Advanced Operating Systems (2005/2006)

Learning outcomes

The course presents theoretical and practical aspects related to distributed and real-time operating systems. Theoretical lessons will be supported by practical exercitations in laboratory.
The course consists of 44 theoretical and practical hours.

* Introduction
- Non-conventional operating systems
° Distributed operating systems
° Multi-processor operating systems
° Real-time operating systems
° Embedded operating systems
° Structure of non-conventional operating systems
° Microkernel
° Exokernel
° Cluster
- Example of non-conventional operating systems

* Distributed operating systems
- Problems
- HW/SW architectures
- Design metrics (transparency, flexibility, reliability, scalability)
- Communication on distributed systems
- Protocols
- Client/server paradigm

* Synchronization on distributed systems
- Clock synchronization
- Mutual exclusion and atomic transitions
- Deadlock

* Distributed file systems
- Problems and implementation
- Naming and caching
- Case studies: NFS, LFS, AFS

* Shared distributed memory
- Conceptual model
- Implementation
- Consistency

* Real-time operating systems
- Problems and constraints
- Determinism
- Reactivity
- Reliability
- Examples

* Scheduling on real-time operating systems
- Clock, deadline and time-out
- Priority scheduling
- Deadline scheduling
- Aperiodic and periodic scheduling

* Laboratory exercitations
- Introduction to the cross-toolchain
- The eCos operating system
- Cross-compilation for eCos
- eCos kernel reconfiguration
- HW/SW/NW co-simulation
- Devide driver

The exams is written and it consists of practical exercises and questions. The oral exam is facultative. A project is required for the laboratory module.