Study Programmes 2016-2017
INFO2057-1  
Principles of operating systems
Duration :
15h Th, 15h Pr
Number of credits :
Master in architecture of computer systems (120 ECTS)2
Lecturer :
Samuel Hiard
Language(s) of instruction :
French language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents :
This course aims at introducing the concepts and basic mechanisms of modern operating systems.
The emphasis is on principles, but also on practice, so as to illustrate key concepts in a practical context.
The course will cover:


  • Introduction / background: brief reminder of computers organization and structures of computer systems; general operation of a CPU, assembly langage, micro-code, interrupts, multi-programming; OS as a service; OS as a resources manager; general organization of an OS.
  • Process Management: Process as abstraction of computer processing; Processes, threads, and multithreading; inter-process communication; scheduling.
  • Memory management: Allocation Strategies (swapping, paging, segmentation); dynamic relocation of addresses; virtual memory.
  • Input / Ouput: Device; Principles of I / O hardware; Principles of I / O software; interfacing; device-manager.
  • Data storage management: filesystem structure; mounting file systems management; file system implementation; protection mechanisms; network file systems.
  • Introduction to Virtualization: Virtualization systems; paravirtualization; virtualization of the operating system kernel
Learning outcomes of the learning unit :
  • Learning principles, basic concepts and organization of operating systems .
  • Life skills in system monitoring.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
None
Having used a computer at least once prior to this course is an asset.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
The course will consist of ex cathedra lessons to expose the basic principles and theories ; and of student work putting into practice the concepts studied . The practices will consist primarily in monitoring (e.g. display system calls ).
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
Weekly face-to-face lessons. Laboratories in face-to-face or in distance-learning.
Recommended or required readings :
Recommended readings: Operating System Concepts; Silberschatz, Galvin, Gagne; Wiley. Operating Systems Design and Implementation; Tannenbaum, Woodhull; Prentice Hall.
Assessment methods and criteria :
Oral exam for the theoretical part.
Evaluations during the year (and/or during the exam session) for the practical part.
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
Contacts :
Coordinators : Samuel Hiard(S.Hiard@ulg.ac.be and )Laurent Mathy(laurent.mathy@ulg.ac.be)