Degree in International Computer Engineering La Salle Campus Barcelona

Bachelor in International Computer Engineering

La Salle Degree s in Computer Engineering, is the only Degree program in Barcelona which equips you with the skills and knowledge needed to meet the new international demands of the computer engineering sector and of the global business world.

Advanced Operating Systems

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Description: 

An operating system acts as a software layer executed on top of hardware to offer various services. Building upon foundational knowledge of operating systems, this course deepens students' understanding of two fundamental subsystems: the memory management system and the file system. By exploring theoretical aspects and analyzing practical examples, the course enhances the student's ability to comprehend complex architectures in modern operating systems

Type Subject
Obligatoria no de Primer
Semester
Second
Course
3
Credits
4.00

Titular Professors

Jiahui Xie Chen

Professors

Jiahui Xie Chen
Previous Knowledge: 

  • It is recommended that students have previously taken an Operating Systems course.
  • Students should have prior knowledge of operating system parts and the kernel, paying special attention to multiprocessing, concurrency, communication mechanisms between processes, and mutual exclusion.
  • Students should have knowledge of C/C++ programming.

Objectives: 

To deepen knowledge in the two fundamental sub-systems of an operating system: the memory management system and the file system.

To utilize practical examples to help students achieve a deeper understanding of the aspects studied from a theoretical point of view.

Contents: 

  1. Memory Management (Conceptual Contents)
    1. Historical perspective
    2. Contiguous memory allocation
    3. Multiprogramming with a Fixed Number of Tasks (MFT)
    4. Multiprogramming with a Variable Number of Tasks (MVT)
    5. Non-contiguous memory allocation
    6. Paging
    7. Paging + Translation Lookaside Buffer (TLB)
    8. Multi-level paging
    9. Segmentation
    10. Virtual memory
    11. Page replacement algorithms
  2. File Systems (Practical Contents)
    1. The Second Extended File System (EXT2)
    2. File Allocation Table 16-bits (FAT16)

Methodology: 

The subject is divided into two modules: the first spans from the start of the course to the exam, and the second from the exam to the end of the semester.

During the first phase, which focuses on primary memory management, master classes will be given. Problems will also be proposed to students so they can deepen their understanding of the presented content.

In the second phase, students engage in a project to learn the implementation details of modern operating systems file systems. This practical work covers systems such as the Second Extended File System (EXT2) for Linux-based kernels and File Allocation Table 16 (FAT16) for Windows-based kernels, with specific milestones marked throughout the project

Evaluation: 

The course is assessed through two separate modules that must be approved independently.

Module 1 (Memory Management): Assessed through a final exam (75%), two continuous assessments (20%), and attendance (5%). A minimum exam grade of 5 is required to pass this module.

Module 2 (Files System): Assessed through project deliveries, execution (40%), an interview (20%), and a report (40%).

The final grade is a combination of both modules (50% each). Any copying of the project, previous deliveries, or continuous assessments will result in an automatic failure of the subject.

Evaluation Criteria: 

The following aspects will be assessed:

  • Theoretical understanding and application of primary memory management principles, evaluated through problem-solving and an examination.
  • Practical ability to implement and explain details of modern file systems (EXT2 and FAT16), evaluated through project execution, a technical interview, and a final report.

Basic Bibliography: 

  • Bovet, D.P., & Cesati, M. (2006). Understanding the Linux kernel (3rd ed.). Beijing; Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly.
  • Chen, J. (2023). Interactive File Systems Documentation. Available at: https://filesystems.jiahuichen.dev/.
  • Canaleta, X. (2010). Exercicis i problemes d'examen de Sistemes Operatius Avançats. Publicacions La Salle, Agost 2011.
  • Forcada, R. (2008). Estudi del sistema de fitxers FAT32 i implementació d'una aplicació docent. Treball Final de Carrera, Enginyeria i Arquitectura La Salle, Universitat Ramon Llull.
  • Microsoft Corporation (2000). Microsoft Extensible Firmware Initiative FAT32 File System Specification, Version 1.03, December 6, 2000.
  • Poirier, D. (2011). The Second Extended File System. Internal Layout, 2001-2011.
  • Stallings, W. (2005). Sistemas operativos (5 Edición). Pearson Prentice Hall. ISBN: 84-205-4462-0.

Additional Material: 

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