Information Technology 452

ITEC 452: Distributed Computing.

Prerequisites: ITEC 310, ITEC 350, and ITEC 371

Credit Hours: (3)

Covers analysis and design of distributed systems.


Detailed Description of Content of Course

Topics include:
1. Introduction to distributed systems
2. Models in distributed systems
3. Representing distributed algorithms
4. Program correctness
5. Time in distributed systems
6. Mutual exclusion
7. Distributed snapshot
8. Global state collection
9. Coordination algorithms
10. Fault tolerant systems
11. Distributed consensus
12. Group communication
13. Replicated data management
14. Self-stabilization
15. Hands-on programming and implementation projects.


Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

Course is conducted using lecture, a hands-on programming and implementation project, and a research project. In the hands-on programming and implementation project, students will configure internet routing protocols with at least three domains after building a small local area network. Students will start the project from cabling, installing various operating systems on the computers.
 

Goals and Objectives of the Course

Students who complete the course will be able to:
1. Identify and describe important issues in distributed systems and models of communication.
2. Represent distributed algorithms including nondeterminism, atomic operations, fairness, and scheduling, and show correctness of distributed programs.
3. Describe time, mutual exclusion, distributed shapshots, global state collection, coordination algorithms, synchronizers, and fault-tolerant systems in distributed systems.
4. Write a research paper on a state-of-the-art distributed system.

Assessment Measures

In-class exams, hands-on programming and implementation project, and a research paper will be used to measure each student’s performance.


Other Course Information

None.


Review and Approval

DATE                      ACTION             APPROVAL
Sept. 25, 2001         New Course       John P. Helm, Chair
February, 2003        Revisions           John P. Helm, Chair
December 2004       Revisions           Joseph Chase, Chair
April 2005               Revisions           Robert H. Phillips,
                                                      Acting Chair

Revised: June 1, 2012