252-0217-00L  Computer Systems

SemesterAutumn Semester 2021
LecturersT. Roscoe, S. Shinde, R. Wattenhofer
Periodicityyearly recurring course
Language of instructionEnglish



Courses

NumberTitleHoursLecturers
252-0217-00 VComputer Systems4 hrs
Mon10:15-12:00CAB G 61 »
Fri10:15-12:00CAB G 61 »
T. Roscoe, S. Shinde, R. Wattenhofer
252-0217-00 UComputer Systems
Groups are selected in myStudies.
2 hrs
Fri14:15-16:00CHN D 42 »
14:15-16:00CHN D 48 »
14:15-16:00ETZ G 91 »
14:15-16:00ETZ H 91 »
14:15-16:00HG D 3.1 »
14:15-16:00HG D 5.3 »
T. Roscoe, S. Shinde, R. Wattenhofer
252-0217-00 AComputer Systems1 hrsT. Roscoe, S. Shinde, R. Wattenhofer

Catalogue data

AbstractThis course is about real computer systems, and the principles on which they are designed and built. We cover both modern OSes and the large-scale distributed systems that power today's online services. We illustrate the ideas with real-world examples, but emphasize common theoretical results, practical tradeoffs, and design principles that apply across many different scales and technologies.
Learning objectiveThe objective of the course is for students to understand the theoretical principles, practical considerations, performance tradeoffs, and engineering techniques on which the software underpinning almost all modern computer systems is based, ranging from single embedded systems-on-chip in mobile phones to large-scale geo-replicated groups of datacenters.

By the end of the course, students should be able to reason about highly complex, real, operational software systems, applying concepts such as hierarchy, modularity, consistency, durability, availability, fault-tolerance, and replication.
ContentThis course subsumes the topics of both "operating systems" and "distributed systems" into a single coherent picture (reflecting the reality that these disciplines are highly converged). The focus is system software: the foundations of modern computer systems from mobile phones to the large-scale geo-replicated data centers on which Internet companies like Amazon, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft are based.

We will cover a range of topics, such as: scheduling, network protocol stacks, multiplexing and demultiplexing, operating system structure, inter-process communication, memory managment, file systems, naming, dataflow, data storage, persistence, and durability, computer systems performance, remove procedure call, consensus and agreement, fault tolerance, physical and logical clocks, virtualization, and blockchains.

The format of the course is a set of about 25 topics, each covered in a lecture. A script will be published online ahead of each lecture, and the latter will consist of an interactive elaboration of the material in the script. There is no book for the course, but we will refer to books and research papers throughout to provide additional background and explanation.
Prerequisites / NoticeWe will assume knowlege of the "Systems Programming" and "Computer Networks" courses (or equivalent), and their prerequisites, and build upon them.

Performance assessment

Performance assessment information (valid until the course unit is held again)
Performance assessment as a semester course
ECTS credits8 credits
ExaminersT. Roscoe, S. Shinde, R. Wattenhofer
Typesession examination
Language of examinationEnglish
RepetitionThe performance assessment is offered every session. Repetition possible without re-enrolling for the course unit.
Mode of examinationwritten 180 minutes
Additional information on mode of examinationCompletion of a learning task awards a bonus of up to 0.25 grade points on the final grade.
The final exam may be computer-based.
Written aidsNone
This information can be updated until the beginning of the semester; information on the examination timetable is binding.

Learning materials

 
Main linkInformation
Only public learning materials are listed.

Groups

252-0217-00 UComputer Systems
GroupsG-02
Fri14:15-16:00CHN D 42 »
G-03
Fri14:15-16:00CHN D 48 »
G-04
Fri14:15-16:00HG D 3.1 »
G-05
Fri14:15-16:00HG D 5.3 »
G-07
Fri14:15-16:00ETZ G 91 »
G-08
Fri14:15-16:00ETZ H 91 »

Restrictions

There are no additional restrictions for the registration.

Offered in

ProgrammeSectionType
Computer Science BachelorMajor: Systems and Software EngineeringOInformation