Individual Assignments

 

 

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Please have assignments completed by 6:00 p.m. (prior to class) on the date due. In general, all papers must be the correct length (excluding cover and reference pages) and must have a bibliography page with quality references.
  1. Prior to the first night of class, read chapters 1 through 4 of the textbook.

Week #1: The J2SE and J2EE Architecture Frameworks

Assigned: Nov 12 -- Workshop 1
Due: Nov 19 -- Workshop 2
  1. Read chapters 5 and 6 of the textbook.

  2. The assignment is to visit http://java.sun.com/j2ee/blueprints, download the Petstore application, install it, and run it on your computer. You may use any operating system (any of Windows 95/98, 2000, XP, or Linux are recommended). This will require the following steps to be performed in the order listed (use the most recent versions):

  1. Download and install the Java 2 Standard Edition (J2SE)

  2. Download and install the Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE)

  3. Download and install the Petstore application

This assignment relates to the integrating questions in the module (boundary of operating system vs. applications) and has several purposes: (1) demonstrate a modern, software architecture framework that builds on standard operating system services; and (2) demonstrate portable code through operating system abstraction. Later in the course, we will demonstrate how this same application and architectural framework can run on both Linux and Windows 2000 to achieve portability across operating systems. Note that this assignment does not involve programming, only installing and running publicly available, open source software. If you run into trouble, just do you best and document the results. Feel free to call me with questions.

Grading Criteria -- Maximum score is 6 points or 6% of your final grade. Write one page to summarize your experience. Grading will be based upon your answering the following questions in your one page:

  • Identify the type of your operating system and its version number.

  • Identify the software and version numbers from the three steps above.

  • Describe your experience. Possibilities included installation failed, installation succeeded, but application failed to run, everything worked, etc.

  • Explain what you learned.

Keep it short and don't worry if things do not work exactly as planned.

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Week #2: Mainframe Operating Systems

Assigned: Nov 19 -- Workshop 2
Due: Nov 26 -- Workshop 3
  1. Read chapter 7, 17, and 18. [OPTIONAL: Try to read chapter 19.]

  2. No individual assignment for this week.

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Week #3: Selected Topics in UNIX and Linux

Assigned: Nov 26 -- Workshop 3
Due: Dec 3 -- Workshop 4
  1. Read Chapters 10 and 16 of the textbook.

  2. Write an individual paper  (3 to 5 full pages (350 words per page) NOT COUNTING cover and reference pages) on your assigned topic. Each student will be assigned ONE of the following topics in class (only write about your assigned topic):

  • UNIX kernel and system internals

  • Programming environment and support  (applications vs. device drivers)

  • Memory management

  • Solaris multi-threading model (e.g., allocating virtual machines to  CPUs)

  • UNIX boot process (incl. starting processes via rc files)

  • Device and peripheral support (e.g., /dev/*, printers, etc.)

  • Shells (e.g., csh) and shell programming (e.g., batch processing)

  • Linux Graphical User Interface (GUI). Contrast with Windows

  • Case studies of successful Linux/UNIX implementations and migrations

  • UNIX File system

  • Security

  • Networking

  • UNIX history and evolution (e.g., Berkeley, AT&T Bell Laboratories)

  • Fault tolerance, reliability, availability, serviceability

  • Differences between Linux and UNIX

  • History of open source movement as it relates to Linux, vendors (e.g., RedHat)

Grading Criteria

  • Delivered on-time, in class by 6:00 p.m.

  • Correct length as explained above.

  • A quality references (i.e., bibliography) page. This is important.

  • Understanding. A clear explanation of the assigned topic that demonstrates understanding relative to your background.

  • Original content. Do your best to personalize the paper through any of the following: real-world example, work-related experience, etc.  In essence, original content represents a shift from just repeating research material.

  • Overall quality of the paper relative to papers submitted by classmates. (Your background will be considered during grading.)


Week #4: Microsoft Windows NT/2000/XP

Assigned: Dec 3 -- Workshop 4
Due: Dec 10 -- Workshop 5
  1. Read chapter 15 on Windows 2000 internals.

  2. Read Appendix A on Numbering Systems.

  3. No individual assignment for this week.

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