Registry

Module Specifications

Archived Version 2015 - 2016

Module Title	Operating Systems
Module Code	CA216
School	School of Computing
Online Module Resources
Module Co-ordinator	Dr Darragh O'Brien	Office Number	L2.35
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

The aim of this module is to introduce the student to modern operating systems: what an operating system is, what it does and how it does it.

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain the interfaces to and the role of an operating system
2. Summarise the process life-cycle and apply a selection of scheduling algorithms
3. Write multithreaded programs and employ synchronisation and locking mechanisms to solve concurrency-related issues
4. Critically evaluate a selection of approaches to implementing virtual memory
5. Identify the issues facing file system designers and explain how they are solved
6. Choose appropriately between interprocess communication mechanisms and write programs that use those mechanisms

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Classroom lecture
Laboratory	20	Computer lab exercises
Independent Study	69	Independent learning
Assignment Completion	12	Programming assignment
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Basics
Role of an operating system. Virtual machine and resources manager abstraction. Operating system interfaces: hardware and software.

Process management
The process abstraction. The process life-cycle. Multitasking. Deadlock. Scheduling.

Concurrency
Threads. The critical section problem. Software and hardware solutions for mutual exclusion. Semaphores. Threads and concurrency.

Memory management
The memory hierarchy. Memory management objectives. Segmentation. Paging and page replacement. Thrashing. Memory management case study.

File systems and I/O
Disk block allocation strategies. Disk scheduling algorithms. File system case study.

IPC
Pipes. Sockets and sockets programming. DNS. RMI.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	30%	Examination Weight	70%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown

Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
Unavailable

Indicative Reading List

Abraham Silberschatz, Peter Baer Galvin & Greg Gagne: 0, Operating Systems Concepts with Java, 9780471769071
John O'Gorman: 0, Operating Systems with Linux, 9780333947456

Other Resources

None

Programme or List of Programmes

BSSA	Study Abroad (DCU Business School)
BSSAO	Study Abroad (DCU Business School)
CASE	BSc in Computer Applications (Sft.Eng.)
CPSSD	BSc in ComputationalProblem Solv&SW Dev.
ECSA	Study Abroad (Engineering & Computing)
ECSAO	Study Abroad (Engineering & Computing)
HMSA	Study Abroad (Humanities & Soc Science)
HMSAO	Study Abroad (Humanities & Soc Science)
SHSA	Study Abroad (Science & Health)
SHSAO	Study Abroad (Science & Health)

Archives: