22c196 In the Clouds and in the Walls (Spring 2009)
Contents
Time, Location, Instructor, Prerequisites, Textbooks
Tuesday, Thursday 5:15-6:30 room 105 MacLean Hall
Professor: Ted Herman, 201M MacLean Hall, Telephone: 335-2833, Email: ted-herman AT uiowa.edu (replace AT by "@" and remove spaces), Office Hours: 1:30-2:30 Monday, Wednesday; on Friday 2:30-3:30. Also, usually from 11:30-12:00 each day.
Important Note any email regarding this course should have [196] somewhere in the subject line
(otherwise, the email may be discarded by a spam filter)
Course Web Site: http://weblog.cs.uiowa.edu/22c196
Teaching Assistant: Chris Hlady
Course Prerequisites: Students have completed a "systems course" or the equivalent (operating systems, networks, or similar). Some programming experience is a prerequisite for experimental projects. Basic familiarity with the tools of algorithm analysis (order-of-n complexity) will be needed to understand technical readings.
Textbooks: There is no textbook yet for "cloud computing", and most of the reading assignments will come from conference papers and online resources. To understand the underlying motivation for cloud computing, we will at some point read Nick Carr's The Big Switch (be sure to get the paperback version).
General Information
Gradually, futuristic visions of ubiquitous and pervasive computing are gaining traction in real-world applications. Two supporting instances of this trend are so-called "cloud computing" and sensor networks. This special-topics course will be a seminar on new systems developments related to cloud computing, scalable content networks, large-scale data repositories with continuous data feeds, and the sensor networks one typically finds at the bottom of a hierarchy in these emerging systems. There is no textbook that covers these new topics; class members will need to read technical literature and study projects (some of which are described by companies and organizations that are developing and researching these new systems). Class members will actively participate in the seminar by discussing, taking responsibility to present ideas from papers and share technical understanding from recent research reports.
Goals and Objectives of the Course
"Cloud computing" is a trendy buzzword in software, in the tradition of many developments related to internet, web, and industry trends. Is this a fad, or is there some new, fundamental paradigm for how computation will advance? This course will look at a variety of recent research results, commercial offerings, and open-source projects that directly or indirectly relate to what is considered cloud computing. Cloud computing consolidates commodity hardware to support software that scales from small servers to big clusters capable of processing extremely large amounts of data.
A companion trend is the emergence of data feeds from sensors, mobile phones, automated tracking hardware, RFID, and new standards for data exchange. These data feeds may put information "into the cloud" and enable new applications supporting greater mobility in user access. We will examine some of the aggregation techniques and some limitations of what is known in this area.
Beyond getting understanding of the topics above, a goal of this course is for students to move beyond textbook presentations: students will read technical papers, including recent research papers, and demonstrate understanding of the material. By doing so, students will further their skills in critical reading, presenting, and assimilating research results. More information was provided in the first class, 20 January, in manifesto.pdf (presentation)
Effort Level
This is a three-credit course. Official university policy is to expect about one hour of work, outside of class, for each credit unit. Thus a typical expected workload would be about six hours per week outside of class.
Grading Procedures and Policy
Grades will be assigned on the basis of scores, taken over these categories: in-class presentations [25%]; making notes, which will be made into a record on the course web site [25%]; completion of some project [25%], and examinations [25%]. More information about exams will be posted on the course web site.
Attendance, Tardiness, Late Policy
Students are expected to attend class unless there is a valid reason for not attending. There may be significant late penalty (up to 50%) for late work.
Additional Resources
We'll use many online resources.
Miscellaneous Announcements: The University of Iowa Policies
This course is given by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). This means that class policies on matters such as requirements, grading, and sanctions for academic dishonesty are governed by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Students wishing to add or drop this course after the official deadline must receive the approval of the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Details of the University policy of cross enrollments may be found at: http://www.uiowa.edu/~provost/deos/crossenroll.doc.
See the student academic handbook for administrative procedures, your rights and responsibilities, and other topics. The official classroom procedures for faculty includes policies on cheating and plagiarism, students with disabilities, and other topics. In particular, we are required to state the following: I would like to hear from anyone who has a disability which may require seating modifications or testing accommodations or accommodations of other class requirements, so that appropriate arrangements may be made. Please contact me during my office hours.
