CMP 405 & CMP 743
Introduction to Networks
Spring 2026 Syllabus

Detailed Course Syllabus

Delivery Method

This course will be delivered online in an asynchronous (non-real-time) format using Brightspace. It will be accessible on or before January 26th, 2026. The course is done in an independent study format.

CMP 405 Course Description: 4 hours, 3 credits

Introduction to network protocols and algorithms. Intensive study of the most important protocols at each layer. Examination of their strengths and weaknesses. Basic algorithms for identifying primary servers, constructing forwarding and broadcasting trees, and determining routing tables. Writing a simple networking service at the I.P. layer or higher. Lab exercises include building and testing small networks.

Prerequisite:

• CMP 334 - Computer Organization
• CMP 338 - Data Structures and Algorithms

CMP 743 Course Description: 4 hours, 4 credits

Digital and analog communication, system architectures, and connection-oriented and connectionless service. The OSI model as a conceptual framework, and actual communication models and their protocols. Selected contemporary topics, such as communications security and the World Wide Web.

Prerequisite for CMP 743:

• A course in operating systems.

Course Objectives

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

1. Define and use basic concepts and terminologies for networking.
2. Describe the layers of the TCP/IP reference model and their purposes.
3. Work with classful and classless internet addressing.
4. Explain the Address Resolution Protocol.
5. Identify the elements of segments, datagrams and Ethernet frames.
6. Explain datagram fragmentation.
7. Understand internet routing and routing protocols.
8. Explain how routing protocols such as BGP, RIP, and OSPF work.
9. Explain UDP, TCP and ICMP.
10. Understand sliding window protocols.

Textbook

Either one of the following editions:

• Internetworking With TCP/IP, Principles, Protocols, and Architecture, (Sixth Edition) by Douglas E. Comer. (ISBN-13: 978-0-13-608530-0, ISBN-10: 0-13-608530-X).
• Or Internetworking With TCP/IP, Principles, Protocols, and Architecture, (Fifth Edition) by Douglas E. Comer. (ISBN-13: 978-0-13-187671-2, ISBN-10: 0-13-187671-6).

Accommodating Disabilities:

Lehman College is committed to providing access to all programs and curricula to all students. Students with disabilities who may need classroom accommodations are encouraged to register with the Office of Student Disability Services. For more info, please contact the Office of Student Disability Services, Shuster Hall, Room 238. http://www.lehman.edu/student-disability-services Telephone: 718-960-8441 Email: disability.services@lehman.cuny.edu

Topics

• Chapter 2: Overview of Underlying Network Technologies
• Chapter 3: Internetworking Concept and Architectural Model
• Chapter 4: Protocol Layering
• Chapter 5: Internet Addressing
• Chapter 6: Mapping Internet Addresses to Physical Addresses (ARP)
• Chapter 7: Internet Protocol: Connectionless Datagram Delivery
• Chapter 8: Internet Protocol: Forwarding IP Datagrams
• Chapter 9: Internet Protocol: Error and Control Messages (ICMP)
• Chapter 10: User Datagram Protocol (UDP)
• Chapter 11: Reliable Stream Transport Service (TCP)
• Chapter 12: Routing Architecture: Cores, Peers, and Algorithms
• Chapter 13: Routing Between Peers (BGP)
• Chapter 14: Routing Within An Autonomous System (RIP, OSPF)
• Chapter 15: Internet Multicasting
• Chapter 19: Network Virtualization (NAT and VPN)
• Chapter 20: Client Server Model of Interaction
• Chapter 22: Bootstrap and Autoconfiguration (DHCP)
• Chapter 23: The Domain Name System (DNS)
• The Future of TCP/IP

Tentative Schedule (To be updated):

Past midterm exams:

Past final exams: