Module: Network Stack Implementation

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Network Stack Implementation
Module Code	EEN1004 (ITS: EE562)
Faculty	Engineering & Computing	School	Electronic Engineering
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	7.5

Description

The aim of the module is to introduce students to the software embedded in network devices such as routers to implement network protocols. Where possible, open source implementations of protocols used in live networks will be studied. Both the data plane and the control plane will be studied, including data-link layer protocols, network layer protocols and transport layer protocols. Optimisation techniques, hardware acceleration and other approaches to achieving “wire speed” operation will be investigated. Protocols appropriate to the Internet of Things, to data centres, and to the future Internet will be considered.

Learning Outcomes

1. Classify network functionality as belonging to the control plane and the data plane respectively
2. Explain how a typical operating system processes packets from arrival from an interface card to forwarding to user space
3. Describe the principles involved in implementing a network stack in software
4. Decompose the software of “middleboxes” such as network routers into a software architecture
5. Evaluate the trade-offs involved in hardware versus software implementation of packet processing functions
6. Demonstrate advanced theoretical knowledge of networking
7. Add functionality to an open-source network stack
8. Adapt existing software to meet new networking requirements

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	36	No Description
Assignment Completion	44	No Description
Independent Study	108	No Description
Total Workload: 188

Section Breakdown
CRN	20125	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	25%	Examination Weight	75%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Martin Collier	Module Teacher	Gabriel Muntean

Section Breakdown
CRN	21156	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	25%	Examination Weight	75%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Martin Collier	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Research Paper	An evaluation of one or more aspects of network stack implementation in the format of a research paper.	25%	Once per semester
Formal Examination	End-of-Semester Final Examination	75%	End-of-Semester

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Low Level Issues
Bridging overview, Ethernet, 6LoWPAN, Wi-fi, Data rates, hardware vs. software Router architecture, network device drivers, buffer management.

Network Layer
route pinning and datagram routing IPv4, IPv6, firewalling and NAT.

Transport Layer
Review of sockets, TCP protocol description Implementation of TCP Multi-homing, multi-path, congestion

Control Plane
Control Plane vs. Data Plane Internet routing protocols (RIP, OSPF, BGP). Router configuration and network administration. Why is signalling needed? End-to-end signalling SDN and OpenFlow QoS and resource reservation

Advanced Packet Forwarding
Deep packet probes, policy-based routing, Hardware acceleration, network processors

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Christian Benvenuti: 2006, Understanding Linux Network Internals, 1st ed., O'Reilly Media, Inc., 0596002556
Rami Rosen: 2014, Linux Kernel Networking: Implementation and Theory, 1st ed., 9781430261964

Articles:
None

Other Resources

1: Blog entry, linux networking stack from the ground up,
414551: 1, Blog entry, Monitoring and Tuning the Linux Networking Stack: Receiving Data,
https://blog.packagecloud.io/eng/2016/06/22/monitoring-tuning-linux-networking-stack-receiving-data/: 414552, 1, Blog entry, Understanding TCP/IP Network Stack & Writing Network Apps
https://www.cubrid.org/blog/3826497: 414553, 1, Article, Dan Siemon, 2013, Queueing in the Linux Network Stack
https://www.coverfire.com/articles/queueing-in-the-linux-network-stack/: 414554, 1, Article, Arnout Vandecappelle, Kernel Flow
The Linux Foundation: https://wiki.linuxfoundation.org/networking/kernel_flow, 414555, 1, Slide Show, Thomas Graf, 0
Red Hat: http://www.slideshare.net/ThomasGraf5/devconf-2014-kernel-networking-walkthrough,