Computer Science (COMP) 689

Overview

COMP689 deals with the major recent developments in distributed systems technology. It explains the principles of distributed systems such as communication, naming, synchronization, replication, fault tolerance, and security using examples and case studies. It covers architectures in distributed systems, reflecting the progress that has been made on organizing distributed systems, and new topics such as peer-to-peer computing, sensor networks, web services, grid computing, virtualization, cloud computing and its roots in distributed systems mechanisms, and self-management of distributed systems.

The course illustrates design concepts for each topic with concept-oriented assignments and a small high-level programming assignment. Students complete a term project on the design and implementation of a real distributed system.

Course Objectives

The learning objectives of this course are to

• Present the principles underlying the function of distributed systems and their extension to grid and cloud computing and virtualization techniques
• Create an awareness of the fundamental technical challenges in advanced distributed systems design and implementation;
• Expose students to current technology used to build architectures to enhance distributed computing infrastructures with various computing principles and paradigms, including grid and cloud computing;
• Enhance students’ understanding of key issues related to multi-level interoperability across a distributed infrastructure and across multiple heterogeneous and distributed resources in a dynamically changing computing environment;
• Expose students to past and current research issues in the field of distributed systems and new challenges in cloud computing; and
• Provide experience in analyzing a distributed computing model and implementing typical algorithms used in distributed systems and distributed applications in cloud infrastructure.

Outline

Unit1. Introduction

• Features and types of distributed systems.

Unit 2. Architecture

• Architectures, middleware, and self-management in distributed systems.

Unit 3. Processes

• Multithreaded clients and services, virtualization and virtual machines, and code migration.

Unit 4. Communication

• RPC-, message-, and stream-oriented communication and multicast communication.

Unit 5. Naming

• Flat and structured naming, and attribute-based naming.

Unit 6. Synchronization

• Synchronization algorithms.

Unit 7. Consistency and Replication

• Consistency models and replica management.

Unit 8. Fault Tolerance

• Failure models, failure detection, algorithms for fault tolerance, and recovery from failure in distributed systems.

Unit 9. Security

• Distribution of security mechanisms, access control, and security management.

Unit 10. Introduction to Cloud Computing

• Analyzing cloud service models, designing distributed applications based on a cloud platform, and deploying computing resources and running services in the underlying cloud infrastructure.

Unit 11. VM Provisioning and Migration for Cloud Infrastructures as a Service (IaaS

• Virtual machine provisioning and migration services for cloud infrastructures; deploying and running workflow applications on multiple virtual instances and clouds.

Unit 12. Cloud Platform and Software as a Service (PaaS/SaaS)

• Analyzing on multi-level interoperability of clouds across distributed infrastructure and across multiple heterogeneous and distributed resources (services and data centers).

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to

• define distributed systems.
• explain why you would design a distributed system and what the desired properties of such a system are.
• list the principles underlying the functioning of distributed systems, describe the problems and challenges associated with these principles, and evaluate the effectiveness and shortcomings of their solutions.
• discuss how the principles are applied in contemporary distributed systems and specific distributed infrastructure such as cloud infrastructure and cloud platforms.
• explain how these principles and features affect software design on specific application problems.
• analyze workflow applications and workflow management mechanisms on multiple virtual instances and the challenges with respect to secure data storage, communications, configurability, performance, etc., in distributed systems and clouds.
• design a distributed system that fulfills requirements for desired properties, recognize when this is not possible, and explain why.
• build distributed system software using various methods, strategies, and techniques presented in the course.
• effectively communicate course work both orally and in writing.

Evaluation

To receive credit for COMP 689, you must achieve a cumulative course grade of B- (70 percent) or better, and must achieve an average grade of at least 60% on the assignments and 60% on the final examination. Your cumulative course grade will be based on the following assessment.

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.