Module Details

Module Code: COMP8051
Title: Operating System Engineering
Long Title: Operating System Engineering
NFQ Level: Advanced
Valid From: Semester 2 - 2021/22 ( January 2022 )
Duration: 1 Semester
Credits: 5
Field of Study: 4811 - Computer Science
Module Delivered in: 1 programme(s)
Module Description: This module is Operating System Engineering, which presents the design and implementation of an OS kernel to the source code level. The module focuses on the design of operating system architectures and virtualisation methodologies. Practical kernel level programming will take place on a Linux platform.
 
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Investigate kernel abstractions and associated data structures.
LO2 Evaluate the kernel device model and hardware resource abstraction/virtualisation.
LO3 Interpret and compare operating system virtualisation methodologies.
LO4 Analyse operating system design for single purpose and emergent compute architectures.
Dependencies
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named MTU module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
12785 SOFT7006 Operating Systems
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module. You may not earn additional credit for the same learning and therefore you may not enrol in this module if you have successfully completed any modules in the incompatible list.
No incompatible modules listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Requirements

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section.
No requirements listed
 
Indicative Content
Kernel hardware abstraction architecture
Linux kernel: hardware abstractions, subsystems, documentation, source code navigation; Virtualisation subsystem: containers, hypervisors; Kernel debugging; Embedded Linux: boot data structures and initialization, device abstractions and the device tree, root file system; Boot Loader and virtualisation; Building the Linux kernel: build systems.
Kernel level device drivers
Abstracting/virtualising hardware resources; Kernel device abstractions: data structures, APIs, interface to user space; Interrupt handlers; Character devices; Block devices; Virtual devices; Network drivers.
Virtualisation methodologies
Processes: memory management and isolation; Kernel interface to user space and associated kernel layers: file system layers, Network stack e.g. Linux Ethernet driver and kernel network layer interfaces; Asynchronous I/O models e.g. epoll in Linux; virtio infrastructure in Linux.
Operating systems for single purpose and emergent compute technologies
Microkernels, unikernels and microVMs e.g. firecracker; Virtualising I/O in cloud, edge and serverless computing environments e.g. Arrakis and ClickOS; Microkernel approach to host networking e.g. snap; Operating systems and quantum computing.
Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework50.00%
End of Module Formal Examination50.00%

Assessments

Coursework
Assessment Type Practical/Skills Evaluation % of Total Mark 30
Timing Every Second Week Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4
Assessment Description
Lab work based on lecture material. For example:
develop a kernel level trace system.
Assessment Type Project % of Total Mark 20
Timing Week 12 Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4
Assessment Description
Kernel level development project e.g. develop a device driver and associated sub-system, which may control a virtual device.
End of Module Formal Examination
Assessment Type Formal Exam % of Total Mark 50
Timing End-of-Semester Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4
Assessment Description
End of Semester Formal Examination.
Reassessment Requirement
Repeat examination
Reassessment of this module will consist of a repeat examination. It is possible that there will also be a requirement to be reassessed in a coursework element.

The University reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Lectures delivering the theory underpinning the learning outcomes. Every Week 2.00 2
Lab Contact Lab supporting the learning outcomes and content delivered in lectures. Every Week 2.00 2
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Independent Study. Every Week 3.00 3
Total Hours 7.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 4.00
Workload: Part Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Lectures delivering the theory underpinning the learning outcomes. Every Week 2.00 2
Lab Contact Lab supporting the learning outcomes and content delivered in lectures. Every Week 2.00 2
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Independent study. Every Week 3.00 3
Total Hours 7.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 4.00
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Remzi H Arpaci-Dusseau, Andrea C Arpaci-Dusseau. (2018), Operating Systems: Three Easy Pieces, 1st Edition. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, [ISBN: 9781985086593].
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Robert Love. (2010), Linux Kernel Development, 3rd Ed.. Addison-Wesley Professional, [ISBN: 9780672329463].
  • Chris Simmonds. (2015), Mastering Embedded Linux Programming, Packt Publishing, [ISBN: 9781784392536].
Recommended Article/Paper Resources
  • Russell, Rusty. (2008), virtio: towards a de-facto standard for virtual I/O devices, ACM SIGOPS Operating Systems Review, 42.5 (2008): 95-103..
  • Agache, Alexandru, et al.. (2020), Firecracker: Lightweight virtualization for serverless applications, 17th {usenix} symposium on networked systems design and implementation ({nsdi} 20).
  • Martins, Joao, et al.. (2014), ClickOS and the art of network function virtualization, 11th {USENIX} symposium on networked systems design and implementation ({NSDI} 14).
  • Marty, Michael, et al.. (2019), Snap: A microkernel approach to host networking, Proceedings of the 27th ACM Symposium on Operating Systems Principles.
  • Corrigan-Gibbs, et al.. (2017), Quantum operating systems, Proceedings of the 16th Workshop on Hot Topics in Operating Systems..
  • Peter, Simon, et al.. (2015), Arrakis: The operating system is the control plane., ACM Transactions on Computer Systems (TOCS) 33.4.
Other Resources
 
Module Delivered in
Programme Code Programme Semester Delivery
CR_KSDEV_8 Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Software Development 8 Mandatory