iLab2 (6 SWS/ 10 ECTS)

How can I apply?

The places will be allocated using the faculty wide matching system. More information can be found on the following pages:

• https://www.in.tum.de/en/in/current-students/modules-and-courses/practical-courses-and-seminar-courses/
• https://docmatching.in.tum.de

You can find a recording from the iLab1+2 information event in summer term 2017 here.

Do I need to have done the iLab 1 before doing the iLab 2?

No.

The difference between the two iLabs is only the content. In the iLab 1 participants learn about the most important protocols and mechanisms used in the Internet. The content of the iLab 2 is only partly fixed and changes each semester according to the preferences of the participating students. Some topics are pre-selected by us while others will be included based on a course-wide voting. At the end of the course you will learn how to prepare good instruction material yourself. A skill which will likely be of high value later in your work life.

Who is the intended audience?

The intended audience of this course are master students or bachelor students with deeper interest and background in computer networks.
Basic knowledge in networking is required on a theoretical level (e.g. lecture "Grundlagen: Rechnernetze und Verteilte Systeme"). Some practical experience (e.g. iLab1 or own practical experience) is helpful but not required. We will provide you with some (optional) introductory exercises. Those can help you to get started if you lack practical experience, and they can be done before the course starts.

If you already know how the Internet works and you want to learn about selected networking concepts more in depth ilab² is the right course for you.
Otherwise taking the iLab1 first is advisable.

What do I learn?

When finishing the course, you will have a deep insight into the covered topics. You can find a list of the topics here.

You will get a good overview in the topics handled at our chair and therefore be well prepared to do a thesis or a student assistant work at our chair later.

As the entire course is held in English you can train and improve your language skills.

How is the workflow?

The course consists of a number of different exercises.
For an exercise you will normally have one week; for longer exercises two weeks will be scheduled.

The practical exercises are performed in teams of two students.
You should try to find a team partner that is on a similar level concerning the knowledge about network backgrounds as well as the Linux operating system.

An exercise consists of three parts:

• A weekly meeting where you get presented some theoretical background for the upcoming exercise.
• A so-called "prelab" where you make yourself familiar with the theoretical backgrounds of the current exercise.
  This is done by each student individually and not in the team.
  The prelab has to be completed before the practical performance of the exercise.
• The practical exercise which is called "lab".
  As stated above this part is done in your two-people team.
  You will have your lab environment for one whole day of the week on which you can decide freely when to be in the lab and perform your practical exercise together.
  This gives you the freedom to attend lectures in between, etc.

The course is entirely held in English.
You are expected to answer the questions in English as well.
This is a good example to exercise and improve your language skills!

In contrast to many other practical exercises the course is entirely based on a web system.
You will have access to the respective website from every PC that is connected to the Internet.
This allows you to freely choose your timeslots to perform the prelab or do final adjustments to the answers.

When does the course start?

All the dates are in TUMonline, the KickOff is usually in the first week of the semester.

In the kickoff the teams will be formed, timeslot preferences will be collected and keycards will be destributed. Thus attendance in this meeting is compulsory.