Distributed Systems (COMP90015)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
Contact information
Semester 1
Rajkumar Buyya
Semester 2
Rajkumar Buyya
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
AIMS
The subject aims to provide an understanding of the principles on which the Web, Email, DNS and other interesting distributed systems are based. Questions concerning distributed architecture, concepts and design; and how these meet the demands of contemporary distributed applications will be addressed.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
Topics covered include: characterization of distributed systems, system models, interprocess communication, remote invocation, indirect communication, operating system support, distributed objects and components, web services, security, distributed file systems, and name services.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject the student is expected to:
- Be able to apply the principles and paradigms of distributed systems in design, development and critical reasoning
- Demonstrate an ability to implement a complex distributed application from first principles
Generic skills
On completion of this subject students should have the following skills:
- Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution
- Capacity for independent critical thought, rational inquiry and self-directed learning
- Profound respect for truth and intellectual integrity, and for the ethics of scholarship.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| COMP90041 | Programming and Software Development |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| COMP90038 | Algorithms and Complexity |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| COMP90007 | Internet Technologies |
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
OR admission into one of the following courses:
- MC-ENG Master of Engineering, all entry points
- MC-IT Master of Information Technology, 100 or 150 point program in Computing, Cyber Security or Distributed Computing
- MC-IT Master of Information Technology, 100 point program in Human-Computer Interaction
- MC-SCICMP Master of Science (Computer Science)
- Master of Computer Science
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) 1 and 2 are addressed by extensive Project work of approximately 50-55 hours of work, which reinforce lecture content and develop programming and writing skills. Project work is assessed in stages throughout the semester, with half of the work typically due in Week 8 and the remaining work due in Week 12.
| Throughout the teaching period | 40% |
ILO 1 is further addressed by a written examination
| During the examination period | 60% |
Additional details
Hurdle requirement: To pass the subject, students must obtain at least:
- 50% overall
- 20/40 in the Project work
- 30/60 in the end-of-semester written examination
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Rajkumar Buyya Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 36 hours, comprising of two hours of lectures and one hour of tutorial/laboratory classes per week Total time commitment 200 hours Teaching period 2 March 2020 to 7 June 2020 Last self-enrol date 13 March 2020 Census date 30 April 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 June 2020 Assessment period ends 3 July 2020 Semester 1 contact information
Rajkumar Buyya
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Rajkumar Buyya Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 36 hours, comprising of two hours of lectures and one hour of tutorial/laboratory classes per week Total time commitment 200 hours Teaching period 3 August 2020 to 1 November 2020 Last self-enrol date 14 August 2020 Census date 21 September 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 16 October 2020 Assessment period ends 27 November 2020 Semester 2 contact information
Rajkumar Buyya
Time commitment details
200 hours
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
- Subject notes
LEARNING AND TEACHING METHODS
The subject will be delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials and project work. The project work involves developing a distributed application and writing a report.
INDICATIVE KEY LEARNING RESOURCES
Students will have access to lecture notes and lecture slides. The subject LMS site also contains links to recommended literature and current survey papers of distributed system principles and paradigms.
CAREERS / INDUSTRY LINKS
The subject provides the fundamentals in distributed systems that support a career in areas such as IT System Engineer, Enterprise Architect, Analytics, Software Developer, Systems Administration, and Network Engineer.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Science (Computer Science) Course Master of Data Science Course Ph.D.- Engineering Course Doctor of Philosophy - Engineering Course Master of Philosophy - Engineering Specialisation (formal) Spatial Specialisation (formal) Computing Specialisation (formal) Distributed Computing Specialisation (formal) Mechatronics Specialisation (formal) Software with Business Specialisation (formal) Software Major Computer Science - Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 3 November 2022