Systems Practicum
Tom Roeder
CS415 2005sp
What is this class about?
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Apply the theory learned in 414
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C hacking for fun and profit
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Synchronization, Networking, and many others
Build a system from a virtual ground
Learn to debug a complex system
“cutting-edge systems design”
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What is on the cutting edge now?
The Project: Ad-hoc networking
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Ad-hoc networking
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Establishment and maintenance of a
communication network in the absence of a fixed
infrastructure
Normally done over wireless (eg 802.11b)
We will build a simple ad hoc network and an
application over it
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We have suggested applications, but you can
come talk to me about proposals
Where do we start?
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Need an environment over which to build
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Start with lightweight threads
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You will build a simple virtual “OS” over NT
We provide a bare environment like at boot time
Need to add context switches
Need synchronization
Need a scheduler
Instructions posted on web. Follow them.
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Due in two weeks (11 Feb)
Where do we go from there?
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Part II – Preemption, Alarms, and Schedulers
Part III – Unreliable Networking
Part IV – Reliable Networking
Part V – Ad-Hoc Networking
Part VI – Ad-Hoc Application
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Suggested:
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Messaging
Distributed Files
CPU sharing
Groups
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Size 2 or 3
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We will not take the size of your group into
consideration when judging your work
ie. Smaller groups are at a disadvantage
See the guidelines online for tips in how to
work well (or poorly) in groups
The grade for the group will be your grade
What if my code doesn’t work?
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As long as there is good faith effort
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about 50% of the grade for that part of the project
The TAs will not fix it
We will not be handing out solutions
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You will be building your whole system from
scratch
Grading
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Parts I + II: 10% each
Parts III + IV: 15% each
Parts V + VI: 20% each
10% subjective
Challenge sections “for the Adventurous”
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Extra components in some parts
Will be examined and commented on if the base
work is sufficient
Will not be graded