Network Simulation Experiments Manual: Computer Networks: A Systems Approach, Edition 4

Networking technologies and concepts are often difficult to explain, even through careful description and well thought out examples. One method for making this information "stick" is to create an environment where networking professionals and students can visualize how networks work, utilizing a software tool that simulates the functions within a network. The tool itself is highly useful in that it provides a virtual environment for an assortment of desirable features such as modeling a network based on specified criteria and predicting its performance.

The Network Simulation Experiments Manual takes this instructional tool a step further and provides detailed experiments on core networking topologies for use in this simulation environment. Various scenarios are presented within each topology and review questions, a lab report, and exercises accompany each assignment as well. The manual also comes with directions for downloading the free easy-to-install software, the OPNET IT Guru Academic Edition. This software provides a virtual environment for modeling, analyzing, and predicting the performance of IT infrastructures, including applications, servers, and networking technologies.

*The experiments in this manual are closely tied to Peterson/Davie: Computer Networks, 4E, a best-selling Morgan Kaufmann title

*Software download based on an award-winning product made by OPNET Technologies, Inc., whose software is used by thousands of commercial and government organizations worldwide, and by over 500 universities

*Useful experimentation for professionals in the workplace who are interested in learning & demonstrating the capability of evaluating different commercial networking products

A practical tool for the networking professional; allowing the reader to experiment, creating innovatitive networks!

Dr. Emad Aboelela received his Ph.D in Computer Engineering from the University of Miami (Florida); M.Sc. and B.Sc in Computer Science and Automatic Control from the College of Engineering at Alexandria University (Egypt). Currently he is an Associate Professor at Taibah University, Saudi Arabia. He was a faculty member at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth for six years and at Southern Connecticut State University for two years. Dr. Aboelela is a senior member of both IEEE and ACM. He received the Distinguished Professor of the Year Award in 2009 and the Award of Academic Merit in 1998.

University of Taibah, Saudi Arabia

(Lab 0) Introduction: Basics of OPNET IT Guru Academic Edition

(Lab 1) Ethernet: A Direct Link Network with Media Access Control

(Lab 2) Token Ring: A Shared-Media Network with Media Access Control

(Lab 3) Switched LANs: A Set of Local Area Networks Interconnected by Switches

(Lab 4) Network Design: Planning a Network with Different Users, Hosts, and Services

(Lab 5) ATM: A Connection-Oriented, Cell-Switching Technology

(Lab 6) RIP: Routing Information Protocol: A Routing Protocol Based on the Distance-Vector Algorithm

(Lab 7)OSPF: Open Shortest Path First: A Routing Protocol Based on the Link-State Algorithm

(Lab 8) Border Gateway Protocol (BGP): An Interdomain Routing Protocol

(Lab 9) TCP: Transmission Control Protocol: A Reliable, Connection-Oriented, Byte-Stream Service Queuing Disciplines

(Lab 10) Queuing Disciplines: Order of Packet Transmission and Dropping

(Lab 11) RSVP: Resource Reservation Protocol: Providing QoS by Reserving Resources in the Network

(Lab 12) Firewalls and VPN: Network Security and Virtual Private Networks

(Lab 13) Applications: Network Application Performance Analysis

(Lab 14) Wireless Local Area Network: Medium Access Control for A Wirelessly Connected Stations

(Lab 15) Mobile Wireless Network: A Wireless Local Area Network with Mobile Stations