CSCI 451: Operating Systems

Syllabus

Class Nbr.	1772
Mode of delivery:	on campus
Lectures:	MTW F,   11 - 11:50am   in SWEN 1017
Text:	Operating System Concepts with Java, 7th Edition by A. Silberschatz, P.B. Galvin, G. Gagne (ISBN: 0-471-76907-X)
Online:	JDK™ 8 Documentation
Prerequisites:	CSCI201 Introduction to Programming (Java)
Instructor:	Dr. Sergei Bezrukov		Office:  Swenson 3022		Schedule and Office hours
	(715) 394-8523		sbezruko@uwsuper.edu

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Catalog Description

In-depth study of the concepts, issues, and algorithms related to the design and implementation of operating systems. Topics include: process management, process synchronization and inter-process communication; memory management; virtual memory; interrupt handling; processor scheduling; device management; I/O; file systems; and introduction to networking and network security. Students conduct programming projects and case studies to investigate modern operating systems such as Solaris, Linux, and Windows.

This course satisfies the requirements for Computer Science majors.

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Learning Outcomes and Objectives

• To review computer architecture and program design on Linux and Windows platforms.
• To provide an understanding of the essentials of programming languages on the example of Java.
• To give you practical experience of writing Java programs of intermediate complexity.
• To introduce graphical user interface design on example of Java applets.
• To cover basic features of modern microcontroller RTOS (Real Time Operating Systems).
• To improve your programming skills.

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Hardware and Software Requirements

• Hardware: (all computers in the lab satisfy these requirements)
  • Computer with color monitor and mouse.
  • Minimum 256 Mb of memory, minimum 200 Mb free space on the hard disk.
  • Internet access (cable/DSL access is not required but recommended).
  • Silicon Labs Thunderboard Sense-2 development board.
• Software: (all necessary software is installed in the lab)
  • Operating systems: Linux and Microsoft Windows
  • Web browser:
    • recommended: Firefox or Google Chrome or or
    • Microsoft Internet Explorer
  • Java™ 2 Platform Standard Edition (J2SE):
    • JRE (Java Runtime Environment), version 7 or higher
    • SDK (Software Development Kit), version 7 or higher
    • Java plug-in for your browser
    Note: SDK from java.sun.com contains JRE and the browser plug-in;
  • Tools for communication with Linux server:
    • Windows: WinSCP and Putty
    • Linux/Unix: scp and ssh utilities must be installed.
    • Mac: MacSSH and MacSFTP (download from www.macssh.com)
  • Silicon Labs Simplicity Studio Version 4 (free download).
  • Tera Term terminal emulator (free download).

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Evaluation and Grading

• Scores and grade
  • The final grade for the course depends on the averaged score for home work assignments (this score is denoted by hw), scores for two midterm exams (denoted by ex₁ and ex₂), score for the final exam (ex₃), and some amount of bonus points.
  • The total score will be computed according to the formula:
    total score = (25*hw + 25*ex₁ + 25*ex₂ + 25*ex₃) / 100 + bonus
  • The total score will be translated into the final grade according to the following table:

    	A : 93 - 96	A- : 90 - 92
    B+ : 87 - 89	B : 83 - 86	B- : 80 - 82
    C+ : 77 - 79	C : 73 - 76	C- : 70 - 72
    D+ : 67 - 69	D : 63 - 66	D- : 60 - 62
    F : 0 - 59

• Assignments (25%)
  Take home exercises will be regularly assigned, collected, graded and returned. The students are allowed to discuss the problems in groups, however writings must be done strictly individually. Returning identical work is qualified as cheating (see below).
  • Maximum score for each assignment is 100 points.
  • For final grade purposes, the lowest of the assignment scores will be dropped if it is above 60% (this cannot decrease your average homework score).
  • If hw₁, hw₂, ... , hw₉ are the scores for these assignments (each number in the range 0 to 100), then the total score for the assignments is the average of these scores, that is
    hw = (hw₁ + hw₂ + ... + hw₉) / 9
    rounded off to the nearest integer from above.

• Midterm exams (two of them, each worth 25%)
  One exam will be given after 3-5 weeks of the beginning of the course, and another one will be given about 2-4 weeks before the end of the course. The maximum score for each midterm exam is 100 points.
  • The first exam covers the material from the first part of the course.
  • The second exam emphasizes on the material covered after the first exam.
  • The midterm exams, including possible take-home parts, must be done strictly individually, so no collective solutions or discussions are allowed.
  • No late submission of the take-home part (if assigned) is accepted.

