Fundamentals of Distributed Algorithms


Brief overview

Distributed systems pose fundamental new challenges which require new algorithmic paradigms and new ways of thinking about systems. This course will focus on some fundamental ideas relevant to the theory and practice of distributed systems, including clocks, deadlock, fault tolerance, knowledge, mutual exclusion, states, and termination.

General information

Time: Monday and Wednesday, 8:30-10:00
Place: Burnside Hall 1B39
Office hours: Tuesday, 14:00-16:00 or by appointment
Office: McConnell 233
Email: franck@cs.mcgill.ca
Phone: 398-7071, extension 0876
Prerequisite: a basic course on operating systems such as 308-310

Reference material

Class notes and handouts will be crucial. In particular, these papers will be made available to the students.

Evaluation

The student's performance in the course will be evaluated as a combination of assignments (40%), a term paper (50%), and a presentation (10%). More details are given below. There will be no supplemental examination for this course. Neither will students have the option of doing additional work to upgrade their mark.

Assignments

There will be weekly assignments. Every Wednesday, the assignments for the week can be found by clicking on the calendar below. The assignments should be handed in at the beginning of the class on the next Wednesday.

Term paper

Students can choose between
  1. studying and presenting a research paper on distributed algorithms and
  2. making and presenting a case study of a distributed (operating) system.

1. Research paper

Students will either choose one of these papers or suggest a paper themselves. They will study their paper in detail, if necessary also looking at some related work. In both their oral and written presentation they will

2. Case study

Students will choose a distributed (operating) system. Some pointers can be found here. They will collect information about their system. In both their oral and written presentation they will

Progress report

In the week of March 16-20 each student will give an overview of The term paper is due on April 17.

Class presentation

Students will give a 20 minute summary of their paper. These presentations will be given during the last five lectures of the course (i.e. those in April). Students are encouraged to attend the presentations.