ClassInfo

CSC 435 Distributed Systems I

Radha Jagadeesan

Office: CDM 653
Spring 2017-2018
Class number: 33968
Section number: 910
-
Online Campus

Summary

At the end of class you will:
Have a broad understanding of the central problems in distributed systems.
Develop an understanding of distributed systems concepts applicable to real world problems
Have a good understanding of the tradeoffs that must be made when designing a distributed solution to IT problems.
Have a good understanding of algorithmic approaches to distributed systems solutions.
Know how to write basic programs that address certain challenging distributed systems problems.

All assignments, the assignment schedule, and the course materials, are available online at either d2l.depaul.edu or the class website. D2L Dropbox is used for all assignments. The specific readings are available at the class website but in general will follow the text, with much additional lecture material.



Texts

Required text: Tanenbaum, Andrew S., and van Steen, Maarten,
Distributed Systems, Principles and Paradigms, 3rd Edition, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. www.prenhall.com/tanenbaum

Currently there is a free one-time download: https://www.distributed-systems.net/index.php/books/distributed-systems-3rd-edition-2017/


Recommended background text: Kurose, James F., and Ross, Keith W. Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet, Boston: Addison Wesley.


Grading

Assignments (including programs): 50%

Midterm: 20%

Final: 30%

NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS will be accepted for credit.


Prerequisites

CSC 374 (CSC 407), CSC 301 (CSC 403)


School policies:

Changes to Syllabus

This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during class, posted under Announcements in D2L and sent via email.

Online Course Evaluations

Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course content to meet the learning goals of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is completely separate from the student’s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over three weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation. Students complete the evaluation online in CampusConnect.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

This course will be subject to the university's academic integrity policy. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/ If you have any questions be sure to consult with your professor.

All students are expected to abide by the University's Academic Integrity Policy which prohibits cheating and other misconduct in student coursework. Publicly sharing or posting online any prior or current materials from this course (including exam questions or answers), is considered to be providing unauthorized assistance prohibited by the policy. Both students who share/post and students who access or use such materials are considered to be cheating under the Policy and will be subject to sanctions for violations of Academic Integrity.

Academic Policies

All students are required to manage their class schedules each term in accordance with the deadlines for enrolling and withdrawing as indicated in the University Academic Calendar. Information on enrollment, withdrawal, grading and incompletes can be found at http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/Current%20Students/Pages/PoliciesandProcedures.aspx.

Students with Disabilities

Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that you have contacted the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:
Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd.
Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
TTY: (773)325.7296