COMP4320 - Introduction to Computer Networks

Required Textbook:
Andrew Tanenbaum, David Wetherall . Computer Networks (5th ed.).
(ISBN-13: 978-0132126953 or ISBN-10: 0132126958)

Foreword

To those who may be taking COMP4320 with Dr. Biaz, do not fret! Despite common belief, the course is quite facile. You won't see exact replicas of the SSQs on Canvas on the exam, but they are quite close. If you can consistently do well on the Module Reviews, you will absolutely do well on the exams.

That said, the textbook readings are important supplementary material to the course lectures. The lectures do not cover the specifics nor some vital implementation examples whereas the textbook does. The SSQs generally require knowledge from both the lectures and the textbook.

Attendance is not mandatory. It is perfectly possible to replace the lectures with textbook reading if you're a capable student. Most students, however, would benefit from the analogies used in class.

On a side note, there are some discrepancies with the terminologies used in class as an academic subject from the Cisco exams and study guides. This is not too problematic.