Experiments on Computer Networks: Quickly Knowing the Protocols in the TCP/IP Suite

TL;DR

This paper presents a collection of practical experiments designed to help students quickly understand and experience the fundamental protocols of the TCP/IP suite, adaptable for various operating systems and updated regularly.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive, practical manual of experiments on Internet protocols, including virtualization, tailored for educational use during pandemic-related remote learning.

Findings

Experiments facilitate understanding of TCP/IP protocols.

Manual supports remote and virtual learning environments.

Applicable to Linux and Windows systems.

Abstract

Manual of practical experiments on protocols used in the Internet or TCP/IP Suite. This manual is a collection of experiments that have been used in undergraduate and graduate courses taught at New Jersey Institute of Technology for a few years (ECE429 and ECE637). The manual is updated periodically to accommodate emerging needs and technologies, including virtualization of the experiments for their use during lockdowns as the one we experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and part of 2021. The manual may be used by all those interested in knowing and experiencing some of the basic protocols that run on the Internet. The goal is to get some understanding on protocol design and not necessarily on a particular software or operative system. Yet, the exercises will give the interested person a practical perspective. Experiments are targeted towards using Linux but most of them can also be performed on Windows operating systems.