CSCI 410 A – Operating Systems

Spring, 2008

 

Instructor

Mr. K. Lillis

Office:             Ambrose Hall 429

Phone:             (563) 333-6429

e-mail:             LillisKevinM     at     sau     dot     edu

Office Hours:  Posted on office door.  Also available at web.sau.edu/LillisKevinM/Schedule.htm

 

Course Description

This course introduces the fundamentals of operating systems design and implementation. Topics include an overview of the components of an operating system, mutual exclusion and synchronization, implementation of processes, scheduling algorithms, memory management, and file systems.

 

Objectives of Course

Upon completion of this course students will be able to:

·         Describe the role and purpose of operating systems

·         Understand the functionality of a typical operating system

·         Identify operating system design issues

·         Describe concurrent process execution

·         Describe physical memory and memory management hardware

·         Describe the fundamental concepts of file management

·         Provide an overview of security and protection

 

Pre-Requisites

CSCI 180 – Discrete Structures

CSCI 310 – Data Structures

 

Required Text

Operating System Concepts with Java, by Silberschatz, Galvin, and Gagne.

© 2007 by John Wiley and Sons. ISBN 0-471-76907-X.

 

Schedule

The class will meet on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 12:00 to 12:50 p.m. in McMullen 202.

There will be no class on the following days: Jan. 21; Mar. 3, 5, 7, 21, 24

The final exam is on Monday, May 5, from 10:00 to 11:50 a.m.

 

Requirements

There will be regular homework assignments as well as a midterm and final exam. All reading is to be completed prior to the class in which the material is to be covered. Students are expected to participate in class discussions.

 

A web site has been created for this class at http://web.sau.edu/LillisKevinM/csci410/2008Spring. Students should check this web site often during the semester.

 

Attendance

Attendance is mandatory. Students are expected to attend all classes. Two late arrivals count as one absence. Missed lectures are the responsibility of the student.

 

Collaboration

You are encouraged to discuss homework and other parts of the class with other students. Such discussions about ideas are not cheating, whereas the exchange of finished, written answers is cheating. Never give finished answers to someone else or use someone else's finished answers. Plagiarism/cheating are considered grounds for a failing grade for that particular piece of work. Furthermore, it would weigh heavily in the final grade, possibly resulting in a failing grade for the entire course.

 

Grading

Midterm Exam                                                35 %

Final Exam                                                      35 %

Homework Assignments                                 25 %

Attendance                                                        5 %

 

Letter grades will be assigned based on the following

 

A = 90-100          B+ = 86-89             B = 80-85              C+ = 76-79            C = 70-75

D = 60-69            F = Below 60

 

In determining borderline grades, the instructor reserves the right to consider perceived student initiative and class participation. 

 

An incomplete will be given only when a student meets the conditions stated in the latest St. Ambrose University catalog.  Earning a low grade is not a valid reason for an incomplete.

 

Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities at 333-6161 as soon as possible to better ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.