CS270 -- Operating Your Systems Topically in an Advanced
Way
Coordinates
- Where: Phelps 1401
- When: 11:00 AM to 12:50 PM, Mon. and Wed.
- Why: Because operating systems are important
CS270 Links of Meaning
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 and Class Participation
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
papers. Because the format for the discussions is somewhat unusual, class
participation will not be graded during the first two weeks of the course to
permit a smooth and pleasant acclamation to the lofty new climes of graduate
operating systems.
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 project component
that will give you the
opportunity to work in teams on an adventure that will hopefully help to
elucidate some of the concepts embodied in the readings and discussions.
Grading Summary
In summary, the grades will be assigned as follows:
- 50% class participation
- 50% course project