Basic principles of packet routing in data networks. Characteristics of the Distance-Vector and Link-State routing protocols. Internal router architectures. Quality of Service support mechanisms for data networks and their implementation in active network elements.
Technology of ATM – synchronous and asynchronous multiplexing, virtual connections. ATM cell – description and structure. Traffic and QoS parameters. Service classes – CBT, VBR, ABR, UBR. ATM reference model – functions of physical, ATM and ATM adaptation (AAL1, AAL2, AAL3/4, AAL5) layers. Circuit Emulation Services and LAN Emulation.
Technology of switching. Hierarchical division of data networks and typical switch architectures for each level. Properties of packet switches (internal blocking, output port contention, Head-of-Line Blocking, Multicasting). Time division switches (architectures with shared medium and shared memory). Space division switches (Crossbar switch, fully interconnected architecture, Knockout switch, Banyan and Clos network, architectures with recirculation paths, multilayer architectures. Buffering – structures with input, output and shared buffers. Other buffering techniques – input-output buffering, buffering at switching nodes, buffering at recirculation paths, virtual output queuing. Cell selection algorithms – FIFO, FIFO with windowing, VOQ, PIM, iRRM, iSLIP, DRRM, MUCFA. Packet switches with shared memory – linked list FIFO queues and Time-Space-Time based solutions. Multicast Shared-Memory Switches – cell copy and address copy.
Spread spectrum technologies – FHSS and DSSS. WLAN standards - 802.11, 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g. Access points – characteristics, functions, operation modes. Wireless bridges – characteristics, functions, operation modes. Wireless network interface cards – characteristics, functions, types. Communication in WLAN – beacon, authentication methods (Open System authentication and Shared Key authentication). Service sets. WLAN frame types. Access control – DCF, PCF. Interframe spaces – SIFS, PIFS, DIFS. The communication process in WLAN. Access control using RTS/CTS frames. Power control.
Wireless Personal Area Networks: 802.15, Bluetooth. Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks: 802.16, WiMAX.
Introduction into Quality of Service support in data networks: packet classification, marking and metering, packet scheduling - queue management. DiffServ domain.