Also, we are required to specify the following information. The name of the department, location of the departmental office, and information on how to contact the DEO or his/her designee: Department of Computer Science, 14 MacLean Hall, Professor James Cremer, DEO
- "Statement that, for each semester hour credit in the course, students should expect to spend two hours per week preparing for class sessions (e.g., in a three-credit-hour course, standard out-of-class preparation is six hours)."
- "Procedures for student complaints." There is rather specific language (legalese) describing the escalating hierarchy of complaint procedures in several University documents. Typically, the student tries to resolve the matter with the instructor; then it can go to the department chairman or higher levels of authority. Please see the official documents for all the details of grievances and appeals.
- The collegiate policy on plagiarism and cheating Plagiarism and cheating are not tolerated. In the past, I've gone so far as making multiple versions of quizzes and examinations to discourage cheating (which had the unfortunate side-effect of being "unfair" because not all examinations were identical). Generally, students caught cheating for the first time may be given a penalty up to an automatic F in the course. Such an F cannot be removed from the transcript. Penalties up to expulsion may apply to second offenses. While you are encouraged to discuss homework problems with others in the class (this is a good way to learn), do not copy solutions!
- Schedule of topics, readings, and course materials or other description of course content. See above, and frequently consult the course web page for assigned readings, pointers to online documents, and other announcements.
- Corrections or changes (if any) in the information about the course printed in the Schedule of Courses or other official University publications. Corrections, updates and announcements will be posted on the course web page version of this syllabus.
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Policies and Procedures
Administrative Home of the Course
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the administrative home of this course and governs such academic matters as the add/drop deadlines, the second-grade-only option, issues concerning academic fraud or academic probation, and how credits are applied for various graduation requirements. Different colleges may have different policies. Students with questions about these or other CLAS policies should speak with an academic advisor or with the staff in 120 Schaeffer Hall. Also see the CLAS Academic Handbook: http://www.clas.uiowa.edu/students/academic_handbook/index.shtml
Academic Fraud
Plagiarism and any other activities that result in a student presenting work that is not his or her own are academic fraud. Academic fraud is reported to the departmental DEO and then to the Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Services in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences who deals with academic fraud according to these guidelines: http://www.clas.uiowa.edu/students/academic_handbook/ix.shtml
Making a Suggestion or a Complaint
Students have the right to make suggestions or complaints and should first visit with the instructor, then with the course supervisor if appropriate, and next with the departmental DEO. All complaints must be made within six months of the incident. http://www.clas.uiowa.edu/students/academic_handbook/ix.shtml#5
Accommodations for Disabilities
A student seeking academic accommodations should first register with Student Disability Services and then meet with a SDS counselor who determines eligibility for services. A student approved for accommodations should meet privately with the course instructor to arrange particular accommodations. See http://www.uiowa.edu/~sds/
Understanding Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment subverts the mission of the University and threatens the well-being of students, faculty, and staff. See http://www.sexualharassment.uiowa.edu/
Reacting Safely to Severe Weather
If severe weather is indicated by the UI outdoor warning system, class members will seek shelter in the innermost part of the building, if possible at the lowest level, staying clear of windows and of free-standing expanses which might prove unstable. The class will resume after the severe weather has ended. See the Operations Manual section 16.14. i.
Student Classroom Behavior
The ability to learn is lessened when students engage in inappropriate classroom behavior, distracting others; such behaviors are a violation of the Code of Student Life. When disruptive activity occurs, a University instructor has the authority to determine classroom seating patterns and to request that a student exit immediately for the remainder of the period. One-day suspensions are reported to appropriate departmental, collegiate, and Student Services personnel (Office of the Vice President for Student Services and Dean of Students).
University Examination Policies
Missed exam policy. University policy requires that students be permitted to make up examinations missed because of illness, mandatory religious obligations, certain University activities, or unavoidable circumstances. Excused absence forms are available at the Registrar web site: http://www.registrar.uiowa.edu/forms/absence.pdf
Recently, the Student Health Services changed the policy on class excuses, please read here: http://www.uiowa.edu/~shs/clinical_services/class_excuse.shtml
Final Examinations
An undergraduate student who has two final examinations scheduled for the same period or more than three examinations scheduled for the same day may file a request for a change of schedule before the published deadline at the Registrar's Service Center, 17 Calvin Hall, 8-4:30 M-F, (384-4300).