CS414 Operating Systems (Spring 2009)

CS414: Operating Systems (Spring 2009)

Tu & Th 12:30 pm, Olsson 120

Course Information

Text

Operating System Concepts (8th Edition), by Silverschatz, Galvin, and Gagne; Addison Wesley, 2009.

A lot of material, including the slides and online chapters, are available on the web: OS-Books.

Objectives

This course covers the principles and practice of operating systems. We will develop a basic understanding of key concepts in OS, and how the computer architecture and programming languages interact with OS to manage concurrent activities. To achieve that, we will discuss some of the major components of OS - process, synchronization, scheduling, deadlocks, memory management, virtual memory, and file system, with a few advanced topics (if time permits).

Grading

The course grade will be based on class participation, quizzes, exams, and homeworks. You may expect to have several quizzes in class. There will be two in-class exams during the semester and the final exam. The weights of exams and homeworks on the final grade will be

  • In-class Exams 40%
  • Homeworks, Quizzes, and Class participation 30%
  • Final Exam 30%

    Homeworks

    Homeworks are due the date specified. Any assignment handed in late will be marked off 20% per day. No homeworks will be accepted after 3 days from the due date. Clearly exceptions can be made to this rule when an emergency occurs. If possible, all such requests should be made in advance. Note that you will have to do the work anyway since it will be essential to the next step of the development. In short, start assignments early.

    Tests and Quizzes

    Everything discussed in class will be considered to be fair game. Not all the concepts I describe are covered in the text. It is your responsiblity to make sure that you stay up-to-date on what we discuss during class.

    Groups

    You are required to form a group, consisting of 3 students, for discussion/collaboration for your homeworks and quizzes. Send an e-mail to the TA regarding your group request by January 24th. It should contain the full names and e-mail addresses of the group members.

    Honor System

    The course will be conducted according to the UVA honor system. Homeworks and exams are to be completed by the individual. I expect a signed honor pledge on all homework, quizzes, and exams; more importantly, I expect you to adhere to the intent of the pledge. You should feel free to discuss general concepts with your fellow students. If you don't understand the concepts, you can always come and talk to me or the TA. However, any explicit work on an assignment or exam should be your own. If you are in doubt about some help you have received on a particular assignment, just make a note of it on the material you turn in. Violation of the honor pledge, when made, is grounds for course failure or worse. All exams and quizzes are closed-book.

    Date Topic / Exam
    Jan 15 Introduction
    OS Structure
    Process Management
    Threads
    Synchronization
    Semaphores and Monitors
    Feb 26 Exam
    Semaphore Implementation
    March 3 Spring Break
    Scheduling
    Deadlocks
    Memory Management
    April 16 Exam
    File Systems
    Security
    May 2 Final Exam

    Reading

  • Week of Jan. 17: Chs.1 and 2