Recap_Final_Exam
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COMP 3331/9331:
Computer Networks and
Applications
Recap + Final Exam Review
T1, 2021
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Recap from Week 1: A top-down approach
We’ve covered networking
using a top-down
q end-system applications,
end-end transport
q network core: routing,
hooking nets together
q link-level protocols, e.g.,
Ethernet
q other stuff: security, wireless
networks
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What you have accomplished
• Comprehensive overview of the entire protocol stack
with a particular focus on the Internet
• Key principles
• Layering, scale, hierarchy, etc.
• Key design issues
• Application architectures, reliability, congestion control,
routing, medium access, etc.
• Hands-on practical laboratory experiments using
several diagnostic tools, Wireshark and ns-2
• A “real-world” assignment
• Simplified Transport Protocol
Key topics (1)
• Organisation principles
• Layering, hierarchy, encapsulation
• Application layer
• Protocol design, P2P, socket programming
• Transport layer
• Error detection, reliable data transfer, flow control,
congestion control
• TCP and UDP
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Key topics (2)
• Network layer
• Network addressing, scalability, hierarchical addressing
• Fragmentation as an example to deal with
heterogeneous link layer technologies
• Routing protocols and algorithms: link state, distance
vector
• Link layer
• Addressing, ARP
• Medium access control, especially random access
• Interaction between link and network layers
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Key topics (3)
• Wireless Networks
• 802.11
• Security
• Symmetric key and public key cryptography
• Confidentiality, message integrity, authentication
• The role of encryption in these
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What next?
• COMP 9332: Network Switching and Routing
• COMP 9334: System Capacity and Planning
• COMP 4336/9336: Mobile Data Networks
• COMP 6441/9441: Security Engineering and
Cybersecurity ( + other security courses)
• COMP4337/9337: Wireless Network Security
• COMP6337: IoT Experimental Design Studio
• Undergraduate/Postgraduate Projects and Thesis
Complete your myExperience and shape the
future of education at UNSW.
Click the link in Moodle
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Survey results are not released to teaching staff until after your results are published
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Exam Specifics
• Tuesday, 24th August from 09:45 am to 12:00 noon (Sydney time)
• 2 hours + 10 minutes reading time
• Marks: 40 marks (towards your final mark)
• Answer ALL questions, marks for each question will be noted
• Hurdle: must score at least 40% (16 marks) on the exam to pass the course
• Online Inspera Exam – same platform as mid-term exam
• Open book, notes. You may use calculators
• You may join the Zoom Meeting if you have questions or technical issues
• Ask any questions you may have in the meeting chat
• DO NOT turn on your microphone
• Further details: Final Exam Page on Website
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Exam Specifics
• Open book, but by attempting this exam, you AGREE to the following statement:
“I declare that all of the work submitted for this exam is my own work,
completed without assistance from anyone else.”
• Please make sure that you are aware of the UNSW policies and expectations for
student academic integrity: https://student.unsw.edu.au/conduct
• Special Consideration and Supplementary Exam
• Make sure you read carefully the updated special consideration rules regarding on-line exams
available from the official UNSW site: https://student.unsw.edu.au/special-consideration
• A supplementary exam can only be offered if you have a valid special consideration application
(be aware of the Fit-to-Sit policy of UNSW).
• Equitable Learning Services (ELS)
• Students with these requirements will receive information with specifics about their exam
arrangements
https://student.unsw.edu.au/conduct
https://student.unsw.edu.au/special-consideration
What is and what isn’t on exam
• No direct question on any content covered in the
Introduction slide set
• There may be question(s) on computation of throughput,
delay, etc. but in different context (e.g., TCP)
• Application Layer
• No direct questions on basics, HTTP, DNS, E-mail – the
exception being that you may be asked a question that
examines the synthesis of these protocols (see A Day in the
Life of a Web Request in the Link Layer slide sets)
• P2P, BitTorrent, DHT – Completely excluded
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What is and what isn’t on exam
• Transport Layer
• Everything covered in lectures is on the exam
• Sockets (multiplexing/demultiplexing), UDP, Reliable Data Transfer
Principles, TCP, Congestion Control
• Excluded: Complex checksum computations
• Network Layer
• Data Plane: everything covered in lectures is on the exam
• Overview, IP, Addressing, NAT
• Excluded: IPv6, What’s inside a router, SDN
• Control Plane: everything covered in lectures is on the exam
• Overview, link-state routing, distance vector routing, ICMP
• Excluded: hierarchical routing, specific routing protocols (BGP,
OSPF, RIP)
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What is and what isn’t on exam
• Link Layer
• Everything covered in lectures is on the exam
• Overview, Error correction detection, multiple access protocols,
switched LAN, MAC addressing, ARP, Ethernet, Switches
• Excluded: VLAN, MPLS, Data Centre Networking
• Synthesis of protocol layers (see – A Day in the Life of
a Web Request in Week 9 Slides)
• Wireless Networks
• Basics, wireless links and characteristics, IEEE 802.11 LAN
• Security
• Basics, Symmetric and Asymmetric Cryptography, Message
Integrity, Authentication, Securing email
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Other Exclusions
• No programming related questions
• No questions that ask you to use the tools from the
lab exercises such as traceroute, ping, dig,
Wireshark, etc.
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• A limited number of multiple-choice questions
• A few short answer questions
• 2-3 sentences at most
• Some questions (possibly multi-part) that may require
more elaborate explanations
• Show intermediate work/steps if relevant
• Not a memory (or cut-paste) test, questions will examine
your understanding of concepts
• Tests your critical analysis skills
• Tests whether you can apply the concepts in a (new)
practical context
• In many ways like the mid-term exam
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Type of Questions
Preparation
• How to prepare?
• Read and thoroughly understand all content
• You shouldn’t be reading a concept for the first time during the exam !!
• Practice, Practice, Practice
• Go through all the homework questions, quizzes, etc.
• DO NOT simply read the solutions, attempt to solve them before looking at solutions
• Practice Final Exam is posted on Final Exam Page
• Familiarizes you with the exam environment (Inspera)
• Familiarizes you with the type of questions
• Take it under similar conditions as when you sit for the actual exam
• You can ONLY attempt it once
• Don’t panic and get stressed if you cannot answer a question, move on
• Sleep well the night before and grab some food/water before the exam
• Quiet and familiar/comfortable room, good Internet
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Good luck and good bye
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