9 - Section 4.3 Part 2
• Homework:
• Chapter 4
• This section focused on conceptual and problem solving questions mostly derived from Chapter 4 slides.
• Labs:
• 5 - Wireshark IP
• This lab's primary focus was on analyzing packet data for Internet Protocol (IPv4/IPv6) attributes.
• 6 - Wireshark NAT
• This lab's primary focus was on analyzing packet data for Network Address Translation (NAT) attributes.
• Programming Assignment 3 - TCP Chat Service:
• This programming assignment was an exercise on the creation of a very practical application: a chat service with both a client and server implementation.
• Week 7 and 8: Network Layer - Control Plane
• These weeks discussed the control plane of the network layer in great detail. We spent much time understanding two major algorithms: Bellman-Ford and Dijkstra. Below, I have provided a list of the works that demonstrate and reinforce my understanding of this chapter.
• Quizzes:
• 10 - Section 5.1 Part 1
• 11 - Section 5.1 Part 2
• Homework:
• Chapter 5
• This section focused on conceptual and problem solving questions mostly derived from Chapter 5 slides.
• Final Exam:
• At 9:30AM October 18th, 2025, I took the final exam for this course.
• Programming Assignment 4 - Subnet Addressing:
• This programming assignment expanded upon Programming Assignment 3's chat service by creating a Python script to set up a custom Mininet network. In order for this to work, I had to modify the chat service to support three clients instead of two.

That is all for these eight weeks, see you in my Week 41 post!
Onwards to CST 336 Internet Programming!