Unit COMPUTER NETWORKS AND INTERNET

Course
Programming and management of computer systems
Study-unit Code
A003649
Curriculum
In all curricula
Teacher
Osvaldo Gervasi
Teachers
  • Osvaldo Gervasi
Hours
  • 42 ore - Osvaldo Gervasi
CFU
6
Course Regulation
Coorte 2026
Offered
2026/27
Learning activities
Caratterizzante
Area
Tecnologie informatiche e dell'informazione
Sector
IINF-05/A
Type of study-unit
Obbligatorio (Required)
Type of learning activities
Attività formativa monodisciplinare
Language of instruction
Italiano
Contents
The Internet architecture and the network architectures are presented. The ISO/OSI reference model, the Network Services and the TCP/IP Internet protocol suite are illustrated in detail: DNS, SSH, FTP, Telnet, NIS, NFS, Automount, Email, HTTP, SNMP, Firewall and Network Security. The IP protocol evolution will be discussed (IPv4, IPv6, IPv8). Some case studies are illustrated.
Reference texts
Andrew S. Tanenbaum, David J. Wetherall, Computer Networks, Pearson ISBN13: 978-0-13-212695-3

Douglas E. Comer, Internetworking With TCP/IP Volume 1: Principles Protocols, and Architecture, 6th edition, 2013. ISBN-10: 0-13-608530-X ISBN-13: 9780136085300

Teaching material provided by the teacher, including bibliographic references
Educational objectives
The main objective of the course is to introduce students to the study of local and geographical networks, particularly the Internet and the Services that are the foundation of the extraordinary evolution of communication and access to information, in order to to play a leading role in the ICT scenario. The main knowledge gained will be: Topology and access methods for local networks, particularly for the Ethernet; Technologies for the realization of wide area networks; Autonomous Systems and Routing Protocols, both Interior Gateway Protocol (OSPF, RIP) and Exterior Gateway Protocol (BGP); IPv4, IPv6 and IPv8 protocols. Family of TCP/IP protocols. Network Services: their design and implementation; Firewall and network security; Monitoring of networks and services. The main acquired skills (i.e. the ability to apply the knowledge) are: Ability to design and implement a data transmission network, avoiding the possible critical issues; Ability to design and implement the Internet network services, with the capacity of avoiding the main problems; Ability to plan and implement efficiently the network security; Ability to plan and implement the monitoring of network and services to prevent potential problems and interruptions.
Prerequisites
No prerequisites are required to the student to attend the course; however the basic knowledge of Internet Services it  is expected to be known by all students.A strong knowledge of open source operating systems like Linux facilitates the acquisition of the concepts presented during classes. Furthermore, examples and use cases will be presented, aimed at facilitating the learning of the concepts covered during classes.
Teaching methods
Lectures using multimedia tools (slides, video, etc). Exercise in the computer room.
Other information
The teacher may deliver classes, labs and exams in English.The teacher is available at adopting during the exam the following languages: English.
Learning verification modality
The exam includes a written test at the computer, based on the LibreEOL system, wich presents to the student a series of tests involving different types of response: multiple choice and / or multiple response and / or drag and drop and / or open-ended. An oral exam of about 20 minutes, in which the student must demonstrate the knowledge of the required concepts, and the ability to organize the concepts to be properly illustrated.
Extended program
The network architectures are presented, starting from the ISO OSI Reference Model and describing the local networks architecture of Ethernet and its variants.
The TCP/IP Protocol suite is carefully described, presenting the various protocols with respect to the ISO/OSI Reference model. The IPv4, IPv6 and IPv8 protocols are presented.
The main Internet Services are presented: DNS, SSH, FTP, Telnet, NIS, NFS, Automount, Email (Transport protocol SMTP and Mail User Agent), HTTP, SNMP, Firewall and Network Security.
The Autonomous System concept is illustrated and the dynamic routing protocols are presented: OSPF and RIP as Internat Gateway Protocols (IGP), and BGP as External Gateway Protocol (EGP).
The network security is presented, the Firewall and the the systems for preventing and detecting network intrusions.
The main configuration issues and files are presented and discussed. Configuration parameters are illustrated and some typical case studies are also presented.
The Internet governance is presented, illustrating the main milestones of the Internet evolution.
Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile
This course contributes to the realisation of the UN goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for the following themes:
4. Quality Education
5. Gender Equality