Learn
Monday
- Reading & preflight
- Lecture A
- Lecture B
- Notes & retrieval
UC Berkeley CS 168 · Spring 2025 materials
Computer Networks
A rigorous, project-first route through the Internet stack. This personal 16-week schedule completes every lecture, discussion, homework, and programming project from the Spring 2025 course materials.
FIXED WEEKLY ROUTINE
Three evenings, three modes
Explain
Wednesday
- Lecture review
- Discussion worksheet
- Solution & correction
- Homework
Build
Sunday
- Plan & write tests
- Implementation I
- Implementation II
- Debug & work log
COURSE MATERIALS
Primary sources
16-WEEK PLAN
Learn, explain, build
Adapted schedule: the material and task sequence follow CS 168 Spring 2025; the dates below are a personal study calendar for Aug.–Nov. 2026, not official Berkeley deadlines.
| Week | Lectures & reading | Discussion | Homework | Programming project | Done |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W1Internet foundationsAug. 3–9 | L1 · Layers of the Internet L2 · Design Principles Calendar & materials |
D1Intro IWorksheet → solve → correct | — |
P1A · Basic Traceroute — setup & packet parsing |
|
| CheckpointExplain layering and end-to-end design without notes. | |||||
| W2Links and routingAug. 10–16 | L3 · Links L4 · Routing Principles Calendar & materials |
D2Intro IIWorksheet → solve → correct | — |
P1A · ICMP probes, tests, and completion |
|
| CheckpointP1A complete; trace and explain one real route. | |||||
| W3Distance vectorAug. 17–23 | L5 · Distance-Vector L6 · Distance-Vector, continued Calendar & materials |
D3Routing IWorksheet → solve → correct | HW1 · Architecture — start |
P1B · Error handling & adversarial tests |
|
| CheckpointP1B complete; recognize count-to-infinity failures. | |||||
| W4Link state and routersAug. 24–30 | L7 · Link-State & Addressing L8 · Routers Calendar & materials |
D4Routing IIWorksheet → solve → correct | HW1 · Architecture — complete |
P2 · Read spec, design state, write first tests |
|
| CheckpointDerive DV and LS behavior on a small topology. | |||||
| W5Interdomain routingAug. 31–Sep. 6 | L9 · BGP I L10 · BGP II Calendar & materials |
D5BGPWorksheet → solve → correct | HW2 · Routing — start |
P2 · Stages 1–5 |
|
| CheckpointExplain policy routing and route selection. | |||||
| W6Reliable transportSep. 7–13 | L11 · TCP I L12 · TCP II Calendar & materials |
D6TCPWorksheet → solve → correct | HW2 · Routing — implement & verify |
P2 · Stages 6–10, regression tests, completion |
|
| CheckpointP2 complete; debug a poisoned-reverse scenario. | |||||
| W7Congestion controlSep. 14–20 | L13 · Congestion Control I L14 · Congestion Control II Calendar & materials |
D7Congestion ControlWorksheet → solve → correct | HW2 complete · HW3 Transport start |
P3A · Read spec, design sender/receiver |
|
| CheckpointSketch TCP state and congestion-window evolution. | |||||
| W8DNS and transport reviewSep. 21–27 | L15 · Congestion Control, continued L16 · DNS Calendar & materials |
D8DNS, HTTP, Ethernet & STPWorksheet → solve → correct | HW3 · Transport — implement & verify |
P3A · Core transport, tests, completion |
|
| CheckpointP3A complete; resolve a DNS name step by step. | |||||
| W9HTTP and EthernetSep. 28–Oct. 4 | L17 · HTTP L18 · Ethernet & STP Calendar & materials |
D9ARP, DHCP & NATWorksheet → solve → correct | HW3 · Transport — complete |
P3B · Reliability edge cases & test plan |
|
| CheckpointExplain browser-to-server delivery across every layer. | |||||
| W10End-to-end deliveryOct. 5–11 | L19 · ARP, DHCP, NAT & TLS L20 · End-to-End, continued Calendar & materials |
D10Datacenters & SDNWorksheet → solve → correct | HW4 · Applications & End-to-End — start |
P3B · Complete implementation and regression tests |
|
| CheckpointP3B complete; annotate one encrypted web request. | |||||
| W11Datacenter networksOct. 12–18 | L21 · Datacenter Topology L22 · Datacenter Routing Calendar & materials |
D11Host NetworkingWorksheet → solve → correct | HW4 complete · HW5 Datacenters start |
Project retrospective · clean code & README |
|
| CheckpointCompare Clos routing with Internet routing. | |||||
| W12SDN and multicastOct. 19–25 | L23 · SDN & Host Networking L24 · Multicast Calendar & materials |
D12Multicast & CollectivesWorksheet → solve → correct | HW5 · Datacenters — complete |
Re-run P1–P3 tests; record unresolved questions |
|
| CheckpointAll 12 discussions completed and corrected. | |||||
| W13Collectives and wirelessOct. 26–Nov. 1 | L25 · Collectives L26 · Wireless Calendar & materials |
ReviewRedo D1–D6 without notesWorksheet → solve → correct | HW6 · Special Topics — start |
Project polish · diagrams and technical write-ups |
|
| CheckpointTeach one routing and one transport concept aloud. | |||||
| W14Cellular and completionNov. 2–8 | L27 · Cellular Lecture synthesis Calendar & materials |
ReviewRedo D7–D12 without notesWorksheet → solve → correct | HW6 · Special Topics — complete |
Catch-up buffer · no unfinished required tests |
|
| CheckpointAll lectures, discussions, homework, and projects done. | |||||
| W15Full-stack reviewNov. 9–15 | Routing synthesis Transport & application synthesis Calendar & materials |
MockTimed mixed problem setWorksheet → solve → correct | Error log · redo every missed problem |
Regression suite · inspect code quality |
|
| CheckpointComplete a closed-book network walkthrough. | |||||
| W16Final synthesisNov. 16–22 | Build the network concept map Write the final course summary Calendar & materials |
OralExplain five core mechanismsWorksheet → solve → correct | Archive corrected solutions and error log |
Publish project retrospectives and final notes |
|
| CheckpointProduce a reusable map from link to application. | |||||