Welcome to the Spring 2020 version of the Advanced Computer Networking Course. This course will provide a broad overview of Computer Networking research, but with significant differences from past offerings. Broadly speaking, we will survey a handful of classical research ideas and approaches. We will also explore the state of the art in select networking protocols, algorithms and technologies. This year, we will delve a lot deeper into: (a) cloud computing and data center networks, (b) software defined networking, (c) video on the Internet and novel content distribution techniques, while also covering other emerging topics such as new mobile and wireless systems, anonymity and privacy.

Highlights: (1) We will cover roughly 30 papers in all and focus more on in-class "brain-storming". This will range from critiquing the idea in the paper and the evaluation, as well as applications of the ideas to other problem domains, and directions for future research in the general area. (2) We will use Piazza to supplement the interaction in the class and Q&A. (3) There will be a wide range of course projects ranging across theoretical analyses, measurement studies, simulations, and implementation, and covering a wide range of topics such as cloud computing, SDN, video, security, social networks, wireless and mobile networking, file systems and operating system support for emerging networking abstractions.

Course Details

Course prerequisites: The pre-requisite for this course is CS 640, the undergraduate-level course in Computer Networks, or an equivalent under-graduate course.

Readings: There is no required text for this course. The lectures will be based on discussing research papers. We will discuss one paper per lecture. The entire paper reading list is available here.

Piazza: We will be using Piazza for outside-class Q&A and to discuss papers. The system is highly catered to getting you help fast and efficiently from classmates, and myself. Rather than emailing questions to the teaching staff, I encourage you to post your questions on Piazza. If you have any problems or feedback for the developers, email team@piazza.com.
Find our class page at: http://www.piazza.com/wisc/spring2020/cs740.

Grading: The course project carries 45% of the grade. Participation in class and on piazza counts for 10% of the grade. The course will have two in-class exams, worth 22.5% of the grade each.

Class Time: MWF 1:00PM to 2:15PM

Location: CS and STATS 1263.

Instructor: Aditya Akella
Email: akella@cs.wisc.edu
Office: CS 7379
Office Hours: 3:00pm-4:00pm, on each class day.