Networking and Client/Server Computing

About

Catalog Description

Aim

Academic and business organizations are moving their computer processing and operations to a distributed environment and client/server architecture to take advantage of the Internet revolution. These large re-engineering and system integration projects require a significant investment in resources. However, the lack of proper expertise and the confusion surrounding the issues of open systems and client/server architecture often lead to project failures.

This course will introduce students to the evolution, advantages, and pitfalls of client/server computing. Understanding client/server architecture and relevant issues are central to the success of distributed and cooperative processing applications such as electronic commerce and data warehousing.

Objectives

At the end of this course the student should be able to:

1. discuss issues on the implementation and management of client/server systems;
2. develop client/server database applications;
3. develop client/server applications using components and distributed objects; and
4. implement a client/server project.

Topics

1. Introduction
2. System Models
3. Networking and Internetworking
4. Interprocess Communications
5. Remote Invocation
6. Indirect Communications
7. Operating System Support
8. Distributed Objects and Components
9. Web Services
10. Peer-to-Peer Systems
11. Mobile and Ubiquitous Computing
12. Distributed Multimedia Systems
13. Google Case Study

Course Requirements

• Internet Access
• At least a laptop/computer and another device or VM
• Optional: Network device switch or WiFi router

Evaluation/Grading

On-site Exams	40%
Laboratory Exercises	40%
Group Project	20%
Total	100%

Grading scale is shown below, or Statistical Averaging whichever gives a better grade.

0.00	54.99	5.00
55.00	59.99	3.00
60.00	64.99	2.75
65.00	69.99	2.50
70.00	74.99	2.25
75.00	79.99	2.00
80.00	84.99	1.75
85.00	89.99	1.50
90.00	94.99	1.25
95.00	100.00	1.00

Permission

Note that the course pack provided to you in any form is intended only for your use in connection with the course that you are enrolled in. It is not for distribution or sale. Permission should be obtained from your instructor for any use other than for what it is intended.

Academic Integrity

Intellectual honesty is one of the most important values the university upholds. Any work you submit for this course is your own. Cheating in exercises and other forms of intellectual dishonesty will not be tolerated. It is said that each of us has his brilliant idea and therefore you should not miss the chance of discovering yours.

If caught cheating in this course, you will receive a score of zero for that quiz, exam, or exercise. For the second offense, you will receive a final grade of 5.0 for the course.

Schedule

Week	Date	Topic	Learning Materials	Assessment	Laboratory
1	Aug 7, 2026	Introduction Distributed System Applications Types of Network Transparencies The World Wide Web	Module 1		Introduction
2	Aug 14, 2026	Architectural Models Physical Models Architectural Models Fundamental Models	Module 2		Socket Programming Fundamentals
3	Aug 21, 2026	Networking and Internetworking Types of Networks Network Principles TCP/IP Protocols	Module 3		TBA
4	Aug 28, 2026	Interprocess Communications API for Internet Protocols Data Representation and Marshalling Multicast Communication Overlay Networks	Module 4	Project Presentation 1 (F2F 5:00 PM)	TBA
5	Sep 4, 2026			Exam 1 (F2F 5:00 PM)	TBA
6	Sep 11, 2026	Remote Invocation Request-reply Protocols Remote Procedure Call Remote Method Invocation	Module 5		TBA
7	Sep 18, 2026	Indirect Communications Group Communication Publish-subscribe Message Queues Shared Memory	Module 6	Project Presentation 2 (F2F 5:00 PM)	TBA
8	Sep 25, 2026	Operating System Support Operating System Layers Protection Processes and Threads Communication and Invocation Operating System Architecture Operating System Virtualization	Module 7		TBA
9	Oct 2, 2026	Distributed Objects and Components Distributed Objects Distributed Components	Module 8		TBA
10	Oct 9, 2026			Exam 2 (F2F 5:00 PM)	TBA
11	Oct 16, 2026	Web Services Service Descriptions Directory Service XML Security Coordination Applications	Module 9	Project Presentation 3 (F2F 5:00 PM)	TBA
12	Oct 23, 2026	Peer-to-Peer Systems Peer-to-Peer Middleware Routing Overlays Applications	Module 10		TBA
13	Oct 30, 2026	READING BREAK			TBA
14	Nov 6, 2026	Mobile and Ubiquitous Computing Association Interoperation Sensing and Context Awareness Security and Privacy Internet of Things	Module 11		TBA
15	Nov 13, 2026	Distributed Multimedia Systems Characteristics of Multimedia Data Quality of Service Management Resource Management Stream Adaptation Applications	Module 12		TBA
16	Nov 20, 2026	Google Case Study Architecture and Design Philosophy Underlying Communication Paradigms Data Storage and Coordination Services Distributed Computation Services	Module 13	Project Presentation 4 (F2F 5:00 PM)	TBA
17	Nov 27, 2026	EXAM 3 (F2F 5:00 PM)

Resources

Main Resources

• G. Coulouris, J. Dollimore, T. Kinberg, G. Blair, Distributed Systems: Concepts and Design (5th Ed), Addison-Wesley 2012.
• F. Kurose, Keith W. Ross, Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach (7th Edition), Pearson Education Limited 2017.

Software and Others

• The Python Tutorial
• Hello World - GitHub Tutorial
• Learn Python - Full Course for Beginners [Tutorial]
• Git & GitHub Crash Course For Beginners