Distributed Systems (Level 10) (U01959)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : INF-4-DS

A distributed system is broadly categorised as a collection or network of loosely coupled, autonomous computers that can communicate with each other and execute logically separate computations, though these may be related to concurrent computations on other nodes.
-The nodes are relatively loosely coupled.
-Each node is a self-contained autonomous computer with its own peripherals.
-The system can survive various categories of node and network failures.
-The nodes may execute logically separate computations, though these may be related to concurrent computations on other nodes.
-The system is asynchronous.

Distributed systems have become pervasive---many applications now require the cooperation of two or more computers--yet the design and implementation of such systems remain challenging and complex tasks. Difficulties arise from the concurrency of components, the lack of a global clock and the possibility of independent failure of components. Moreover designs must aim to provide inter-operability, transparency and autonomy.

The emphasis of this module is on gaining understanding of the principles and concepts that are used to design distributed systems and experience of software platforms which underpin their development. Throughout the course examples written in Java will be used.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Successful completion of Year 3 of an Informatics Single or Combined Honours Degree, or equivalent by permission of the School. Familiarity with Java is essential.

? Prohibited combinations : Distributed Systems (Level 11)

Variants

? This course has variants for part year visiting students, as follows

Distributed Systems (Level 10) (VS1) (Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2))
Distributed Systems (Level 10) (VS1) (Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2))

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Net-Centric Computing, (School of Informatics, Schedule O)

Other subject areas

Parallel and Distributed Computing, (School of Informatics, Schedule O)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 4th year

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
21/09/2006	11:10	12:00	Lecture Room 3, Ashworth Labs	KB

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	11:10	12:00	KB
Lecture	Thursday	11:10	12:00	KB

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

This course will teach students the principles of distributed systems, in particular those aspects which make such systems difficult to design and develop. At the end of the course the students will:
-Have an understanding of the principles of distributed system and be able to demonstrate this by explaining them.
-Be able to give an account of the trade-offs which must be made when designing a distributed system, and make such trade-offs in their own designs.
-Have developed practical skills of implementation of distributed algorithms in software so that they will be able to take an algorithm description and realise it in software.
-Have gained experience in programming within a distributed object system so that they can tackle a client, server or servant implementation based on a interface description, and be able to write interface descriptions in order to specify the objects of a distributed object system.
-Be able to give an account of the theoretical models used to design distributed systems and to manipulate those models to reason about such systems.

The course presents a large amount of material, some of it in case study form, so the students additionally develop skills of assimilation.