EEL6785 High-Performance Computer Networks
Summer 2003, 3 Credits, Section #7625

Time and Place: 2nd period (9:30-10:45) MWF, 239 Larsen Hall.

Required Text: R. Ramaswami and K. Sivarajan, Optical Networks: A Practical Perspective, 2nd Edition, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 2002, IBSN 1-55860-655-6.

References: Assorted journal and conference papers -- to be announced.

Recommended Supplemental Text: J. Walrand and P. Varaiya, High-Performance Communication Networks, 2nd Edition, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers Inc., San Francisco, CA, 2000, ISBN 1-55860-574-6.

Suggested References for Background:

• A. Leon-Garcia and I. Widjaja, Communication Networks : Fundamental Concepts and Key Architectures, McGraw-Hill, 2000, ISBN 0-07-242349-8.
• W. Stallings, Data and Computer Communications, 6^th Edition, Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2000, ISBN 0-13-084370-9.
• A.S. Tanenbaum, Computer Networks, 4^th Edition, Prentice-Hall PTR, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2002, ISBN 0-13-066102-3.
  
• L.L. Peterson and B.S. Davie, Computer Networks: A Systems Approach, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers Inc., San Francisco, CA, 1996, ISBN 1-55860-368-9.
  
• D.E. Culler and J.P. Singh, Parallel Computer Architecture: A Hardware/Software Approach, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers Inc., San Francisco, CA, 1999, ISBN 1-55860-343-3.
  
• J.L. Hennessy and D.A. Patterson, Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach, 3rd Edition, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers Inc., San Francisco, CA, 1995, ISBN 1-55860-596-7.
  

• Dr. Alan D. George, Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Director of the High-performance Computing and Simulation (HCS) Research Laboratory. Office: Larsen 327, Telephone: (352)392-5225, Fax: 392-8671, e-mail: george@hcs.ufl.edu. Office Hours: 11:00-12:15 (3rd period) MWF.

  

• Mr. Sarp Oral, Doctoral Candidate in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Office: Larsen 317, Telephone: (352)392-9046, Fax: 392-8671, e-mail: oral@hcs.ufl.edu. Office Hours: 11:00-12:15 (3rd period) TR.

Prerequisites by Topic: Topical prerequisites include strong fundamentals in computer networks including digital data communication techniques, the OSI reference model, data link control, multiplexing, circuit and packet switching, LANs, protocols and network architecture, and internetworking.

In addition, background in computer architecture (e.g. EEL5764 Computer Architecture, EEL6763 Parallel Computer Architecture) and/or other graduate courses in computer engineering (e.g. EEL6935 Distributed Computing, EEL6935 Wireless Networks) is very desirable but not required.

Goals: The primary goal of the course is to introduce students to fundamental and advanced concepts, techniques, and technologies in high-performance computer networking including optical networking. Students will gain a fundamental knowledge and understanding of this area of high-performance computer engineering through class reading assignments, literature search and analysis, workshop presentations, and a large term project. The secondary goal of the course is to develop and instill in students the capabilities for conducting research, in terms of two key elements: (1)literature search, analysis, formal presentation, and discussion; and (2) completion of a significant research project.

Engineering Applications: Modeling, simulation, and analysis of high-performance computer networks and interconnects; experimental analysis and optimization of high-performance computer networks and interconnects; software and hardware design and development for high-performance distributed systems featuring and exploiting high-speed networks.

Grading Policy: Research Project (60%), Topical Presentations (20%), Class Participation and Homework (10%), and Comprehensive Quiz (10%).

Research Project: Students will form teams of 1-3 students to select (with instructor consent) and then pursue a topic for the class project for the bulk of the semester. Each project will involve elements of simulative research and/or experimental testbed research in order to explore in some depth one or more key issues of high-performance computer networking. In particular, each team is expected to develop and demonstrate expertise on the subject of their project, and through it make a substantive research contribution. Selected portions of the networking and computing facilities in the HCS Research Laboratory, the NSA Center of Excellence in High-Performance Networking and Computing, will be made available for experimental projects, as will the commercial modeling and simulation tool MLDesigner (click here for a tutorial document on the tool) for simulative projects. In addition, scores of freeware simulation tools such as NS are available on the web that may be useful for selected projects. Some general ideas for a suggested procedure in the project are listed here.

Topical Presentations: This course will follow an interactive workshop style whereby a wide variety of topics in high-performance networking are selected by individual students (with consent of the instructors), investigated and analyzed, prepared, and then formally presented to the class for discussion. Second only to the research project, topical presentations are the most significant component of the course. Depending upon class enrollment, each student will be required to prepare and present approximately 3-5 seminars this semester, each approximately 30 minutes in length. An example of the general categories in HPN from which the seminar topics will be drawn is included below:

High-Performance Networks:

• Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet
• Scalable Coherent Interface (SCI), Myrinet, InfiniBand, Quadrics, and other system-area networks
• High-Speed Research WANs (e.g. Internet2, Abilene, StarLight, Ampath, etc.)
• Resilient Packet Rings (RPR, IEEE 802.17)
• Synchronous Optical NETwork (SONET)
• Fibre Channel (FCS or FCAL) and other storage-area networks
• Embedded systems HPNs (e.g. RapidIO, RACEway)
• Proprietary HPNs in commercial computing systems (e.g. IBM SP, Cray T3E)

Optical Switching and Networking:

• Multiplexing (OTDM, WDM including DWDM and CWDM)
• The optical layer for WDM and network elements
• Broadcast and select networks (e.g. star, folded bus)
• Wavelength routed networks
• Optical burst switching networks (e.g. WR-OBS, JET, JIT, TAG)
• Optical packet switching (OPS) networks

• High-performance transport protocols (e.g. FAST TCP, GridDT, HS TCP, Scalable TCP, XCP, Tsunami, SABUL)
• Label and wavelength switching (e.g. MPLS, GMPLS)
• Quality of Service (QoS) in HPNs and HPN-based systems
• Lightweight communication interfaces for HPNs (e.g. VIA, Active Messages, Fast Messages, GASNet)
• Fast/parallel file transport protocols for long-haul HPNs (e.g. GridFTP, Combined Parallel FTP)
• Deterministic and adaptive routing for HPNs
• Collective communications in HPNs (e.g. broadcast, multicast, scatter, gather)
• Scalable network services for high-performance distributed computing
• Fault tolerance in HPNs
• Switch and router architectures for HPNs
• NIC architectures for HPNs
• Host/NIC interface architectures for HPNs (e.g. PCI-X)
• Resource monitoring and HPNs
• HPN topologies

Deadline Policy: All assignments will be given with a strict deadline, and students are required to submit their assignments on or before the deadline. In case of extenuating circumstances, students are advised to contact the professor as soon as practical.

Attendance Policy: Attendance without tardiness at all class meetings is mandatory and will be reflected as a portion of the grade for class participation. The other portion of the class participation grade will be based on the degree of productive engagement of the student in class discussions, particularly during the topical presentations.

Conduct Policy: We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honesty and integrity. All assignments are to be considered an individual effort unless otherwise specified by the instructor.

Academic Honesty: All students admitted to the University of Florida have signed a statement of academic honesty committing themselves to be honest in all academic work and understanding that failure to comply with this commitment will result in disciplinary action. This statement is a reminder to uphold your obligation as a student at the University of Florida and to be honest in all work submitted and exams taken in this class and all others.

From the university regarding accommodations for students with disabilities: "Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the Instructor when requesting accommodation."