Introduces the basic concepts underlying computer operating systems and computer networks and provides hands-on experience with their implementation. Covers the basic structure of an operating system: application interfaces, processes, threads, synchronization, interprocess communication, processor allocation, deadlocks, memory management, file systems, and input/output control. Also introduces network architectures, network topologies, network protocols, layering concepts (for example, ISO/OSI, TCP/IP reference models), communication paradigms (point-to-point vs. multicast/broadcast, connectionless vs. connection oriented), and networking API's (sockets). Uses examples from many real operating systems and networks (UNIX, MS-DOS, Windows, TCP/IP, Ethernet, ATM, and token rings) to reinforce concepts.

The official prerequisite for this course is CS 2600. This course will be project-centric, and all students will complete in projects in groups of two (or possibly three, if necessary). Thus, to succeed in this course, you must be able to work in a group. I will allow you to form your own groups, and the course staff will serve as a matching service if necessary. As you are free to choose your partner(s), I will not be sympathetic to complaints at the end of the semester about how your group-mates did not do any work.

It is also highly recommended that you become familiar with using a debugger, as this will greatly aid you in completing the projects. At a high level, you should be motivated, eager to learn, willing to work hard, and make up, on your own, any prerequisite deficiencies you may have.

This is a junior-level course; I will not mandate you to come to class (you are still responsible for all the material covered in class). The class projects are a major part of this course, and please be aware that you will be working in groups of two. Lastly, note that 5% of your grade is based upon class participation. This is to encourage you to voice your ideas in class and to post them to the forum. Minimally, I must know your name by the end of the term in order for you to get any points for class participation.

Below is a rough schedule for the lectures in CS3600. This is subject to change; please check back often.

 

Lecture	Topic and slides	Reading	Due Date(s)
01  09/07 W	Overview	OS §1.1–1.5
02  09/08 R	OS structures	OS §2.1–2.7
03  09/12 M	Processes	OS §3.1–3-3
04  09/14 W	Processes (cont.), C Primer	OS §3.1–3-3
05  09/15 R	Communication	OS §3.4–3.6
06  09/19 M	Threads	OS §4.1–4.4	Hw. 1
07  09/21 W	Scheduling	OS §5.1–5.4
08  09/22 R	Synchronization	OS §6.1–6.5
09  09/26 M	Synchronization (cont.), Deadlocks	OS §6.6–7.7;7.1–7.2	Hw. 2
10  09/28 W	Memory management	OS §8.1–8.3	Proj. 1 Milestone
11  09/29 R	Paging	OS §8.4–8.4
12  10/03 M	Paging (cont.)	OS §8.5–8.6	Hw. 3
13  10/05 W	Virtual memory	OS §9.1–9.4	Proj. 1
14  10/06 R	Virtual memory (cont.)	OS §9.5–9.7
—  10/10 M	No class—Columbus Day
15  10/12 W	File systems	OS §12.2–12.7	Hw. 4
16  10/13 R	File systems (cont.)	OS §10.1–10.3
17  10/17 M	File implementation	OS §11.1–11.3
18  10/19 W	File implementation (cont.)	OS §11.4–11.7	Hw. 5, Proj. 2 Milestone 1
19  10/20 R	Guest lecture: Storage management	OS §12.2–12.7
—  10/24 M	Midterm exam
—  10/26 W	No class—Instructor travelling		Proj. 2 Milestone 2
20  10/27 R	Networking overview	NET §1.1–1.5
21  10/31 M	Network architecture	NET §2.1–2.3
22  11/02 W	Guest lecture: Data-link layer	NET §2.4–2.6	Proj. 2
23  11/03 R	Guest lecture: Ethernet / Media access	NET §3.1
24  11/07 M	DNS	NET §3.2	Hw. 6
25  11/09 W	Bridging	NET §4.1
26  11/10 R	Guest lecture: Internet Protocol	NET §4.1–4.2
27  11/14 M	Internet protocol (cont.)	NET §4.3	Hw. 7, Proj. 3 Milestone
28  11/16 W	Routing	NET §5.1
29  11/17 R	Reliable transport	NET §5.2
30  11/21 M	TCP	NET §5.2	Hw. 8, Proj. 3
—  11/23 W	No class—Thanksgiving holiday
—  11/24 R	No class—Thanksgiving holiday
31  11/28 M	Congestion control	NET §6.2	Hw. 9
32  11/30 W	Congestion control (cont.)	NET §6.3–6.4
33  12/01 R	Course review	—
34  12/05 M	Guest lecture: Peer-to-peer	NET §6.5	Hw. 10
35  12/07 W	No class—Instructor travelling		Proj. 4
—  TBA	Final exam

Homework assignment and solutions will be posted here as they become available.

 

Homework 1 is due at the beginning of class on September 19th, 2011.

Homework 2 is due at the beginning of class on September 26th, 2011.

Homework 3 is due at the beginning of class on October 3rd, 2011.

Homework 4 is due at the beginning of class on October 12th, 2011.

Homework 5 is due at the beginning of class on October 19th, 2011.

Homework 6 is due at the beginning of class on November 7th, 2011.

Homework 7 is due at the beginning of class on November 14th, 2011.

Homework 8 is due at the beginning of class on November 21st, 2011.

Homework 9 is due at the beginning of class on November 28th, 2011.

Homework 10 is due at the beginning of class on December 5th, 2011.

Project descriptions will be posted here as they become available.

 

Project 1 is due at 11:59:59pm on October 5th, 2011. The milestone for project 1 is due at 11:59:59pm on September 28th, 2011. No slip days may be used on the milestone deadline.

Project 2 is due at 11:59:59pm on November 2nd, 2011. The first milestone for project 2 is due at 11:59:59pm on October 19th, 2011, and the second milestone is due at 11:59:59pm on October 26th, 2011. No slip days may be used on the milestone deadline.

Project 3 is due at 11:59:59pm on November 21st, 2011 (Be sure read the Implementation Notes). The milestone for project 3 is due at 11:59:59pm on November 14th, 2011. No slip days may be used on the milestone deadline.

Project 4 is due at 11:59:59pm on December 7th, 2011. The milestone for project 4 is due at 11:59:59pm on December 2nd, 2011. No slip days may be used on the milestone deadline.