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MCQ Update

Written on 05.05.25 by Johannes Zirngibl

Dear students,

we have an update regarding the MCQ test. Responding to some feedback we took the answer option "HTTP is a mostly stateless protocol" from the HTTP question out of the grading options. Then, we re-graded all exams and updated the scores in the CMS.

We wish you all the best with… Read more

Dear students,

We wish you all the best with your ongoing studies.

Best regards

The DN Team

MCQ - Exam Inspection

Written on 29.04.25 by Johannes Zirngibl

Dear Students,

The exam inspection of the MCQ test will be on Friday 02.05.2025 directly after the lecture ends (~15:45 or 15:30) in the Lecture Hall (HS 002 E1.3).
We will ask you to leave the lecture hall and let you back in in badges to inspect your exam if you want to review it.

You have to bring your student ID and an official ID document to see your exam. During the Exam inspection you are not allowed to have any electronic devices with you or talk to each other. (e.g., leave your phone and backpack in the front)

Best regards,
Your DN Team

MCQ Results

Written on 28.04.25 by Johannes Zirngibl

Dear Students,

We finished the correction of the Multiple Choice Test and published the results.
The test is only pass/fail (no grades, no bonus). As announced, passing the test is a requirement for writing the Midterm and, thus, for writing the Final Exam.

If you did not pass the test, you can still participate in lectures and tutorials (if space is available) but not write the remaining exams and get grade points.

A voluntary exam inspection will most likely be on Friday 02.05 after the lecture (16:00) in lecture hall 002 in E1.3. Please bring your student ID and an official ID document. During the Exam inspection you are not allowed to have any electronic devices with you or talk to each other. We will send a confirmation or update soon.

Best regards,
Your DN Team

P.S.: As a reminder: the use of auxiliary material (e.g., calculators) and electronic devices (e.g., smartwatches) is not allowed during Data Networks exams. We will strictly enforce this for all upcoming tests.

MCQ - Regulations (Rooms and Updates)

Written on 23.04.25 by Johannes Zirngibl

Hi all,

as promised: Rooms and updates regarding the MCQ on Friday April 25.

The working time starts at 14:30. Please be at your assigned room some minutes before to find your spot.
The working time will be 45 minutes. Given the comparably short working time and the need to check your IDs, no… Read more

Günter-Hotz Lecture Hall Building (E2.2): Numbers: 2522000 to 7058518 (inclusive)
Lecture Hall 02 Building E1 3: Numbers: 7058519 to 7071170 (inclusive)
Large lecture hall in Building C4 3 (Chemistry): Numbers: 7071174 to 7076510 (inclusive)

Seat assignments:
You will find your assigned seat according to the list posted on the doors of the lecture rooms.
On your seat you will find your personalized assignment. Therefore, do not use any other seat. If you are unsure, please contact a tutor outside the hall before you enter the hall or in the hall afterwards.

Information:

Bring your student ID and an official ID document (ID card, passport, driver license, ...) to the multiple choice test. We will check these documents.
No auxiliary material is allowed, this includes calculators.
You are not allowed to write in green or red, or use pencils.

Best regards,
You DN Team

MCQ - Regulations

Written on 17.04.25 by Johannes Zirngibl

Dear Students,

The multiple choice test is approaching (Friday 25.04.2025). The following message contains important information.

Bring your student ID and an official ID document (ID card, passport, driver license, ...) to the multiple choice test. We will check these… Read more

Dear Students,

The multiple choice test is approaching (Friday 25.04.2025). The following message contains important information.

Bring your student ID and an official ID document (ID card, passport, driver license, ...) to the multiple choice test. We will check these documents.

The test will start at 14:30 CEST. You can enter the room at 14:15 CEST and find your assigned seat. Please be at your assigned room in time so we can start on time.
We will inform you about your assigned room in the week of the test.
The working time will most likely be 45 minutes. We will inform you about the exact duration in the week of the test.
No auxiliary material is allowed.
You are not allowed to write in green or red, or use pencils.

Good luck with your preparations!
Your DN team

P.S.: There are free tutorial spots.

Course and MCQ registration

Written on 16.04.25 (last change on 16.04.25) by Johannes Zirngibl

Dear students,

the registration for the course and multiple choice test ends today, 16.04.2025 at 18:00 CEST. You have to register for the CMS and the MCQ (within CMS).

As announced, the multiple choice test is in-person and next week, Friday 25.04.2025 during the lecture slot (14:00 - 16:00).… Read more

Dear students,

the registration for the course and multiple choice test ends today, 16.04.2025 at 18:00 CEST. You have to register for the CMS and the MCQ (within CMS).

As announced, the multiple choice test is in-person and next week, Friday 25.04.2025 during the lecture slot (14:00 - 16:00). Further information will be made available soon regarding rooms.
Passing the multiple choice test is a requirement to attend the midterm and final exam.
A re-exam will only be offered in case off illness (requires documents) at the time the multiple choice test took place.

If you can not attend the multiple choice test (any reason but illness) or do not intend to take the course by now, feel free to deregister from the course so we can help saving the environment (reduce the number of sent mails and printed exams).

Best regards,
The DN team

Assignments

Written on 15.04.25 by Johannes Zirngibl

Hi,

The first exercise sheet is already available.
The solution will be discussed next week during the tutorial. The slides from the tutorial, including a solution, will also be shared via CMS.

Submissions are not mandatory and do not provide any grade bonus.(Points on the exercise sheet just provide a rough estimate of required effort)
In addition, we offer individual feedback for up to 3 submissions by students.

