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a) Internet Control Plane: The Internet has evolved in recent years into a conceptual two layer architecture, where the control protocols constitute the Control Plane and the basic OSI layer protocols such as IP and the link layer constitute the Data Plane. In practice, the Control Plane protocols use the Data Plane protocols for distribution and mainly run over the same network as the Data Plane, but the conceptual separation is convenient for clarifying thinking about how the Internet works. In this course, we will explore the Control Plane protocols in three different routing domains: the wide area network, the data center, and the wireless network. After a short review of the Internet architecture, the IP and link layer, we will take up the basics of IP routing and look at routing in the wide area network through the routing protocols RIP, OSPF, and BGP, and discuss how operators use MPLS for traffic engineering. Then we will switch to data center networks, and see how overlay/virtual networks solve the fundamental problems. Finally, we will focus on wireless networks, specifically access point-based WiFi and the modern LTE/Evolved Packet core network for cellular.
b) „Internet Security": As common utilization of the Internet broadens, the threat from malicious programs and Users increases. To counteract this development during the design of new applications and technologies, we will try to identify and discuss the different attacks and threats (worms, viruses, denial of service). Based on that countermeasures (e.g., firewalls, network intrusion detection/prevention systems, scanners) are introduced and the challenges they are facing are explained. Besides active security tools, secure protocols (e.g., SSL, Kerberos, TLS, VPN, IPsec, WLAN Security) key management approaches and the security of different Internet services (e.g. E-Mail, SSH, VoIP, Network Storage) will be analyzed.
c) The lecture „Internet Measurement" deals with the following questions: How does Internet traffic look like? Are there some characteristic properties? How and where is it possible to improve the Internet, and how can those improvements be tested? How can the previous questions be addressed, and what technical challenges does one face while monitoring? How can data privacy be ensured? Is there something to bear in mind when analyzing such measurements in a statistical manner? Is it possible to generate realistic traffic based on statistical characteristics?
During the seminar „Network Architectures" students acquire scientific knowledge on a small topic on their own, prepare it as a paper, and give a talk on what they learned. Dealing with recent original scientific literature as well as practice and preparation of professional talks are the key benefits for the students. The successful completion of the seminar enables the participants to understand recent, complex and professional literature and to summarize the work. The participation in the seminar includes continuous attendance and active participation, an accepted seminar paper, and its presentation.
The seminar is offered once every term in one of the following variants:
Focus Measurement: This seminar deals with recent findings and scientific research papers concerning Internet measurements. In general these topics are measuring and analyzing special characteristics (e.g., throughput, delay, jitter, RTTs, topology) of Internet
traffic.
Focus Routing: This seminar deals with recent findings and scientific research papers concerning Internet measurement. Topics range from improvement of routing algorithms over topology detection and emulation to traffic engineering or secure routing.
