Before Recitation

Read Chapter 2 of Dave Clark's book "Designing an Internet". Note that this chapter uses the term router where we will often use switch. (Routers and switches are technically different; in 6.1800, we don't worry about the differences.)

Questions for Recitation

Before you come to this recitation, you'll submit a brief response to the following questions on Canvas (really—we don't need more than a sentence or so for each question). Your answers to these questions should be in your own words, not direct quotations from the paper.

• The chapter makes reference to the "narrow waist" of the Internet. What does the narrow waist mean?
• Why do we need a narrow waist? (Or: do we need a narrow waist?)
• How does the idea of the narrow waist relate to the layered model of networks?

As always, there are multiple correct answers for each of these questions. For the last question especially, make an educated guess! It's okay if you don't know how this actually works yet.

During Recitation

We expect you to be engaged and participate in recitation, and there are many ways to do that! Check out our participation FAQ for more information.

After Recitation