CLCS 635 is a 3-credit graduate course at the University of Maryland Global Campus and a required core course in the MS in Cloud Computing Systems. Its prerequisites are CLCS 605 and CLCS 615.
UMGC describes it as an exploration of the networking concepts and practices essential for designing, deploying and managing cloud environments.
Topics include network design, configuration and optimization, network architecture, virtualisation, software-defined networking (SDN), virtual private networks (VPNs), load balancing, network security and hybrid cloud integration, with hands-on exercises in configuring and managing cloud networks.
Networking is where many cloud projects fail quietly: overlapping address ranges, open ports and unplanned connectivity. The course asks you to design networks that are scalable, resilient and secure from the start. UMGC notes that students may receive credit for only one of CLCS 635 or CCS 625.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) |
| Course code | CLCS 635 |
| Level and credits | Graduate, 3 credits |
| Prerequisites | CLCS 605 and CLCS 615 |
| Credit overlap | Credit for only one of CLCS 635 or CCS 625 |
| Typical work | Network configuration labs, design documents, troubleshooting tasks |
What CLCS 635 Covers
| Topic | In plain language |
|---|---|
| Network design and architecture | Laying out virtual networks, subnets and routes |
| Virtualisation and SDN | Networks defined and controlled by software rather than physical cabling |
| VPNs | Encrypted connections between sites, users and the cloud |
| Load balancing | Spreading traffic across servers for performance and resilience |
| Network security | Firewalls, security groups and segmentation |
| Hybrid integration | Connecting on-premises networks to cloud networks |
| Performance and optimization | Reducing latency and avoiding bottlenecks |
Key Concepts Explained
Planning Address Space
Each cloud virtual network uses a private IP range written in CIDR notation. Plan it so it does not overlap with on-premises or other cloud networks you may connect later.
Example: A company assigns 10.20.0.0/16 to its cloud network, giving 65,536 addresses. It divides this into /24 subnets of 256 addresses each: 10.20.1.0/24 for public web servers, 10.20.2.0/24 for application servers and 10.20.3.0/24 for databases. Its office already uses 10.10.0.0/16, so a later VPN connection will not clash. (Providers reserve a few addresses in each subnet, so slightly fewer are usable.)
Segmentation and Security Groups
Placing tiers in separate subnets lets you control traffic between them. Only the load balancer accepts internet traffic; application servers accept traffic only from the load balancer; databases accept traffic only from application servers.
Load Balancing and Resilience
A load balancer distributes requests across healthy servers, often in different availability zones, and stops sending traffic to servers that fail health checks.
Example: Four web servers run across two zones behind a load balancer. One zone suffers an outage. Health checks fail for its two servers, and the load balancer routes all traffic to the remaining two while autoscaling launches replacements, so users see slower responses at worst rather than an outage.
Connecting Hybrid Networks
Site-to-site VPNs run encrypted tunnels over the internet and are quick to set up. Dedicated private connections offered by providers give more consistent performance for heavy or sensitive traffic, at higher cost.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
| Assignment type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Configuration lab | Practical network setup | Record each step and verify connectivity with tests |
| Network design document | Architecture and justification | Diagram, address plan, security rules and rationale |
| Troubleshooting task | Diagnostic reasoning | Work layer by layer: routes, rules, name resolution |
| Hybrid connectivity analysis | Comparing options | Weigh cost, performance, security and setup time |
Troubleshooting Cloud Connectivity
Connectivity problems are the most common source of frustration in CLCS 635 labs. Working through the same order every time saves hours:
- Addressing: is the resource in the subnet you expect, with the IP you expect?
- Routing: does the subnet's route table send traffic where it needs to go, including to internet or VPN gateways?
- Filtering: do security groups and network access rules allow the traffic in both directions where required?
- Name resolution: does the hostname resolve to the right address?
- The service itself: is the application listening on the expected port?
Recording which check failed, and how you fixed it, also makes a strong troubleshooting write-up.
Where Students Get Stuck
- Overlapping CIDR ranges. Plan addresses for future connections before building.
- Rules that are too open. Allowing all traffic "to make it work" is poor practice; open only what is needed.
- Missing routes. Many connectivity problems come from route tables, not firewalls.
- Diagrams without explanation. Explain why each component is there.
Study Tips for CLCS 635
- Practice subnetting by hand until you can split a range quickly.
- Draw every lab network before building it.
- Keep a troubleshooting checklist and use it in labs and written tasks.
How We Help with CLCS 635
Send the lab or design brief, rubric and any error output. A cloud networking specialist can explain concepts, prepare a model design document or troubleshooting walkthrough for reference, or review your work. We never log in to your course or cloud accounts.
GradeEssays is independent of the University of Maryland Global Campus. Our work is a study aid; you complete labs and submit your own work under UMGC's academic integrity policy. Orders include free revisions within the scope of your original request.
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Frequently Asked Questions
UMGC lists CLCS 605 and CLCS 615.
Yes. UMGC lists it among the required core courses in the MS in Cloud Computing Systems.
UMGC names network design, architecture, virtualisation, SDN, VPNs, load balancing, network security and hybrid cloud integration, among others.
Basic knowledge of IP addressing and routing helps a great deal; revise subnetting before the course if it is rusty.
An approach where network behavior is controlled centrally by software, which is how cloud virtual networks are managed.
No. We explain concepts and prepare models; you configure your own labs.