Description:
This course covers issues and problems that can be identified in PhD projects in relation to communication networks from a practical point of view.
Communication networks have increasingly become an essential part of our everyday lives and currently, our society is highly dependent on the proper functioning of these. Therefore, future networks should allow a wide range of network and Internet-oriented services and applications to be carried over the same infrastructure. Networks are everywhere and in many domains their impacts cannot be ignored.
The course will be introducing methods for analysis, design, and simulation of high performing future network infrastructure, ranging from the user side to the core of the network. The main objective is to provide the student with general knowledge about how to face and solve problems in relation to these tasks. The course is targeting students working in the network domain as well as students working who apply networking and network infrastructures in their projects.

The course consists of two parts with the following focus points:

Network planning and applied graph theory:
Overview of current and future optical transport and access network technologies will be given, including future trends and challenges. Guidelines, methods, and tools to design and analyse network infrastructure will be presented. Graph theory applications for communication networks will be covered in depth. Examples and brief assignments will be given along the course to consolidate the presented concepts.

Application and Simulation:
Network simulation will be introduced, focusing on ns-3 where we will give an overview of the most important features of ns-3. Smart grid will be used as application example from a specific
domain, but similar approaches can be considered in other scenarios. Practical tools, examples, and exercises of how these aspects can be modeled are also provided.

What is ns-3?
ns-3 is a discrete-event network simulator, targeted primarily for research and educational use. ns-3 is free software, licensed under the GNU GPLv2 license, and is publicly available for research, development, and use. NS-3 is used for simulation of IP networks, wired and wireless (wi-fi/wimax/LTE), and contains PHY, MAC and NET layer implementations of various protocols and includes basic traffic generators. Depending on the used technologies, different statistical channel models are also available. Performance metrics such as throughput, end-to-end delay, etc. can be extracted from the simulation results.

Prerequisites:

Basic knowledge of networks and OSI layers and main networking functionalities corresponding to MSc in Electrical or Computer engineering.
Tentative course plan, break will be distributed conveniently in the final plan:
Day 1: Wired networks analysis and design, from the core to the users
09:00 - 12:00: Broadband analysis and planning (Jose)
13:00 - 16:00: Optical transport networks design (Jose)
Day 2: Network graphs, simulation, and ns-3
09:00 - 12:00: Graph theory application in high performing networks (Jens)
13:00 - 14:30: Introduction to ns-3, wired networks simulation (Jimmy)
14:30 - 16:00: ns-3 exercises
Day 3: Smart grid, simulation, and ns-3
09:00 - 10:30: Smart grid scenarios and application (Rasmus)
10:30 - 12:00: Wireless networks simulation, mobility models (Jimmy)
13:00 - 16:00: ns-3 exercises

Organizer:
Networking and Security Section

Lecturers:
Associate Professor Jens M. Pedersen, Aalborg University, jens@es.aau.dk
Associate Professor Rasmus L. Olesen, Aalborg University
Assistant Professor Jimmy J. Nielsen, Aalborg University
Postdoc Jose Gutierrez, Aalborg University

ECTS:
2.5

Time:
December 10-12, 2013

Place:

Niels Jernes vej 14 - Room Njv 14/3-119
Aalborg University

Zip code:
9220

City:
Aalborg

Number of seats:

Deadline:

November 18, 2013

Important information concerning PhD courses
We have over some time experienced problems with no-show for both project and general courses. It has now reached a point where we are forced to take action. Therefore, the Doctoral School has decided to introduce a no-show fee of DKK 5,000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before start of the course. Registered illness is of course an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately three months before start. This can hopefully also provide new students a chance to register for courses during the year. We look forward to your registrations.