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     CSC 501 Operating Systems Principles
 

Fundamental issues related to the design of operating systems. Process scheduling and coordination, deadlock, memory management and elements of distributed systems. 3 credit hours

  
     

Prerequisite
  

Undergraduate courses in data structures, probability, applied discrete mathematics, computer organization and assembly and calculus. An object-oriented language such as C++. Eiffel, Smalltalk, Object Pascal or Java is essential.

This class is restricted to Engineering Online and PBS students only! On-campus studens must have approval from the DGP.

 
Course Objectives  

To provide a background for the student in computer system structures, operating system structures, CPU scheduling, process synchronization, deadlocks, memory management, virtual memory, file system interface and implementation, I/O systems, secondary storage, network structures, distributed system structures, distributed file systems, and distributed coordination.


Course Outline  

Computer system structures, operating system structures, processes, CPU scheduling, process synchronization, deadlocks, memory management, virtual memory, file system interface and implementation, I/O systems, secondary storage, network structures, distributed system structures, distributed file systems and distributed coordination.

NOTE: This is a required course for the Master of Computer Science degree program and can count as a core requirement for the Master of Engineering degree program.

 
Course Requirements  

HOMEWORK: approximately 5 - 10 assignments

EXAMINATIONS: 2 (a mid-term and a final)

PROJECTS: None

 
Textbook  

Primary Text

  • Title: Operating System Concepts (7th Edition)
  • Author: Abraham Silberschatz, Peter Baer Galvin and Greg Gagne
  • Hardcover: 944 pages
  • Publisher: Wiley; 7th edition (December 14, 2004)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0471694665
  • ISBN-13: 978-0471694663
  • Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.9 x 1.3 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
Secondary Text
  • Linux Kernel Development (2nd Edition) (Paperback)
  • Author: Robert Love
  • Paperback: 432 pages
  • Publisher: Novell Press; 2nd edition (© January 12, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN: 0672327201
  • Product Dimensions: 9.0 x 7.0 x 1.0 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds.

The first text is intended to provide a broad description of operating systems in general, whereas the second is intended to describe the particulars of a single OS, namely Linux. Both books are available from the NCSU bookstore, or from Amazon.

 
Computer and Internet Requirements  

NCSU has recommended minimum specifications for computers that are generally used for courses. Those specifications can be found here: http://www.ncsu.edu/it/compspecs/

Engineering Online recommends that your computer meets or exceeds the following minimum specifications below. A computer with greater capability (processor speed, RAM, internet bandwidth, disk capacity) will be more likely to properly display the video content of Engineering Online courses.

Windows:

  • Microsoft Windows XP, Windows 2003, or Windows Vista
  • Intel-compatible 1 GHz processor
  • 512 MB RAM
  • 60 GB hard drive with 1 GB free space available
  • Video display at 1024 x 768 or greater
  • Sound output and speakers
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 SP1 or later, Firefox 2.0 or later, or Google Chrome 1.0
  • Windows Media Player 9.0 or later
  • Real One Player Basic (required for certain courses)
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader
  • Broadband Internet connection (256 Kbps or more)

Mac OS X:

  • Mac OS X 10.4.8 or later
  • G4 processor
  • 512 MB RAM
  • 60 GB hard drive with 1 GB free space available
  • Video display at 1024 x 768 or greater
  • Sound output and speakers
  • Safari 2.0.4 (or later) or Firefox 2.0 (or later)
  • Silverlight  (viewers may be prompted to install this when first viewing a presentation)
  • Real One Player Basic (required for certain courses)
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader
  • Broadband Internet connection (256 Kbps or more)
  • NOTE:  The Flip4Mac plug-in causes problems when viewing Mediasite presentations and should be disabled.

Linux:

  • Playback of Mediasite presentations on Linux is accomplished via the Moonlight Project, an open source implementation of Microsoft Silverlight. For more installation on the installation and configuration of Moonlight, please visit http://www.go-mono.com/moonlight/. The compatible operating systems and browsers are listed on this page.
  • Microsoft Media Pack for Moonlight
  • Adobe Reader for Unix
  • Broadband Internet connection (256 Kbps or more)

 
Instructor  

Dr. Douglas M. Pase
1605 Pineview Drive
Raleigh, NC 27606

Phone: (919) 543-6172
E-Mail: csc501@pase.us