Systems Seminar

Doel vak

The key objective of this seminar is to introduce students to designs, details, and challenges associated with building modern computer systems (CompSys) from a single machine to distributed services. As part of this exercise, students will read, review, and discuss recently published cutting-edge research on the design and implementation of computer and networked systems.

The course takes the form of an interactive seminar (lectures and discussions). Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

- reason about various design choices, systems building trade-offs, and ongoing and emerging research challenges for a design based on the scale, deployment goals, and capabilities provided (AK&U, MJ)

- understand recent advancements in systems (leveraging modern hardware—SmartNICs, fast storage, FPGAs, and programmable switches) and cutting-edge techniques to run these systems safely and efficiently (K&U)

- read papers, write critical (technical) reviews (style, tone, details), compare details across other papers, understand how to evaluate a paper, and develop and learn about research methodology skills (K&U, AK&U, CS)

- learn how to present and lead discussions on state-of-the-art literature in an interactive setting with your peers (LS, CS)

The acronyms above refer to the Dublin Descriptors covered by each learning objective, specifically: Knowledge and Understanding (K&U), Applied Knowledge and Understanding (AK&U), Making Judgments (MJ), Learning Skills (LS), and Communication Skills (CS).

Inhoud vak

Each week will feature a lecture session where we will discuss a few closely related papers in detail. Every student is expected to read all papers before the lecture. We expect the students to actively participate in the classroom by asking questions and discussing with everyone.

Aanvullende informatie onderwijsvormen

In each lecture session we will discuss a few closely related papers in detail. Every student is expected to read all papers before the lecture. We expect the students to actively participate in the classroom by asking questions and discussing with everyone.

Toetsvorm

Assignments (40%), Mid-term exam (30%), and Final exam (30%)

You need to score at least 5.5 in the final exam, and at least 5.5 overall to pass the course. There is no resit opportunity for the assignments. There is a (combined) resit opportunity for the mid-term and final exam. This course does not allow students to carry over (partial) grades from last year.

Please note that your grade will be registered as follows:

If you participate in any assessment components, then you will get a numeric grade (based on your performance) or an incomplete (NVD). Otherwise, your grade will be “NS.” If you plan to drop the course, do not submit anything or attempt the exams, as NVD is administratively considered a failing grade.

We ensure that each student individually demonstrates their abilities through the requirement that the supervised final exam be passed with at least 5.5. The mid-term exam, which accounts for 30% of the overall grade, is also supervised.

Literatuur

A list of recently published and classic papers (mandatory and background readings) reflecting recent developments.

Aanvullende informatie doelgroep

Master Computer Security (year 1)

Master Computer Science

Overige informatie

Use of AI: Level 2a Use of generative AI is only permitted for orientation and brainstorming

In this course, generative AI (GenAI), such as ChatGPT or similar tools, may only be used for orientation and brainstorming, for example to explore ideas in a paper. GenAI may not be used to generate content that becomes part of the final submission (e.g., in a quiz). The final product must be based entirely on the student's own understanding and analysis. Incorrect use of GenAI is considered fraud. If established, the submitted work or assessment result will be declared invalid, and the Examination Board may impose further measures.

Aanbevolen voorkennis

This course builds on a wide variety of computer systems and networking knowledge and concepts such as design of operating systems, networking and storage stacks, integration of accelerators, memory virtualization and management, network architecture, Internet-scale computing, process management, failure and fault tolerance in distributed systems, computer architecture (interrupts, CPU caches, multi-core systems, I/O buses), etc. Due to the nature of the course, there will be limited opportunity to learn these concepts in the class. In case you lack necessary background knowledge, ask us to recommend background reading material that you should cover by yourself.