BSc Computer Science / Course details

The basic architecture of computer systems has been covered in first year course units which detailed both the instruction set architecture and the micro-architecture (hardware structure) of simple processors. Although these principles underlie the vast majority of modern computers, there is a wide range of both hardware and software techniques which are employed to increase the performance, reliability and flexibility of systems.

Students who are not from the Department of Computer Science must have permission from both Computer Science and their home School to enrol.

The aims of this course are to introduce the most important system architecture approaches. To give a wider understanding of how real systems operate and, from that understanding, the ability to optimise their use.

• describe the techniques which are employed in modern computing systems to increase performance, reliability and flexibility.
• compare the strengths and weaknesses of different system architectures.
• explain how and predict to which extent such techniques impact the performance, reliability and flexibility of computing systems.
• identify suitable system architectures for a given set of system requirements.

 

Introduction

The motivation behind advanced architectural techniques.

Caching

The need to overcome latency. Caching as a principle, examples of caching in practice. Processor cache structure and operation.

Pipelining

Principles of pipelining. Implementation of a processor pipeline and its properties. Pipelining requirements and limitations. Additional support for pipelining.

Multi-Threading

Basic multi-threading principles. Processor support for multi-threading. Simultaneous multi-threading.

Multi-Core

Motivation for multi-core. Possible multi-core structures. Cache coherence.

File System Support

Implementation of file systems. RAID

Virtual Machines

Motivation for Virtual Machines. Language Virtual Machines. System Virtual Machines. Virtual Machine implementation. Binary Translation.

Lectures, coursework, online quizzes.

Guest lecture from industry (TBC).

Continuous feedback with students will be maintained through active participation in the classroom.

Feedback given after assessment

COMP25212 reading list can be found on the Department of Computer Science website for current students.
 

Course unit materials

Links to course unit teaching materials can be found on the School of Computer Science website for current students