School of Electronics and Computer Science:
COMP3019 Large-Scale Distributed Systems
Basic Information
| School | |
|---|---|
| Known as | COMP3019. |
| Session and Semester | Semester Two, 2011 - 2012 |
| Credit | 10 Credit Points |
| Unit Leader | Jeff Reeve |
| Teachers | Dr Stephen Crouch |
| Moderators | Dr. Michael R. Poppleton |
| Study | 42 hours |
| Assessment | Examination 70%, Coursework 30% |
| Coursework | 1 single assignment to design and implement a grid computing program |
| Teaching | Lectures or equivalent, 24 hours |
| Referral | On referral, this unit will be assessed 100% by examination. |
| Syllabus Approved |
Description
Aims
Most of the distributed systems encountered during the degree course involve relatively small numbers of processing elements, the significant exception being the Web. In this course we explore the issues in very large scale systems - for example, with hundreds of thousands of nodes - and consider how such systems can be programmed. Examples include the Web (and 'grid computing' on a large scale), future pervasive computing systems, "large scale small scale" systems (i.e. small physical scale, such as amorphous computing systems), biological systems and artificial life.
The objectives of this course are:
- to develop an understanding of the issues of very large scale distributed systems
- to equip students to program such systems, through understanding of algorithms and suitable conceptual models
Learning Outcomes
Intellectual Skills
Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to:
- Identify the characteristics of large scale distributed systems and compare and contrast these with smaller systems;
- Suggest algorithms suitable for programming specific large scale systems;
- Present a conceptual model of large scale pervasive computing systems;
- Demonstrate an understanding of self-organising systems.
Topics Covered
- Distributed Graphical algorithms
- Parallel computing
- Sensor networks
- Web infrastructure
- Web as a distributed application platform
- Grid computing
- Workflows
- Web 2.0
- Evolution of the Web
- Biocomputing
Resources
Core Resources
- No single core text is available to date. Appropriate research papers will be identified in the lectures.
Background Resources
- Nancy A. Lynch, Distributed Algorithms, The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Data Management Systems, Jim Gray, Series Editor, 1996. [Library] [Shops]
Taught to
COMP3019
Pt III BSc Computer Science (Optional)Non-existing cohort: "csBScAi3" (Optional)
Non-existing cohort: "csBScDs3" (Optional)
Non-existing cohort: "csBScIm3" (Optional)
Computer Science Integrated PhD (Optional)
Pt III MEng Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence (Optional)
Pt III MEng Computer Science (Optional)
Pt III MEng Computer Science with Distributed Systems & Networks (Optional)
Pt III MEng Computer Science with Image and Multimedia Systems (Optional)
Pt III MEng Computer Science with Mobile and Secure Systems (Optional)
ECS Socrates Students (Optional)
Pt III BEng Software Engineering (Optional)
Pt III MEng Software Engineering (Optional)
Students who are not registered on an ECS approved programme may take this module subject to meeting its pre-requisites and the availability of resources. To confirm this, please can you contact the module leader (as listed above) in the first instance. They will then refer you on to the appropriate director of studies for formal approval of your selection.