CMU 15-441/641, Fall 2023 --- 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. Justine Sherry	sherry AT cs.cmu.edu	GHC 9227	Drop-In: Fridays 11AM-12PM. Sign-Up for Virtual or Priority In-Person

Teaching Assistants

Name	Email	Office	Office Hours
Hugo Sadok	sadok AT cmu.edu	GHC 5117	Mondays 5:30PM-6:30PM
Nirav Atre	natre AT cs.cmu.edu	GHC 5117 normally, GHC 6121 on 9/19	Tuesdays 5:00PM-6:00PM
Chloe Wang	chloewang AT cmu.edu	GHC 5th Floor Commons, Table 1	Wednesdays 4:00PM-5:00PM
Adithya Abraham Philip	aphilip AT cmu.edu	GHC 9227	Wednesdays 5:00PM-6:00PM
Jacky He	junchenh AT andrew.cmu.edu	GHC 5117 normally, GHC 5th Floor Commons, Table 3 on 9/29 and 10/13	Fridays 4:00PM-5:00PM

Office hour locations may subject to changes. Please check back on the course calendar to see the latest updates on the office hours. You can also find the floor plans of GHC at here (CMU login required).

Course Administrator

Name	Email	Office
Emily Spencer	emilyspe AT andrew.cmu.edu	GHC 9229

• [14 Aug 2023] If you have not taken the prerequisites for this course but would like to still be considered for the course, please sign up on the alternative waitlist here.

• Ed:
  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 Ed to see if there has been traffic, and consider posting your questions there. Create an account using your .cmu.edu email.
• Gradescope:
  Submit all homeworks and projects, as well as associated regrade requests, through Gradescope.
• Staff mailing list: staff-441 AT cs.cmu.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 the instructor in person or send mail.