COMP30640 Operating Systems (Conversion)

Academic Year 2023/2024

This is a core module on the MSc. Computer Science (Conversion) and Higher Diploma in Computer Science programmes. The module is structured to present important concepts of operating systems with emphasis on fundamental topics and some practical exploration of these topics. The emphasis is on fundamental topics and techniques, although references to actual systems are made as well in order to illustrate concepts and/or implementation issues. The introduction is devoted to a brief history of operating systems, and their design issues and philosophies. The main components of an operating system are explained, and different approaches to how these components are organised and implemented are presented. This is followed by another very important topic, which is process management. The notion of process helps to explain, understand and control the execution of programs in an OS. This leads to the subject of how processes are organised (communication, cooperation, and synchronisation). Next we study process scheduling, which is at the heart of any multiprogrammed operating systems. We follow by studying memory management. More precisely we focus on the concepts of segmentation, paging, and virtual memory. Another key component that we study is the file system. Interference in resource utilisation is a serious threat in an OS. Two complementary sets of techniques to counter security threats are presented: protection and security.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:

1. Explain what an operating system is, and why we study operating systems.
2. Understand the issues and techniques associated with concurrent execution of process (scheduling, deadlock, starvation, interference, inter-process communication).
3. Understand memory management; real and virtual memory.
4. Define and apply the concept and mechanisms of file systems.
5. Demonstrate and formulate protection and security mechanisms;
6. Evaluate the complexity of building an operating system
7. Implement shell scripts to perform simple and complex tasks using the bash shell

Indicative Module Content:

- Introduction - what is an OS?
- essential concepts of computer architecture,
- operating system components
- Unix shell and its language
- process, scheduling, inter-process communication
- memory management
- file management
- overview of the role of protection of OS in modern IT systems

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Practical

24
Autonomous Student Learning

62
Total

110
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures
In-class formative assessments
End-of-term examination 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

None


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Examination: End of term final exam 2 hour End of Trimester Exam No Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

80
Continuous Assessment: Weekly Quizzes Throughout the Trimester n/a Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

20

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Online automated feedback

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Mr Jordan Doyle Tutor
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Autumn
      
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Fri 10:00 - 10:50
Practical Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Fri 13:00 - 14:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Thurs 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn