CS 321 Spring 2012 > Syllabus

CS 321 Spring 2012
Syllabus

COURSE:	CS 321 Operating Systems. 3 credits.
Time & place:	10:30–11:30 a.m. MWF, 106 Chapman.
Prerequisites:	CS 301.
INSTRUCTOR:	Glenn G. Chappell, Dept. of Computer Science.
Office:	201B Chapman.
Office hours:	11:45–1:45 MWF on spring 2012 class days, or by appointment.
Office phone:	[474-]5736. This is also voice mail.
E-mail:	`ggchappell@alaska.edu`
Paper mailbox:	Inside the CS Department office, 202 Chapman.
TEXT:	Tannenbaum, Modern Operating Systems, 3rd ed. Supplementary readings will be provided by the instructor.
WEB PAGE:	`http://www.cs.uaf.edu/2012/spring/cs321`

Course Topics & Goals

CS 321 covers what computer operating systems do, and the various ways they do it. We will emphasize the management of processes/threads, memory, and file systems.

After taking this class, students should:

Know the purposes and responsibilities of operating systems.
Be familiar with various standard operating systems concepts (interrupt, system call, process, thread, scheduling, concurrency, deadlock, virtual memory, etc.).
Understand important ways in which major operating systems differ.
Be familiar with operating system implementation issues involved in process management, memory management, and file systems.
Have a basic programming proficiency in the use of system calls, multiple threads, and memory mapping.

Important Dates

Mon, Mar 5	In-class Midterm Exam
Mar 12–16	No class (Spring Break)
Fri, Mar 23	Last day to withdraw
Fri, Apr 27	No class (UAF SpringFest)
Fri, May 4	Last regular class meeting
Mon, May 7	Final Exam 10:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. in the classroom

Procedures

Class meetings—Class meetings will be conducted using a lecture-discussion format.

Homework—Homework will be assigned every week or two, and will consist of both programming and answering questions. Some assignments will be done individually; others will be done in groups. Homework turned in late will generally be penalized.

Some assignments will make use of Dr. Lawlor’s NetRun. Students must obtain NetRun accounts.

Quizzes—Short in-class quizzes will be given, unannounced. However, possible quiz topics will always be announced in advance. No make-up quizzes will be given.

Presentations—Near the end of the semester, students will give a short (15 minutes) in-class presentation on some aspect of operating systems.

Exams—Two exams will be given: midterm and final. The final will be comprehensive, emphasizing material covered after the midterm. See “Important Dates”.

Grades

Course grades will be based on points earned, using a 90-80-70-60 scale. The +/– grading system will not be used. The lowest quiz score will be dropped. Point totals will be as follows.

Assignments, Quizzes, and Presentation (total)	225 pts
Midterm Exam	75 pts
Final Exam	100 pts
TOTAL	400 pts

Policies

Students are expected to be at every class meeting on time, and are responsible for all class content, whether present or not. If absence from class is necessary, homework and in-class work (other than quizzes) may be made up only if the instructor is notified as soon as possible; in particular, absences due to scheduled events must be arranged ahead of time.

Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated, and will be dealt with according to UAF procedures.

Students in this class must pay the CS lab fee. Payment allows access to the Chapman 103 lab.

UAF academic policies: http://www.uaf.edu/catalog/current/academics
CS Department policies: http://www.cs.uaf.edu/cs/Policies.html