CPE 453  Introduction to Operating Systems

Course Information

Overview

• Introduction to sequential and multiprogramming operating systems; kernel calls, interrupt service mechanisms, scheduling, files and protection mechanisms, conventional machine attributes that apply to operating sytem implementation, virtual memory management, and I/O control systems.
• Lecture Schedule

Textbook

Silberschatz, Galvin, and Gagne, "Operating System Concepts (8th ed)", Prentice-Hall

Prerequisites

• The prerequisites for this course are CSC/CPE 357 and either CSC/CPE225 or CPE/EE 229. You will be dropped from the course if you have not taken these courses.

Blackboard

• Discussion Boards (Students are responsible for reading the postings in these forums, so check them regularly.)
• Administration Forum :: Look here for class announcements, corrections, and other important information. DO NOT POST YOUR QUESTIONS HERE.
• Student Discussion Forum :: This is where you post your questions about lab assignments and course material. I encourage (and expect) students to provide answers as well as questions.
• Grades

Grading

Grading Distribution (approxiamately)

Grading Policy

Letter grades for the course will be assigned according to the following schedule:  100%-90% A, 89%-80% B, 79%-70% C, 69%-60% D, 59%-0% F.

Late Policy: Except for exceptional circumstances (e.g. a limb fell off), Late assignments will be given 0 points.

Regrades must be submitted within one week of the return of the work in class.

I will report all suspected incidents of academic dishonesty to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities and you will receive a course grade of "F".  Here is a brief description of some of the activities that constitute academic dishonesty.

Exams

Exams are cumulative, closed book, and closed notes.

Midterm Time

Tuesday, May 3(During lecture)

Final Time

Section 1: Thursday, June 9, 10am-1pm

Note: Exams are in the regularly scheduled classroom.

Sample Midterm Practice Questions

• Sample Test 2003

Sample Final Practice Questions

• Look at sample midterms!
• Sample Test 2003

Labs

• You will be working in groups of two. The role of a partner is described here.
  • Important Note: You MUST have a different partner for every lab!
• All of your programming files should begin with the following comment header
• handin command instructions.

Lab Assignment Schedule

Written Assignments

• Everyone must submit each homework assignment individually.
• You may collaborate with anyone on your written assignments including fellow students, myself, or even Bill Gates.

Written Assignment Schedule

Quizzes

We will have approximately one quiz a week. You will take the quiz at the beginning of class and it will last between 10 and 15 minutes. The quiz is closed book and closed notes.

NOTE: You will get a 0 on the quiz if you miss lecture on the day it was given. There are no makeups.

Lecture Examples

• Sample Computer Organization (pdf)
• "read()" system call flow (pdf)
• Monolithic Structure (pdf)
• Layered Structure (pdf)
• Virtual Machine Structure (pdf)
• Exokernel Structure (pdf)
• Microkernel Structure (pdf)
• Linux PCB (pdf)
• Thread Example (pdf)
• Thread Example 2(pdf)
• Thread Cancellation Point (pdf)
• Race Condition(pdf)
• Race Condition (Peterson's solution)(pdf)
• Race Condition (Mutex solution)(pdf)
• Producer/Consumer(pdf)
• Reader/Writer Example(pdf)

Resources

• VMWARE: We will be using VMWARE's virtual machine (VMware Fusion (mac)/VMware Workstation (win)) as the platform for our kernel programming. You can download an evaluation copy to facilitate working at home.
• Kernel Newbies: You gotta start somewhere.
• The Linux Documentation Project: A central source for Linux HOWTOS, Guides, FAQS, man pages, and online magazines
• The Linux Kernel Archives: The primary site for the Linux kernel source.
• GDB Cheatsheet(pdf): A concise listing of common gdb commands.
• Cross-Referencing Linux: A hypertext presentation of the Linux source code.