Principles of Operating Systems

Instructor

Dr. Sanzheng Qiao
ITC246, ext. 27234, qiao@mcmaster.ca

Office Hours

Design interviews, a week before each assignment is due.

Course Assistance

J. Han, hanj8@mcmaster.ca

Schedule

Term I, 2007-2008
Tu Th Fr 14:30-15:20, BSB/121

Calendar Description

Concepts of operating systems; process coordination, memory management, file systems; introduction to distributed systems and computer networks. Involves group projects.

Major topics

Concepts, design and implementation principles of modern operating systems;

Operating system structures;

Processes, threads, and process synchronization;

Process management and scheduling;

Memory management, virtual memory;

File systems;

Network;

Distributed systems.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course students will be able to understand the design and implementation principles of modern operating systems

have a good knowledge of process/thread synchronization, file system, memory management, network protocols, and layering structure

Format

Three lectures a week. Group project.

Evaluation scheme

Programming project (team) 18% (Three Nachos assignments)
Midterm Exam 17%
Final Exam 65%

Calculator

Only the McMaster Standard calculator will be permitted in tests and examinations. This is available at the McMaster Bookstore.

Academic Dishonesty

You are expected to exhibit honesty and use ethical behaviour in all aspects of the learning process. Academic credentials you earn are rooted in principles of honesty and academic integrity.

Acamedic dishonesty is to knowingly act or fail to act in a way that results or could result in unearned academic credit or advantage. This behaviour can result in serious consequences, e.g. the grade of zero on an assignment, loss of credit with a notation on the transcript (notation reads: "Grade of F assigned for academic dishonesty"), and/or suspension or expulsion from the university.

It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty. For information on the various types academic dishoesty please refer to the Academic Integrity Policy, located at
httP://www.mcmaster.ca/academicintegrity

The following illustrates only three forms of academic dishonesty:

Plagiarism, e.g. the submission if work that is not one's own or for which other credits has been obtained.
Improper collaboration in group work.
Copying or using unauthorized aids in tests and examinations.

In case of discrepancy between the online and handout version of the course outline, the handout version shall be taken as correct.

Faculty Notices

"The Faculty of Engineering is concerned with ensuring an environment that is free of all discrimination. If there is a problem, individuals are reminded that they should contact the Department Chair, the Sexual Harrassment Officer or the Human Rights Consultant, as the problem occurs."

Reading Materials

Nachos home page.

Appendix A Unix BSD (pdf)

Appendix B The Mach System (pdf)

Appendix D The Nachos System (pdf)

Text Book

A. Silberschatz, P.B. Galvin, and G. Gagne. Operating System Concepts, 7th edition. John Wiley and Sons. 2005.
ISBN 0-471-69466-5

Course Materials

Introduction (ps, pdf).
Overview of Nachos (ps, pdf).
Reading: OSC Chapters 1 and 2
Appendices A and D.

Processes (ps, pdf).
Reading: OSC Sections 3.1--3.4.

Threads (ps, pdf).
Reading: OSC Sections 4.1--4.4
Roadmap 1: Threads and Context Switch

Synchronization (ps, pdf).
Reading: OSC Sections 6.1--6.7, 7.1--7.8
Roadmap 2: Synchronization
Roadmap 3: Interrupts

Memory (ps, pdf).
Reading: OSC Sections 8.1--8.8, 9.1--9.6, 9.9
Roadmap 4: User Program
Roadmap 6: Virtual Memory

Scheduling (ps, pdf).
Reading: OSC Sections 5.1--5.3

Network (ps, pdf).
Reading: OSC Sections 3.4--3.6, 16.1--16.6
Roadmap 8: Network

File System (ps, pdf).
Reading: OSC Sections 10.1--10.4, 11.1--11.6, Roadmap 7: File System

Tutorials

Basic C++ (by Ni Jin, January 1999)
Makefiles (by Ni Jin, January 1999)
Berkeley Sockets

NACHOS Road Maps

Threads and Context Switch (3.4, 4.02)
Synchronization (3.4, 4.02)
Interrupts (3.4, 4.02)
User Program (3.4, 4.02)
Console (3.4, 4.02)
Virtual Memory (3.4, 4.02)
File System (3.4, 4.02)
Network (3.4, 4.02)

Assignments

Nachos Project Mechanics
Assignment 1: Threads (pdf). Due: October 9, Tuesday, 11:59 pm.
Assignment 2: TLB and Virtual Memory (pdf). Due: November 6, Tuesday, 11:59 pm.
Assignment 3: File System (pdf). Due: November 27, Tuesday, 11:59 pm.

Midterm

October 19, Friday, 14:30--15:20, BSB121
Midterm office hours: October 18, Thursday, 15:30--16:30.

2007-2008 midterm (pdf)

Final

December 14, Friday, 12:30-14:30, IWC 1 (5). Final exam office hour: December 13, Thursday, 15:00-16:00.

2007-2008 final (pdf)

The deferred final examination may be oral.

Marks

Back to S. Qiao's home page