• Final exam (25%)
  Date/time in Final Examination Schedule. The maximum score for the final exam is 100 points.
  • The final exam is comprehensive. So, any course content from the entire semester is fair game.
  • The final exam must be done strictly individually, so no collective solutions or discussions are allowed.
  • No late submission of the take-home part (if assigned) is accepted.

• Bonus points (0-6)
  Bonus points will be issued during the last week of classes for:
  • participation in course related discussions in class (0-2 points)
  • quality and completeness of homeworks (0-2 points)
  • overall progress in class (0-2 points)

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Class Policies

• Instructor retains the right to make any and all deletions, additions and changes to the requirements or structure of the course and its materials as deemed necessary.
• No class work is accepted after the Final Exam.
• Problems in late homework assignments are accepted within two days after the assignment was due. In this case a student will be penalized on 10 points pro assignment. However, if a solution to a problem is discussed in class or posted online, no late solution to this problem will be accepted after this. A submission is qualified as late if it is returned after the specified date and time.
• Working in pairs is allowed for homework assignemnts, but not for exams. You must form no larger groups, though. Starting an assignment with you study partner, you must stay with him/her till the completion of this assignment and indicate his/her name in the returned code. The work must be joint for at least 80% of time per assignment. Re-paring between the assignments is alowed.
• Providing/borrowing the code to/from other groups or individuals is considered as cheating. Representing someone else's work as your own without referencing or permitting another student to do so with your work is cheating.
  Leaving your Java source files in a public directory where everybody has an access is also considered as cheating.
  Cheating might result in failing the class with the grade F and other administrative actions described in UWS14.03 UW-System Administrative Code Student Academic Disciplinary Procedures.
• A make up of an exam is allowed if an unavoidable absence occurs. A reason for absence must be documented.
• Students are required to check with the instructor if they find some of these rules unclear, before taking an action.

Suggestions for Success in Class

• Do not miss classes. The class discussions emphasize on many particular aspects, a good number of them is not in the textbook or spread out over several chapters in the book so that it might be difficult to find them. These details may be very helpful for your work on the assignments.
• Attend every lab. In most cases the material discussed in the labs won't be discussed again during the regular class meetings. Labs also include some material which are not covered in the textbook. The lab materials will be used for the assignments and exams. The textbook does not replace class meetings or labs, and vice versa.
• Ask right away in class or after the class if something is not clear.
• Read in the books the topics that are covered in class on the same day after the class. Just working on the material during the class hours is far from being enough. It is expected that a student would spend at least 2 hours in average working through the material after each class.
• Prepare yourself for the next class. That is, read in advance the material to be explained in class. Refer to the Course Outline to figure out what will be covered (it will also be announced at the end of each class). It would be much easier for you then to follow the discussion in class. In addition you would know what to pay a particular attention on and what questions to ask.
• Come to the instructor's office hours (or make a special appointment) and do not let the unclear stuff to accumulate.
• Try to find time to solve as many problems as possible (even more than it is assigned). Solving the problems is the only way to learn how to solve them.

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University Policies

• Diversity and Inclusion at UW-Superior
  Diversity and inclusion is integral to the educational mission of the University of Wisconsin-Superior. As a community we commit to recognize, include and value inherent worth and dignity of each person; foster tolerance, sensitivity, understanding, mutual respect, and justice among its members; and encourages each individual to strive to reach their own potential. The institution recognizes these experiences are crucial for developing the requisite skills to thrive as a member of a pluralistic society and as a responsible global citizen.

  In pursuit of its goal of inclusive excellence, the University actively seeks to attract students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, including but are not limited to: race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic background, cognitive ability, physical ability, religion and spirituality, value system, national origin, immigration or refugee status, veteran status, and political beliefs.

  The University believes that diversity among its members strengthens the institution, stimulates creativity, promotes the exchange of ideas, and enriches campus life. The University of Wisconsin-Superior views, evaluates, and treats all person in any University related activity or circumstance in which they may be involved, solely as individuals. For more information about Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and/or to report bias, discrimination or harassment, please email edi@uwsuper.edu.

• Class Cancellations
  When weather conditions are dangerous, students will be informed via the media about class cancellations. Students should not call Campus Safety.

• Accommodation of Religious Beliefs
  Student's sincerely held religious beliefs should be reasonably accommodated with respect to scheduling all examinations and other academic requirements. Students should inform the instructor of these needs at the start of the semester.

• Disabilities Accommodation
  Adaptations of methods, materials or testing will be made to accommodate educational participation. Students should inform the instructor of these needs at the start of the semester.

Please refer to the University Catalog or the UW-Superior Web page for full description of these and other policies.