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CptS 464 : Distributed Systems Concepts and Programming

Catalog Information
Course Number: 
464
Credits: 
3
Offered: 
Fall
Pre-Requisites
CptS 360: Systems Programming

Systems programming, UNIX literacy.

Class Information
Objectives: 

As a result of this course, students will:

  • Be well-versed in the fundamental issues involved in designing, programming, and using distributed systems
  • Be familiar with some of the most significant new software technologies for creating distributed programs
  • Have significant experience using CORBA, a standard, cross-platform software framework for creating distributed programs
Structure: 

3-4 programming assignments are given in CptS 464. These all involve designing, writing, and testing an application program which is distributed across two or more computers. These are programmed with a middleware framework such as CORBA. These assignments involve both client-server and publish-subscribe architectures. The objective of these projects is to provide the students with hands-on experience in the design and operation of distributed programs. The students are expected to apply the concepts learned in class in these assignments. Documentation and demonstration of project work in the Lab are required.

Topics: 
  • Introduction to Distributed Computing
  • Distributed Architectures
  • Processes
  • Communication
  • Naming
  • Synchronization
  • Consistency and Replication
  • Fault Tolerance
  • Security
  • CORBA and Other Distributed Object-Based Systems
  • Distributed Coordination-Based Systems
Requirements
Textbooks/References: 

Andy Tanenbaum and Maarten van Steen. Distributed Systems: Principles and Paradigms, 2ed, Prentice Hall, 2007, ISBN 0-13239-227-5.
Arno Puder, Kay Römer, Frank Pilhofer. Distributed Systems Architecture: A Middleware Approach, Morgan Kauffman, 2006, ISBN 1-55860-648-3. [This textbook is for the MICO open source CORBA middleware framework, used in the programming assignments.]

Computer Usage: 

The students program on computers in a lab, or on their own personal computers, using a middleware framework such as CORBA (MICO).

Professor/Coordinator: 
Dave Bakken
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