CS 6210 (Advanced Operating Systems) is a graduate level course that covers
in detail many advanced topics in operating system design and implementation.
It starts with topics such as operating systems structuring, multithreading and
synchronization and then moves on to systems issues in parallel and distributed
computing systems. There is no textbook for this course. Rather, we will read
and discuss a number of important research papers related to these topics. For
each paper that is covered in class , students are
expected to gain a solid understanding of the problem that is addressed by the
paper, and the solution proposed by the authors. Papers listed under
"Required Background" will be assigned for self study.
Students must carefully read the self study papers because the understanding of
their content may be essential for the papers that will be covered in class.
Papers listed under "Optional Readings" are for reference only.
These papers will cover topics that extend or supplement the material in papers
that are covered in class. Students will be expected to have some understanding
of the results in these papers but will not be tested on them.
Prerequisites
CS4210 or equivalent undergraduate OS course.
A good understanding of the concepts in a standard textbook such as
Operating Systems Concepts, Silberschatz and Galvin (or its equivalent)
will be assumed in CS 6210.
Good knowledge of UNIX and C programming.
CS4210's prerequisites or equivalents (such CS 2200).
Grading
6% class participation (breakdown below)
4% Homework
40% projects (10% each)
25% midterm (4th March, 2008)
25% final (30th April, 2008, 11:30 to 2:20)
Participation
Your class participation grade is composed of four main parts:
Regular attendance to and participation in the class lectures. (worth 1%)
An index card with your name, picture and something unique about
yourself (worth 1%)
A summary of one of the papers on the reading list (approximately one
page; sign up on the swiki). Paper summaries are due by the end of the
section in which the paper appears. In other words, if you are covering an
"OS Structures" paper, you should post your summary before the first
lecture on "Communication in Shared Memory Multiprocessor Systems." (worth 2%)
Notes for one class period (sign up on the swiki). These notes are
due a week from the day of the lecture. (worth 2%)
Syllabus
Optional supplementary reference texts include the following: