This is an archived syllabus from 2013-2014
COMP25111 Operating Systems syllabus 2013-2014
COMP25111 Operating Systems
Level 2
Credits: 10
Enrolled students: 173
Course leader: John Gurd
Additional staff: view all staff
Requisites
- Pre-Requisite (Compulsory): COMP16121
- Pre-Requisite (Compulsory): COMP16212
Assessment methods
- 70% Written exam
- 30% Practical skills assessment
| Semester | Event | Location | Day | Time | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sem 1 | Lecture | 1.1 | Thu | 13:00 - 13:00 | - |
| Sem 1 | Lecture | 1.1 | Tue | 15:00 - 15:00 | - |
| Sem 1 w1-2 | Lecture | IT407 | Thu | 13:00 - 13:00 | - |
| Sem 1 w2 | Lecture | IT407 | Tue | 15:00 - 15:00 | - |
| Sem 1 A w3+ | Lab | LF31 | Fri | 09:00 - 09:00 | F |
| Sem 1 A w3+ | Lab | LF31 | Fri | 11:00 - 11:00 | I |
| Sem 1 A w3+ | Lab | G23 | Mon | 13:00 - 13:00 | G |
- Computer Architecture
Overview
Operating systems provide an interface for computer users that permits them to gain access without needing to understand how the computer works. The software needed to achieve this is complex and this course introduces students to some of the details of design and implementation.Aims
This course unit introduces students to the principles of operating system design and to the prevailing techniques for their implementation. The course unit assumes that students are already familiar with the structure of a user-program after it has been converted into an executable form, and that they have a rudimentary understanding of the performance trade-offs inherent in the choice of algorithms and data structures. Pertinent features of the hardware-software interface are described, and emphasis is placed on the concurrent nature of operating system activities. Two concrete examples of operating systems are used to illustrate how principles and techniques are deployed in practice.
Syllabus
Introduction
Purpose of the Operating System. OS entities and functions.
Processor Organisation & Operation
Datapath, Control, Instruction Set, Processor Design and Operation
Device Management
Polling / Interrupts.
Processes
Process Management Creation / Scheduling / Termination / Communication / Synchronization.
Memory Systems
Basic concepts. Contiguous storage allocation Single- and multi-programming. Segmentation. Paging.
File Systems
Directory organization. File types and file organization.
Case Studies
Windows/NT, Unix.
Teaching methods
Lectures
22 in total, 2 per week
Laboratories
10 hours in total, 5 2-hour sessions
Feedback methods
Feedback is provided to students in alignment with good pedagogic practice and pedagogic assessment [criterion]; the feedback takes the Kinesthetic approach to learning. Two approaches, #1 and #2, illustrate how to develop the student's skills aligned to the course; such as: theory, process, academic, reading, comprehension, exam skills. The first uses a more reading/writing-preference learner's approach #1. The second, approach #2, uses the visual learning strategy.The feedback is given: one-to-one and one-to-many. The feedback is given (if time allows) at the start (in the break, & the end) of: lectures, examples classes (if applicable), and laboratories. One-to-one feedback is also given - marked up - in each of the anonymous scripts of the student's exam booklets. One-to-many is also given in a cohort wide exam feedback compiled jointly by all course member whom lecture on the course and mark exams.
Feedback, hints, advice, and extra information also appear on the course's CS web site, courses CS web site, & the universities Blackboard web site. RN also provides real time video multimedia support for all the course's he lectures on; these are composed of video lectures, video tutorials and many associated material designed to help, broaden, and inform the student cohort of possible: approaches, techniques, and learning strategies that will aid and enhance their learning.
Study hours
- Assessment written exam (2 hours)
- Lectures (24 hours)
- Practical classes & workshops (10 hours)
Employability skills
- Analytical skills
- Group/team working
- Innovation/creativity
- Project management
- Oral communication
- Problem solving
- Research
- Written communication
- Other
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, a student will be able to:
Learning outcomes are detailed on the COMP25111 course unit syllabus page on the School of Computer Science's website for current students.
Reading list
No reading list found for COMP25111.
Additional notes
Course unit materials
Links to course unit teaching materials can be found on the School of Computer Science website for current students.