2024/25 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue
ELEC5461M High Speed Internet Architecture
15 creditsClass Size: 80
Module manager: Dr Farah Al-Sallami
Email: F.Al-Sallami@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
This module is not approved as an Elective
Module summary
High performance routers are needed to support the development and delivery of advanced network services over high-speed Internet. Routers and switches are the key building blocks of the Internet, and consequently, the capability of the Internet in all its aspects depends on the capability of its switches and routers. The goal of this module is to provide a basis for understanding, appreciating, and performing practical research and development in networking with a special emphasis on Internet routers and switches. It covers topics on the design, analysis and performance evaluation of a wide range of network architectures, switches and Internet routers. Students will learn the architectural evolution of routers and switches, analyse their performance and hardware cost and gain insights to their limitations.Objectives
This module has the following objectives:- To study the Internet's infrastructure, exploring the architecture, operation, and evolution of switches and routers.
- To design and analyse switching architectures at both software and hardware levels.
- To learn about the advantages and limitations of current Internet router and switch architectures, developing insights into their performance and cost at both system and hardware levels.
- To develop a comprehensive understanding of key concepts in Internet infrastructure to navigate and optimize switching and routing technologies.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes:
1. Apply a comprehensive knowledge of mathematics, statistics, natural science and engineering principles to the solution of complex internet architecture problems. Much of the knowledge will be at the forefront of internet architecture and informed by a critical awareness of new developments and the wider context of engineering.
2. Formulate and analyse complex internet architecture problems to reach substantiated conclusions. This will involve evaluating available data using first principles of mathematics, statistics, natural science and engineering principles, and using engineering judgment to work with information that may be uncertain or incomplete, discussing the limitations of the techniques employed.
3. Select and apply appropriate computational and analytical techniques to model complex internet architecture problems, discussing the limitations of the techniques employed.
4. Apply an integrated or systems approach to the solution of complex internet architecture problems.
5. Select and apply appropriate materials, equipment, engineering technologies and processes, recognising their limitations.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills:
a. Application of science, mathematics and/or engineering principles
b. Problem analysis
c. Application of computational and analytical techniques
d. Integrated systems approach
e. Technical awareness of engineering materials, equipment, technologies, and processes
Syllabus
Topics may include, but are not limited to:
• Survey of the state of the art in High-performance Internet routers and switches.
• Issues involved in designing switches and routers and their architectural trade-offs including protocols, architectures, algorithms, and performance evaluation.
• Routers' architectures including single and multi-stage switches, input-queued switches, combined input and output queuing, shared memory switches etc. and their scheduling algorithms and hardware design .
• Performance evaluation of these architectures, how they provide performance guarantees, assessing their hardware cost and feasibility.
• Refer to some commercial products and relate them to what is covered in the module.
• Survey of data centres infrastructure.
Methods of Assessment
We are currently refreshing our modules to make sure students have the best possible experience. Full assessment details for this module are not available before the start of the academic year, at which time details of the assessment(s) will be provided.
Assessment for this module will consist of;
1 x Coursework
1 x Exam
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Lecture | 10 | 2.00 | 20.00 |
| Practical | 3 | 2.00 | 6.00 |
| Independent online learning hours | 15.00 | ||
| Private study hours | 109.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 26.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150.00 | ||
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
Students studying ELEC modules will receive formative feedback in a variety of ways, which may include the use of self-test quizzes on Minerva, practice questions/worked examples and (where appropriate) through verbal interaction with teaching staff and/or post-graduate demonstrators.Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| In-course Assessment | Coursework | 30.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 30.00 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Exams
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
| Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) | 3 hr 00 mins | 70.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 70.00 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Reading list
There is no reading list for this moduleLast updated: 31/07/2024 13:52:03
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- Undergraduate module catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
- Undergraduate programme catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue
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