Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Unit

Synopsis

This unit covers software organisation of multi-user and multi-tasking computers. The principles of operating systems are covered with reference to the underlying hardware requirements and are illustrated by case studies. Topics include operating system structure and services, multi-programming processes, CPU scheduling, memory management, device management, synchronisation, deadlocks, virtual memory and file systems. Furthermore this unit explores the internal mechanism of computers and how they are organised and programmed. Topics include machine arithmetic, micro programming, caches, translation look-aside buffers, RISC machines, and pipelined and parallel organisation.

Objectives

At the completion of this unit students will have:
A knowledge and understanding of:

• operating systems as resource managers for CPU context switching, process scheduling and job scheduling;
• memory management and virtual memory systems; I/O device drivers and management;
• file subsystems;
• abstract resource allocation strategies;
• asynchronous and synchronous communication mechanisms and their use in operating systems;
• interprocess communication and its use in distributed computer systems;
• the internal mechanism of computers and how they are organised and programmed, including machine arithmetic, interrupts microprogramming, caches, translation look-aside buffers, RISC machines, and pipelined and parallel organisation.

• programming OS components, such as job and process schedulers, page replacement algorithms, and file management subsystems, as well as programming interrupt handlers and contact switching.

Assessment

Examination (3 hours): 60%; In-semester assessment: 40%

Chief examiner(s)

Associate Professor John Hurst

Contact hours

3 hrs lectures/wk, 3 hr laboratory/fortnight, 1 hr tutorial/fortnight

Prerequisites

FIT1001 and one of FIT1008, FIT1015, CSE1303, CSC1030

Prohibitions

CSE2302

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/units/fit2022