DISTRIBUTED SYSTEMS – CS 04.394.01, Fall 2009

Instructor: Dr. Joel Crichlow

 

Office:             Computer Science Department, Robinson

Phone:            256-4500 ext. 3278

Email:             crichlow@rowan.edu

Website:          elvis.rowan.edu/~crichlow

Office Hours: Monday and Tuesday 11.00am-12.00noon

                       Thursday 12.00noon-1.00pm

                       Or by Appointment        

 

Class meeting times:

             Monday and Wednesday: 12.15 – 1.30pm, Education 2096.

 

Prerequisite: Computer Organization – CS 06.205 and Data Structures and Algorithms – CS 04.222 or (ECE 09.242 and CS 04.255)

 

Objective

A distributed system is a set of interconnected, autonomous computers that cooperatively solve large, single problems or facilitate parallel execution of separate, but possibly related tasks.

At the end of the course students should have gained an understanding of what distributed systems are, and what are the issues and challenges involved in their design and implementation.

            Students should also have acquired the skills necessary to 

(a)       Make recommendations on the acquisition of distributed system tools and applications, and

(b)       Participate in project teams involved in distributed system design and development.

 

Required Text:

Crichlow, Distributed Systems – Computing over Networks, Prentice Hall India, 2009.

 

Course Outline

Introduction: The Computer Network, Distributed System Services, Issues, User-System Interface.

Architecture for Distributed Systems: Software architecture, Network architecture.                   

Managing Distributed Resources: Naming and addressing, Sharing, Availability and reliability, Replication, Privacy and security.              

Accessing Distributed Resources: Communication, Concurrency, Time, Failure, Transactions.                            

Major Application Areas for Distributed Systems: Distributed File systems, Distributed Database Systems, Distributed Real time Systems, Distributed Multimedia Systems, Distributed Operating Systems.           

 

Grading:

Assignments: 30%

Tests: 40%

Final: 30%

 

Assignments may be projects or written/oral homework. If you miss a class in which work is assigned, you are still responsible for handing in the work by the due date. Late submissions will be penalized at the rate of 25% points for the first late day, followed by 10% points for each subsequent late day, including weekend days.

 

Important dates

                                 Tuesday 9/8

                                                   Last day to drop/add

                                 Tuesday 10/20

                                                   Last day to withdraw (with Professor’s signature)

                                 12/15-12/19

                                                   Finals Week

 

Student Accommodation Policy

Your academic success is important. If you have a documented disability that may have an impact upon your work in this class, please contact me. Students must provide documentation of their disability to the Academic Success Center in order to receive official University services and accommodations. The Academic Success Center can be reached at 856-256-4234.

The Center is located on the 3rd floor of Savitz Hall. The staff is available to answer questions regarding accommodations or assist you in your pursuit of accommodations. We look forward to working with you to meet your learning goals.

 

 

Other Policies

Be sure that you are aware of and that you read the following policies: attendance, student behavior, academic integrity, and disabilities.  All policies are located in the provost web site (www.rowan.edu/provost/policies) as well as in the Student Handbook.