CSC 314: Operating Systems

Spring 2004

 

Instructor:

          Lori Carter

            loricarter@ptloma.edu

            (619) 849-2352

 

Office hours:

MW 9:45 AM-12 PM, 1:00-2:30; Tues 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM; Thurs: 11:30-1:00 in virus lab. If you need me on Friday, check my office or send email.

 

Texts:

          Silbershatz et.al, Applied Operating System Concepts, First edition

            http://www.bell-labs.com/topic/books/aos-book

            Andersen, Paul, Just Enough Unix, Fourth edition

 

Course Objectives:

This course has two main objectives.

  1. To cover the principles of operating systems, including topics such as process management, device management and memory management.

 

  1. To present the Unix/Linux operating systems in such a way that the student becomes a competent user. The “language immersion” method will be used.

 

Course Organization:

          Lectures:  Cover the highlights of chapters assigned – not a substitute for reading.

           

Homework and Quizzes:  Homework will be assigned every week. Most of the problems will come from the book, but supplementary problems can be expected as well. Occasionally, I will give a quiz on a topic I am particularly concerned about you understanding. These will be announced.

 

Midterms:  There will be 2 midterm exams. The first will cover chapters 1-5, as well as some Unix/Linux material. There will be a hands-on Unix/Linux component to this exam. The second midterm will cover chapters 6-10. The midterms are currently scheduled for Feb 12 and April 6.

 

Labs: Frequent labs based on the Linux operating system, from the book, Just Enough Unix. Lab sessions are mandatory. Unless otherwise stated, labs are due at the end of the class period assigned.

 

OS Simulation Project:  A simple OS will be simulated within a group of 3. I will assign the groups. There will be a coder, a documenter and a tester in each group.  Individual grades, along with a group grade will be assigned for this project. Individual grades will be assigned throughout the semester as each part of the project is completed. The group grade will be assigned when the final project is presented. Most aspects of the project must be completed using basic Linux/Unix tools (non-gui). Programs will be written in C or C++ using the Linux Operating system and gcc or g++ compilers.   All written projects will be completed using a Linux/Unix text editor.  Graphs and figures may be created using GUI-based tools (either windows or Linux) and the final presentation will be done using powerpoint. The details of this project will be provided after the first midterm.

 

Final Exam: Cumulative exam covering the same items as the midterm, with an emphasis on material covered in the last part of the semester.  Final is scheduled for Thursday of finals week at 10:30.

 

Attendance:

As stated in the school catalog, “ Whenever the number of accumulated absences in a class, for any cause, exceeds ten percent of classes, the faculty member sends a written report to the Associate Provost for Academic Administration which may result in de-enrollment.  If more than 20% is reported as missed, the student will automatically be de-enrolled. If the date of de-enrollment is past the last date to withdraw from a class, the student will be assigned a grade of “F” or “NC”.

 

 

Grading:                                                             

          Homework and Quizzes:            15%    

            Labs:                                        10%                                                    

Project:                                     25%     (20% individual, 5% group)                               

            Midterms:                                 30%     (15% each)                                                      

            Final:                                        20%                                                    

 

            Final grades will be determined as follows:

100-93%           A

90-92%             A-

87-89%             B+

83-86%             B

80-82%             B-

77-79%             C+

73-76%             C

70-72%             C-

67-69%             D+

63-66%             D

60-62%             D-

0-59%              F

 

 

Academic Accommodations:

All students are expected to meet the standards for this course as set by the instructor. However, students with learning disabilities who may need accommodations should discuss options with the Academic Support Center during the first two weeks of class.  The ASC will contact professors with suggested classroom needs and accommodations. Approved documentation must be on file in the ASC prior to the start of the semester.