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Learning Objectives

At the completion of this unit students will:

  • know the general purpose and functions of operating systems;
  • understand the hardware and software mechanisms used to carry out these functions;
  • be familiar with the principal differences between common major operating systems such as Windows and Linux;
  • be able to install new operating systems on PC hardware;
  • be willing to select operating systems based on their merits rather than their marketing.

Graduate Attributes

Monash prepares its graduates to be:
  1. responsible and effective global citizens who:
    1. engage in an internationalised world
    2. exhibit cross-cultural competence
    3. demonstrate ethical values
  2. critical and creative scholars who:
    1. produce innovative solutions to problems
    2. apply research skills to a range of challenges
    3. communicate perceptively and effectively

    Assessment Summary

    Examination (3 hours): 60%; In-semester assessment: 40%

    Assessment Task Value Due Date
    Assignment 1 20% 18 April 2011
    Assignment 2 20% 16 May 2011
    Examination 1 60% To be advised

    Teaching Approach

    Lecture and tutorials or problem classes
    This teaching and learning approach provides facilitated learning, practical exploration and peer learning.

    Feedback

    Our feedback to You

    Types of feedback you can expect to receive in this unit are:
    • Informal feedback on progress in labs/tutes
    • Graded assignments with comments
    • Solutions to tutes, labs and assignments

    Your feedback to Us

    Monash is committed to excellence in education and regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through SETU, Student Evaluation of Teacher and Unit. The University's student evaluation policy requires that every unit is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.

    For more information on Monash's educational strategy, and on student evaluations, see:
    http://www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/directions.html
    http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html

    Previous Student Evaluations of this unit

    If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
    https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp

    Required Resources

    Study resources we will provide for your study are:

    • A Unit Book containing 10 study guides at MUSO.
    • This Unit Information outlining the administrative information for the unit.
    • A unit web page at MUSO where lecture slides, weekly tutorial requirements, assignment specifications, sample solutions and supplementary material will be posted.
    • Discussion groups at MUSO.

    Unit Schedule

    Week Date* Activities Assessment
    0 21/02/11   No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0
    1 28/02/11 Introduction  
    2 07/03/11 Processes and Threads  
    3 14/03/11 Scheduling  
    4 21/03/11 Interprocess Communications  
    5 28/03/11 Deadlocks  
    6 04/04/11 Memory Management  
    7 11/04/11 Memory Management  
    8 18/04/11 Input/Output Assignment 1 due 18 April 2011
    Mid semester break
    9 02/05/11 File Systems  
    10 09/05/11 Security  
    11 16/05/11 Case Study 1: Linux Assignment 2 due 16 May 2011
    12 23/05/11 Case Study 2: Windows Vista and Revision  
      30/05/11 SWOT VAC No formal assessment is undertaken SWOT VAC

    *Please note that these dates may only apply to Australian campuses of Monash University. Off-shore students need to check the dates with their unit leader.

    Assessment Policy

    To pass a unit which includes an examination as part of the assessment a student must obtain:

    • 40% or more in the unit's examination, and
    • 40% or more in the unit's total non-examination assessment, and
    • an overall unit mark of 50% or more.

    If a student does not achieve 40% or more in the unit examination or the unit non-examination total assessment, and the total mark for the unit is greater than 50% then a mark of no greater than 49-N will be recorded for the unit

    Assessment Tasks

    Participation

    • Assessment task 1
      Title:
      Assignment 1
      Description:
      Students will be required to perform a number of tasks involving both analytical and practical skills from the syllabus covered in Study Guides 1-4.
      Weighting:
      20%
      Criteria for assessment:
      The specification and marking criteria will be released in MUSO four teaching weeks in advance of the due date. Solutions will be released after the cut-off date, which is one week after the due date.
      Due date:
      18 April 2011
    • Assessment task 2
      Title:
      Assignment 2
      Description:
      Students will be required to perform a number of tasks involving both analytical and practical skills from the syllabus covered in Study Guides 5-7.
      Weighting:
      20%
      Criteria for assessment:
      The specification and marking criteria will be released in MUSO four teaching weeks in advance of the due date. Solutions will be released after the cut-off date, which is one week after the due date.
      Due date:
      16 May 2011

    Examinations

    • Examination 1
      Weighting:
      60%
      Length:
      3 hours
      Type (open/closed book):
      Closed book
      Electronic devices allowed in the exam:
      None

    Assignment submission

    Assignment coversheets are available via "Student Forms" on the Faculty website: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/

    You MUST submit a completed coversheet with all assignments, ensuring that the plagiarism declaration section is signed.

    Extensions and penalties

    Submission must be made by the due date otherwise penalties will be enforced.

    You must negotiate any extensions formally with your campus unit leader via the in-semester special consideration process: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/equity/special-consideration.html.

    Returning assignments

    Students can expect assignments to be returned within two weeks of the submission date or after receipt, whichever is later

    Policies

    Monash has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University's academic standards, and to provide advice on how they might uphold them. You can find Monash's Education Policies at:
    http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/education/index.html

    Key educational policies include:

    Student services

    The University provides many different kinds of support services for you. Contact your tutor if you need advice and see the range of services available at www.monash.edu.au/students The Monash University Library provides a range of services and resources that enable you to save time and be more effective in your learning and research. Go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au or the library tab in my.monash portal for more information. Students who have a disability or medical condition are welcome to contact the Disability Liaison Unit to discuss academic support services. Disability Liaison Officers (DLOs) visit all Victorian campuses on a regular basis

    Prescribed Text

    Tanenbaum, Andrew, Modern Operating Systems, 3rd edition, Prentice-Hall, 2008, ISBN 0-13-600663-9.

    Recommended Readings

    Stallings, William, Operating Systems: Internals and Design Principles, 6th edition, Prentice-Hall, 2009, ISBN 0-13-600632-9.

    Silberschatz, Galvin and Gagne, Operating Systems Concepts, 7th edition, Wiley, 2005, ISBN 0-471-69466-3.

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