Summary:
* Submission of assignments not mandatory
* No grade bonus based on submissions
* Solutions will be provided
* Only upload a solution if you want personal feedback besides the solution

Best regards,
The DN Team

Online Tutorials

Written on 15.04.25 by Johannes Zirngibl

Hi,

In the first week, there will be two online tutorials and two in person tutorials (due to the public holiday on Monday).
While you have been assigned to a tutorial, if possible you can join any tutorial. (Online has more capacity.)
In case of capacity problems, assigned students have an advantage.

Tutorial 1: In-Person Monday
Due to the public holiday on Monday, the tutorial will be Online once on Tuesday 10:00 am c.t. using the following link:
https://eu02web.zoom-x.de/j/65998773463?pwd=Tb3zPm8Tw4ggUwZzi0TVXsUrzt3Rgi.1
Meeting ID: 659 9877 3463
Passcode: 365206

Tutorial 4: The Online Tutorial (Wednesday 10:00 - 12:00 c.t.) will use the following link:
https://eu02web.zoom-x.de/j/67594049208?pwd=4psO2ehFZ9UFnypQMaG7p9Bvx7aKJ1.1
Meeting ID: 675 9404 9208
Passcode: 431561

Please join online tutorials without your camera and turn of your mic if not needed.

Best regards,
The DN team

Tutorial Assignment Changes

Written on 14.04.25 (last change on 14.04.25) by Johannes Zirngibl

Hi all,

as mentioned, there is limited capacity for tutorials especially in person.
We assigned the tutorials based on preferences but not all preferences might be satisfied.

If you can't attend your assigned tutorial slot, please unregister from the tutorial to provide spots for others.
You can also try to find somebody to swap with.

Furthermore, we experienced that sometimes students do not show up to their assigned tutorials. Thus, if space is available you can join.

The slides from tutorials, explaining the solution for assignments, will also be shared via CMS.

Best regards,
The DN Team

Tutorial Assignement

Written on 14.04.25 (last change on 14.04.25) by Johannes Zirngibl

Hi all,

we distributed all participants to tutorials based on the preferences. As mentioned, there is only a certain capacity for tutorial spots. Thus you might have been assigned to a Waiting List.
However, we will offer the Tutorial 1 (normally on Monday) as online tutorial in the first week since Monday is a holiday (Date TBA soon).
Everybody from the waiting list can either join this special online tutorial or the online tutorial on Wednesday in the first week (Zoom links TBA soon).
Therefore, everybody has the chance to attend the first tutorial before the MCQ.
After the MCQ, tutorials might be reassigned if capacity is available.

Best regards,
The DN team

First Lecture

Written on 07.04.25 by Johannes Zirngibl

Dear students,

the next term has started and we are happy to offer the Data Networks lecture.
The first lecture, which covers organization, will start tomorrow, the 8th of April 2024,
at 2pm c.t. (14:15) in building E1.3 room 002.

Looking forward to seeing you all there.
DN… Read more

Dear students,

Looking forward to seeing you all there.
DN team

Show all

Data Networks

In this lecture, we will take a dive into how data networks work, and how they work together to create the network of networks we know as the Internet. After going on this journey from the history of networks and protocols to newest developments, going through every layer of the stack – from the physical wire to the applications – like the Web and Email – everyone knows and uses.

After successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

Describe the relevant layers of network communication (Physical, Data, Network, Transport, Application)
Analyze the description of a protocol to identify the layer it works on, as well as key-characteristics of the protocol (statefullnes, etc.)
Apply protocols of all layers (esp. Network, Transport, and Application) to a given case, e.g., use a routing protocol to determine how packets would traverse a given network.
Analyze multiple protocols for a given use-case and evaluate which one is more suited given features of the individual protocols.
Explain the structures of protocol development/standardization bodes and the Internet governance structure in place for the Internet as a whole.
Design simple network protocols for small example cases, e.g., a simple application layer text chat protocol, weighting choices for, e.g., the best transport protocol to use with it.

In summary, the course enables you to navigate the protocol landscape of the modern Internet, familiarizing you with services like web (HTTP), mail (SMTP, POP, IMAP), the domain name systems (DNS), but also the lower layers, from IP through routing (BGP), to the transport layer (TCP, UDP). By taking a comprehensive look at the interactions between these protocols, you attain the ability to reason on the principles of computer networks, and apply the fundamentals of the area – including network protocol mechanisms, implementation considerations, network algorithms, advanced network architectures, network simulations, measurements, protocol specifications, and verification techniques – in the context of other specializations in computer science, from databases, to distributed systems, and computer security.

Course Organization

This course is worth 9 LP/ECTS points.
We provide recordings similar to the two lectures from previous years and a Q&A session.
We provide weekly tutorials and optional assignments. Students can get detailed feedback for 3 assignments in total.
There will be a written Multiple Choice exam early in the semester. A re-exam will only be offered in case off illness (requires documents) at the time the Multiple Choice exam took place. You have to pass the Multiple Choice exam to write the Midterm an thus to write the final exams.
There will be a written Midterm exam that requires 30% of points to pass. Students who gain at least 70% in the Midterm exam of points receive a 0.33 bonus for a passed Final exam. A Midterm re-exam will only be offered in case off illness (requires documents) at the time the Midterm exam took place. You have to pass the Midterm to write the final exams.
There will be a written Final exam and a written Final re-exam at the end of the semester.

Examination Dates

Multiple choice test on 25.04.2025, starting at 14:00 in rooms TBA.
Midterm exam on 06.06.2025, starting at 14:00 in rooms TBA.
Final exam on 25.07.2025, starting at 09:00 in rooms TBA.
Final re-exam on 06.10.2025, starting at 09:00 in rooms TBA.

Timetable

Please find all time-related information in our Timetable.
New events/exam dates might be announced during the lecture. Therefore, check the timetable from time to time.