Syllabus

Computer Systems discusses computers as an integrated whole, including: hardware resources} (e.g., CPU cores, CPU cache, memory management unit (MMU), RAM); the operating system; and systems languages (assembly language, C (the low-level high-level language), POSIX threads, the shell (the original UNIX scripting language), and Python (the de facto scripting language of today)). This course will review the topics above (but including only an abridged "reading knowledge" of assembly). It will then apply this background to a real-world case study of importance today: Docker-style containers, the Cloud, and orchestration frameworks for clusters of servers.

NOTE: The CCIS faculty has voted for a strict cheating policy. Please ask, if you're not sure what's allowed.

Reading list: This list will be updated as we progress in the semester. Please check back regularly for the assigned readings for the quiz.

Week	Topics	Chapter/Reading/Quiz
Jan. 11	C/pointers/system calls, and models of linking HW0 due 01.11-01.txt, 01.11-02.pdf, 01.11-03.txt	class lecture, xv6:syscall.c, xv6:sysproc The UNIX Time-Sharing System
Jan. 18	University holiday: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday, no class.
Jan. 25	UNIX shell, process startup, file descriptors, and environment vars., I/O re-direction	Ch. 4--6, Ch. 2 (code), Ch. 5 (code); xv6: file.c, sysfile.c, pipe.c, proc.[ch]
Feb. 1	Virtual Memory, clock algo.; Cache/MMU/TLB 02.01-01.txt, 02.01-02.txt, 02.01-03.txt	class lecture; Ch. 13--15, Ch. 17--19, xv6: memlayout.h, exec.c, kalloc.c, mmu.h, and vm.c Required reading: Virtual memory, processes, and sharing in multics Optional suggested reading: What Every Programmer Should Know About Memory
Feb. 11	POSIX Threads, Concurrency; a first look at Locks 02.11.txt 02.12.txt 02.15.txt	Ch. 28--31, xv6:spinlock.c Required readings: Solution of a Problem in Concurrent Programming Control Fuss, Futexes and Furwocks: Fast Userlevel Locking in Linux Optional readings: How to read a paper Experience with Processes and Monitors in Mesa Futexes are tricky
Feb. 15	University holiday -- Presidents' Day, no class.
Feb. 22	ELF dynamic libs: file/prog./sect. hdrs., GOT, PLT static/dynamic linking	class lecture
Feb. 29	Midterm Exam Intro. to threads	Ch. 26--27
Mar. 7	Spring break -- no class.
Mar. 14	Scheduling	get/setcontext, and xv6:swtch.S xv6:fs.c Ch. 7, Ch. 8, Ch. 10 Readings: Scheduling Techniques for Concurrent Systems Lottery Scheduling: Flexible Proportional-Share Resource Management FlexSC: Flexible System Call Scheduling with Exception-Less System Calls
Mar. 21	Intro to Filesystem	Ch. 37 - 43 A Fast File System for UNIX The Design and Implementation of a Log-Structured File System
Mar. 28	Filesystem contd.; Python: high-level scripting	class lecture, xv6:fs.c,file.c,sysfile.c,exec.c
Apr. 4	Virtual Machines	class lecture
Apr. 11	Linux Containers, Docker, Cloud, Orchestration Cloud, orchestration (cont.);	class lecture ostep.org: App B Xen and the Art of Virtualization Cellular Disco: resource management using virtual clusters on shared-memory multiprocessors Memory Resource Management in VMware ESX Server
Apr. 18	University holiday: Patriots' Day, no class.
Apr. 25	Final Projects Due	Project Presentations