You are here:

96007 - Foundations of Computer Architecture and Operating Systems

Academic Year 2022/2023

                
                        Docente:
                        Thomas Casali
                    
                        Credits:
                        6
                    
                        SSD:
                        ING-INF/05
                    
                        Language:
                        Italian
                    
                        Teaching Mode:
                        Traditional lectures
                        
                            Campus:
                            Cesena
                        
                            Corso:
                            First cycle degree programme (L) in
                            Computer Systems Technologies (cod. 5816)

                            Teaching resources on Virtuale
                        
                                    Course Timetable
                                
from Sep 21, 2022 to Dec 07, 2022

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student knows the basic understanding (principles and methods of logical design of the digital devices transmitting, processing and generating two-value signals, and learns how to describe a device from a double point of view: its behaviour ("what it does") and structure ("what it is made of"). The student knows the computer architecture and its level-oriented structuring and understands the low-level languages for computer programming. The student learns the functions of the Operating System, knows the problems of the multi-user and concurrency systems, the character user interface and the filesystem structure.

Course contents

The course is subdivided into the following three modules:

Logic design of the information processing devices
-- Design levels of a digital device. Signal classification.
-- Binary representation of information
-- Processing string of symbols
-- The finite state machine model
-- The combinational logic network
-- Real combinational networks: transient and steady-state behaviour
Level architecture of the information processing device
-- Computer and peripherals architecture
-- The ISA level
-- Introduction to the assembly language
The Operating System level
-- Functions of the Operating System
-- Basics of memory management; basic concept of CPU scheduling; Character User Interface: the bash (basics)
-- Multi-user systems: basics of concurrency and concurrent programming

Readings/Bibliography

Silberschatz, P.B. Galvin, G. Gagne, “Sistemi operativi, concetti ed esempi”, 9/Ed., Pearson Education Italia, 2014
S. Tanenbaum, T. Austin, “Architettura dei Calcolatori”, 6/Ed., Pearson Education Limited, 2013

Teaching methods

Classroom lecture and practical

Assessment methods

In order to take part in an exam session, students must register on Almaesami.

The examination consists of two parts:

1. Written test with exercises and questions about the course topics. During the written test it is not allowed to consult any kind of material.

2. An optional oral examination (upon successful completion of the written test) consisting of questions related to the course program.

Teaching tools

The slides shown in the classroom are available for download in the course site

Office hours

See the website of Thomas Casali