CS270 -- Operating Your Systems Topically in an Advanced
Way
Coordinates
- Where: Phelps 3526 thereafter.
- When: 9:00 AM to 10:50 AM, Monday and Wednesday
- Why: Because operating systems are important -- really
CS270 Links of Meaning
Adding the Class
If you wish to add this class, and you need an add code from me to do so, you
will need to speak with me after a lecture or during office hours. The main
criterion (aside from classroom space) will be whether you have had an
undergraduate operating systems class or there is sufficient professional
experience in your background (e.g. you "know" Linux). A quick conversation
will be all that is needed to understand whether your level of familiarity
with the basic concepts is sufficient to make this class a rewarding
experience.
Also, I will not be handing out add codes until after we begin meeting for
lectures at the beginning of the class.
Overview
There are three overall pedagogic objectives for this course. The first is
is for you, the student of the first part, develop an understanding of the
structure and design principles inherent in different "successful" operating
systems. Secondly, the course provides an opportunity for you to develop
critical reading and presentation skills (at least with respect to the
discipline of systems research but hopefully in general). Lastly,
the course will furnish you with an research experience that is intended
both to cement the understanding fostered by the previous two objectives, and
to serve as a potential starting point for further research in this area.
Course Reading, Paper Insights, and Class Participation
After the first lectures on the class project, the bulk of the
lecture component for the course will center on discussion of the papers
shown in the reading list according to the schedule
listed there. Your instructor will present some introductory material for
each paper, and then will lead a group discussion by actively engaging you
in the analysis and critique of each work. Participation in this portion of
the course is worth approximately 50% of the final course grade so it is
important to attend each lecture and to come prepared to discuss the specified
paper or papers.
Course Texts
The required reading material for the course can be found on the reading list.
In addition, there are three text books may prove useful, but which are by
no means mandatory. They are
- Maurice J. Bach, "The Design of the Unix Operating System," Prentice-Hall,
1986.
- William Stallings, "Operating Systems Internals and Design Principles",
Fifth edition, Pearson Prentice-Hall, 2004.
- Silberschatz, Galvin, and Gagne, "Operating Systems Concepts," Sixth
edition, Wiley, 2003.
These texts contain background information that can help illuminate some of
the more dense concepts presented in the readings. The specific editions
listed are ones that are currently available, but older additions will
certainly suffice. To repeat, however, these references are optional.
Class Project
The course also includes a final class project
that will give you the
opportunity to
elucidate some of the concepts embodied in the readings and discussions.
On the final day of lecture, you will present and demonstrate your project to
your instructor and the class.
Because of the nature of the project
(see the project description for details), it
will not be possible to schedule demonstrations outside the
demonstration period. Thus it is imperative that you plan to attend both the
during the time period your demonstration is scheduled. While I will assign
(at random) the specific demonstration time slots, all demonstrations will
take place during the last two lecture periods of the quarter. Please be sure
that these days are available in your schedule.
Grading Summary
In summary, the grades will be assigned as follows:
- 50% class participation
- 50% final project