Communications Networks and Services

This course describes the principles of software networks, namely network function virtualization and software defined networking. To achieve this objective, the student must acquire specific knowledge and capacities: - Understand the technological and market context triggering the need of network virtualization technologies. - Know and understand the principal virtualization technologies, including virtual machines and containers. - Understand the basics of programmable data planes. - Know the principal architecture of network function virtualization. - Implement, deploy and configure in the lab a realistic network service on a virtualization platform.

CB1: Students have demonstrated possession and understanding of knowledge in an area of study that builds on the foundation of general secondary education, and is usually at a level that, while relying on advanced textbooks, also includes some aspects that involve knowledge from the cutting edge of their field of study. CB2: Students are able to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional manner and possess the competences usually demonstrated through the development and defence of arguments and problem solving within their field of study. RA1: To acquire the knowledge and understanding of the general basic fundamentals of engineering, as well as, in particular, of multimedia communications networks and services, audio and video signal processing, room acoustic control, distributed multimedia systems and interactive multimedia applications specific to Sound and Image Engineering within the telecommunications family. RA5: Be competent to apply the knowledge acquired to solve problems and design audiovisual networks and services, to configure their devices, as well as to deploy adaptive, personal audiovisual applications and services on them, bringing network intelligence to the value for the user, maximising the potential of multimedia networks and services in the different social and economic spheres, knowing the environmental, commercial and industrial implications of the practice of engineering in accordance with professional ethics.

The programme is divided into four parts: FIRST PART (Introduction): - Presentation and introduction of the course. - Introduction to Software Networks. SECOND PART (Virtualization): - Introduction to virtualization. - Hypervisors. - Virtual machines. - Containers. - Hardware support to virtualization. THIRD PART (Network Function Virtualization): - Introduction and motivation. - NFV architecture. - Software architecture. FOURTH PART (Software defined networks): - Introduction to SDN. - SDN architecture and OpenFlow basics. - OpenFlow and Integration with NFV.

The teaching methodology includes: (1) Theoretical classes. Students will be provided with the learning objectives to be covered in which lecture and the specific material to prepare it (prior to the actual class). In these classes, the concepts related to the learning objectives are revised and, with the participation of the students, the acquired knowledge will be checked and strengthened interactively (POs a, j). (2) Laboratory classes in computer rooms, where students will configure network virtualization tools.