Students
ITEC801 – Distributed Systems
2016 – S2 Evening
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Ian Joyner
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
4
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MIT and MEng
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit covers both fundamental issues and recent trends in distributed computing. We examine the complexities of distributed communications systems such as partial failures, shared memory, scheduling problems and multiple clocks. Networking protocols and other industry standards are discussed. Lectures will mostly be expository and conceptual and aim to provide a solid understanding of distributed systems and related enduring issues.
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Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Describe the complexities of distributed system development and approaches to solve those complexities
- Distinguish the goals and architectures of distributed systems
- Explain important issues in distributed systems, including time, inter-process communication, state management, distributed computing paradigms, data fragmentation and replication, middleware, and naming
- Identify applicability of technologies that support distributed applications such as RPC, RMI and object-based technology, message passing, and REST.
- Analyze and design distributed systems
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Due |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly problems | 10% | Weekly |
| Assignment 1 | 20% | Week 7 |
| Assignment 2 | 20% | Week 12 |
| Examination | 50% | After final lecture |
Weekly problems
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 10%
After each lecture a set of tutorial questions will be posted on iLearn. Students need to research and answer these questions which will be marked on a weekly basis.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Distinguish the goals and architectures of distributed systems
- Explain important issues in distributed systems, including time, inter-process communication, state management, distributed computing paradigms, data fragmentation and replication, middleware, and naming
Assignment 1
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 20%
Assignment 1 assesses progress and understanding of lecture material. It will set a moderate design task to be completed.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Describe the complexities of distributed system development and approaches to solve those complexities
- Identify applicability of technologies that support distributed applications such as RPC, RMI and object-based technology, message passing, and REST.
- Analyze and design distributed systems
Assignment 2
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 20%
Assignment 2 will be researching a couple of topics we have covered and writing a report on those topics.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Describe the complexities of distributed system development and approaches to solve those complexities
- Identify applicability of technologies that support distributed applications such as RPC, RMI and object-based technology, message passing, and REST.
- Analyze and design distributed systems
Examination
Due: After final lecture
Weighting: 50%
The final examination will consist of questions based on the lecture material, tutorial problems and assignments. The examination will be closed book, three hours long and held in the end of session examination period.
All learning outcomes will be assessed in the final examination, which will cover the entirety of the lecture material.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Distinguish the goals and architectures of distributed systems
- Identify applicability of technologies that support distributed applications such as RPC, RMI and object-based technology, message passing, and REST.
- Analyze and design distributed systems
Delivery and Resources
Classes
Each week you should attend the class which is three to four hours. For details of days, times and rooms consult the timetables webpage.
This course has no extra classes for tutorials or practicals.
Please note it is to your benefit to attend most of the classes, prepared to participate in discussions, ask and answer questions, and provide perspectives from your own background and workplaces.
Resources to assist your learning
Digital recordings of lectures are available as Echo360 through iLearn login. These are provided for review material and in case of missing lectures.
Online discussion. We will have an active online discussion forum in the ED system. It is expected that you contribute to these discussions.
iLearn is used for out-of-class communication as well as forums where active discussion of issues is encouraged. iLearn can be found at can be found at http://learn.mq.edu.au. You are encouraged to review iLearn weekly and to do background reading before each class.
Textbook
The textbook for ITEC801 is:
Coulouris, Dollimore, Kindberg, and Blair - Distributed Systems: Concepts and Design 5th Edition, 2012
References
Tannenbaum, A. S., Distributed Systems: Principles and Paradigms, Prentice-Hall, 2nd Edition 2006
Ince, D., Developing Distributed and E-commerce Applications, Second Edition, Addison Wesley, 2003.
Liu, M.L., Distributed Computing, Principles and Applications, Pearson/Addison Wesley, 2004.
Unit Schedule
| Week | Topic |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Introduction, Challenges, and Goals (Coulouris Chapter 1) |
| Week 2 |
Distributed Systems Architectures, Paradigms, and Patterns, Networks (Coulouris Chapter 2 and 3) |
| Week 3
Client-Server, Peer-to-peer, Communication in Distributed Systems (Coulouris Chapter 4, 5, 6)
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| Week 4 | Naming - location transparency (Coulouris Chapter 13) |
| Week 5 |
Open Distributed Processing (Online reading) |
| Week 6 | Synchronization (Coulouris Chapter 14 and 15) |
| Week 7 | RPC, RMI, message passing and failure in distributed systems communication (Coulouris Chapter 4, 5, 5) |
| Week 8 | REST - Concepts (Fielding's Thesis) and Application (Coulouris Chapter 9, Online reading) |
| Week 9 | Middleware and Distributed Data - Fragmentation and Replication (Coulouris Chapter 8) |
| Week 10 | Consistency, transactions and replication (Coulouris Chapter 18) |
| Week 11 | Cloud Computing (Coulouris Chapter 8) |
| Week 12 | Mobile and ubiquitous computing (Coulouris Chapter 19) |
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
New Assessment Policy in effect from Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html. For more information visit http://students.mq.edu.au/events/2016/07/19/new_assessment_policy_in_place_from_session_2/
Assessment Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Graduate Capabilities
PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills
Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Describe the complexities of distributed system development and approaches to solve those complexities
- Distinguish the goals and architectures of distributed systems
- Identify applicability of technologies that support distributed applications such as RPC, RMI and object-based technology, message passing, and REST.
Assessment tasks
- Weekly problems
- Examination
PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking
Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Distinguish the goals and architectures of distributed systems
- Identify applicability of technologies that support distributed applications such as RPC, RMI and object-based technology, message passing, and REST.
- Analyze and design distributed systems
Assessment tasks
- Assignment 1
- Assignment 2
- Examination
PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability
Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Describe the complexities of distributed system development and approaches to solve those complexities
- Explain important issues in distributed systems, including time, inter-process communication, state management, distributed computing paradigms, data fragmentation and replication, middleware, and naming
- Identify applicability of technologies that support distributed applications such as RPC, RMI and object-based technology, message passing, and REST.
- Analyze and design distributed systems
Assessment tasks
- Weekly problems
- Assignment 1
- Assignment 2
- Examination
PG - Effective Communication
Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Describe the complexities of distributed system development and approaches to solve those complexities
- Explain important issues in distributed systems, including time, inter-process communication, state management, distributed computing paradigms, data fragmentation and replication, middleware, and naming
- Analyze and design distributed systems
Assessment tasks
- Weekly problems
- Assignment 1
- Assignment 2
- Examination
Standards and Grading
In this unit, the final mark will be calculated by combining the marks for all assessment tasks according to the percentage weightings shown in the assessment summary.
To pass the unit, you must obtain:
- an overall total mark of 50% or higher;
- a mark of 40% or higher in the final examination;
- have performed satisfactorily in both assignments;
- have submitted at least 8 weekly assignments.
Students obtaining a higher grade than a pass in this unit will (in addition to the above)
- have a total mark of 85% or higher to obtain High Distinction;
- have a total mark of 75% or higher to obtain Distinction;
- have a total mark of 65% or higher to obtain Credit.
You are encouraged to:
- set your personal deadline earlier than the actual one;
- keep backups of all important assessed tasks;.
- make sure no one else picks up your printouts.
All work submitted should be readable and well presented.
You should never commit plagiarism or copying in any of your submitted work.