One area of computer science that is not adequately addressed in most curricula is the area of data communications and computer networks. In most cases, there are no laboratories to support this type of course. The purpose of this project is to establish an undergraduate course in data communications and computer networks, and to develop an undergraduate data communications laboratory to support instruction in this area. The intent is to provide a laboratory devoted exclusively to providing computer science and computer engineering students with exposure to the hardware and software components of data communications and computer networks. The laboratory equipment would consist of ten IBM compatible microcomputers specifically equipped so as to provide the capability to rapidly reconfigure the computers into a variety of telecommunications topologies. A series of experiments would be developed with the goal of giving the student hands-on experience with data communications. In these experiments, the students would develop an understanding of data communications hardware, and write data communications software.
