CMU 15-441/641, Fall 2021 --- Home

15-441/641 is an introductory course in computer networks. The emphasis will be on the basic performance and engineering tradeoffs in the design and implementation of computer networks. To make the issues more concrete, the class includes several multi-week projects requiring significant design and implementation.

The goal is for students to learn not only what computer networks are and how they work today, but also why they are designed the way they are and how they are likely to evolve in the future. We will draw examples primarily from the Internet. Topics to be covered include: congestion/flow/error control, routing, addressing, naming, multi-casting, switching, internetworking, and network security. Evaluation is based on homework assignments, the projects, one midterm exam, and one final exam.

"Introduction to Computer Systems" is a prerequisite for the course. It is offered under the following course numbers: 15-213, 18-213, and 15-513. Graduate students must get a B to satisfy the prerequisite. Students who have taken the prerequisite course at CMU get priority when we move students from the waiting list.

Once students who meet the prerequisites have been cleared, we will consider students with a strong systems background. These decisions will be made in the first or second week of the semester. Do not send mail to the instructors about this (e.g., explaining your background) - it will not help your case.

Instructors

Name	Email	Office	Office Hours
Prof Peter Steenkiste	prs AT cs DOT cmu DOT edu	GHC 9111	Mondays, 11am-12pm & Wednesdays, 1-2pm
Christopher Canel	ccanel@cmu.edu	GHC 9009	Fridays, 3-4pm

Teaching Assistants

Name	Email	Office	Office Hours
Shawn Chen	shuoshuc [shift-2] cs.cmu.edu	GHC 7113	Tuesdays, 10-11am @ GHC 7101 & Thursdays, 1:20-1:50pm @ GHC 7501
Oliver Li	oliverli@cmu.edu	GHC 9126	Wednesdays, 3-5pm
Nathan Walker	njwalker@andrew.cmu.edu	GHC 5th Floor Commons, Table 2	Mondays, 4:30-5:30pm
Art Zhu	tianez@andrew.cmu.edu	GHC 5th Floor Commons, Table 1	Tuesdays, 7-8pm

Course Administrator

Name	Email	Office
Mrs. Tracy Farbacher	tt1b@andrew.cmu.edu

• Piazza:
  If you have a question about a project handout or a technical issue, there is an excellent chance that other students have the same question. Please read the posts on Piazza to see if there has been traffic, and consider posting your questions there.
• Gradescope:
  Submit all homeworks and projects, as well as associated regrade requests, through Gradescope.
• Staff mailing list: staff-441 at cs dot cmu dot edu
  If you have a question that you believe is particular to your circumstances and should not be posted in a public forum, then send mail to the staff list, which reaches the instructors and TAs. If your question involves a confidential personal or academic-conduct issue, then you should probably contact one of the instructors in person or send mail to both.