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Future Internet Architecture (O7)

Purpose: 

This module exposes students to problems of the current Internet and introduces the approaches of three new alternative Internet Architectures, namely Software Defined Networking (SDN), Overlay Networks and Information Centric Networking (ICN).

Prerequisites:

To follow this module, the students are expected to have general knowledge in computer networking like a general understanding of the concept of the Internet, of basic routing and switching. For the advanced level, students should have first experiences in working with Linux. In addition, programming knowledge is necessary. In particular, knowledge of the programming language Python is advantageous.

Please answer the following questions:

  • Do you know the TCP/IP protocol suite and ISO/OSI model?
  • Do you know the two main functions of a router on the Internet?
  • Are you familiar with the intra and inter domain routing protocols such as OSPF and BGP respectively?
  • Are you familiar with the concept of client/server architecture?

Learning objectives: 

Students who complete the introductory level will have an overview of the three best-known future internet architectures mentioned above, especially focusing on how these architectures change the way networks are designed, operated and managed.

Students who complete the basic level will have:

  • Knowledge of SDN as an emerging paradigm in computer networking that allows a logical centralized software to monitor and control the behavior of the entire networks. At this level, students will understand the basic concept of SDN.
  • Knowledge of overlay networks as a big trend in the industry currently. They can operate on top of any legacy Layer-3 or Layer-2 network while providing advanced services (Traffic Engineering, Virtualization, VPNs, etc.).
  • Knowledge of ICN as an approach to evolve the current Internet from host-centric paradigm to information(content)-centric networking paradigm, in which end users communicated based on named data instead of IP addresses. Students are supposed to understand the basic concept of ICN at the example of CCN (Content-centric Networking) including naming data, addressing, forwarding and network caching.

At the advanced level, students are expected to focus on a rather practically relevant problem to create a layer 2 learning switch within Mininet tutorial and to focus on some specific research problems in SDN:

  • Skills in key aspects such as traffic management in SDN and overlay networks.

Pre-module material provided: 

  • Section 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 in "Computer Networking, A top down approach" of James F. Kurose & K, W. Ross, Pearson
  • “Computer Networks” of Andrew S. Tanenbaum & David J. Wetherall, Prentice Hall, Indian International Ed.; 5th edition (January 9, 2010)

For advanced level:

You find the full material for download here.