BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE

Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani
Work-Integrated Learning Programmes Division
Second Semester 2014-2015
Course Handout
Course No.
: SS ZG526
Course Title : DISTRIBUTED COMPUTING
Instructor
: Dr. CHITTRANJAN HOTA
Course description
This course will cover topics like Introduction to distributed computing, Message passing
models, Logical time and global state, Message ordering and Group communication,
Mutual exclusion, Consensus, and Self stabilization, etc. The course will also cover the
design aspects of various advanced distributed computing models like Cluster of
cooperative computers, Grid computing, Peer-to-Peer networks, and Internet of Things.
Scope and Objectives
Over the past three decades, distributed computing has emerged as a well-developed field
in computer science and information technology domain. This field covers all aspects of
computing and information access across multiple processing elements connected by any
form of communication network, either local area, or wide area. There has been a steady
growth in the development of contemporary applications that demonstrate their efficacy
by connecting millions of users/applications/machines across the globe without relying
on a traditional client-server approach. In recent times, the general computing trend is to
leverage shared resources and massive amounts of data over the Internet. This course
aims to provide an in-depth understanding of theory, algorithms, and systems aspects of
distributed computing.
PRESCRIBED TEXT BOOK
T.1. Ajay D. Kshemkalyani, and Mukesh Singhal “Distributed Computing: Principles,
Algorithms, and Systems”, Cambridge University Press, 2008 (Reprint 2013).
REFERENCE BOOKS
R.1.
R.2.
R.3.
Kai Hwang, Geoffrey C. Fox, and Jack J. Dongarra, “Distributed and Cloud
Computing: From Parallel processing to the Internet of Things”, Morgan
Kaufmann, 2012 Elsevier Inc.
John F. Buford, Heather Yu, and Eng K. Lua, “P2P Networking and
Applications”, Morgan Kaufmann, 2009 Elsevier Inc.
Joshy Joseph, and Craif Fellenstein, “Grid Computing”, IBM Press, Pearson
education, 2011.
SS ZG526 (Course Handout)
Second Semester 2014-2015
Page 2
PLAN OF STUDY:
S.No
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
TOPIC
CHAPTE
R REF
(Text)
Introduction to Distributed Computing: Motivation, Chapter 1
Multiprocessor Vs Multicomputer Systems, Distributed
Communication models: Remote Procedure Call,
Publish/Subscribe model, Message Queues etc., Design
issues and Challenges for build distribute computing
systems.
Logical time Scalar time, Vector time, Implementation of Chapter 3
Logical and Vector clocks,
Global snapshot: Snapshot algorithms for FIFO/ Non- Chapter 4
FIFO channels.
Terminology and Basic algorithms: Classifications and Chapter 5
basic
concepts,
Elementary
graph
algorithms,
Synchronizers, Maximal Independent set, Connected
dominating set.
Message ordering and group communication: Message Chapter 6
ordering Paradigms, Group communication, Application
level multicast.
Distributed Mutual Exclusion: Assertion based and Token Chapter 9
based Mutual exclusion algorithms.
Mid-Semester Review
Lect
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
Syllabus for Mid-Semester Test (Closed Book): Topics in S. No. 1 to 6
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13
Consensus and Agreement Protocols: Agreement in
failure free and systems with failures, wait-free shared
memory consensus in asynchronous systems.
Self-Stabilization: Designing self-stabilizing systems, selfstabilizing distributed spanning tree, probabilistic selfstabilizing leader election algorithm, self-stabilization as a
solution to fault tolerance.
Peer-to-Peer computing and Overlay graphs: Data
indexing and overlays, unstructured and structured overlays:
BitTorrent, Tor, Bitcoin, CHORD overlay, Internet graphs,
Small world networks, Scale free networks, and Evolving
networks.
Cluster Computing: Cluster computers and MPP
architectures, Cluster job and resource management.
Grid Computing: Grid architecture and service modeling,
Grid resource management and brokering..
Internet of Things: IoT for Ubiquitous computing, RFID,
Sensors and ZigBee technologies, Applications of IoT
(smart buildings, cyber-physical systems), graph theoretic
analysis of social networks, Facebook, and Twitter case
studies.
Final Review
Chapter 14
1
Chapter 17
2
Chapter 18
2
R1 (Ch.2)
1
R1 (Ch.7)
1
R1 (Ch.9)
1
-
1
Syllabus for Comprehensive Exam (Open Book): All topics given in Plan of Self Study
SS ZG526 (Course Handout)
Second Semester 2014-2015
Page 3
Evaluation Scheme:
EC
No.
EC1
EC2
EC3
Evaluation Component
& Type of Examination
Assignment/ Quiz
Duration
Weightage
Day, Date, Session, Time
* To be announced
15%
* To be announced
Mid-Semester Test
(Closed Book)
Comprehensive Exam
(Open Book)
2 Hours
35%
3 Hours
50%
Saturday, 21/02/2015 (AN)
2 PM – 4 PM
Saturday 18/04/2015 (AN)
2 PM – 5 PM
AN: AfterNoon Session;
FN: ForeNoon Session
Closed Book Test: No reference material of any kind will be permitted inside the exam
hall.
Open Book Exam: Use of any printed / written reference material (books and
notebooks) will be permitted inside the exam hall. Loose sheets of paper will not be
permitted. Computers of any kind will not be allowed inside the exam hall. Use of
calculators will be allowed in all exams. No exchange of any material will be allowed.
Note:
It shall be the responsibility of the individual student to be regular in maintaining the self
study schedule as given in the course handout, attend the online/on demand lectures as
per details that would be put up in the BITS LMS Taxila website www.taxila.bitspilani.ac.in and take all the prescribed components of the evaluation such as Assignment
(Course Page on LMS Taxila), Mid Semester Test and Comprehensive Examination
according to the Evaluation Scheme given in the respective Course Handout. If the
student is unable to appear for the Regular Test/Examination due to genuine exigencies,
the student must refer to the procedure for applying for Make-up Test/Examination,
which will be available through the Important Information link on the BITS WILP LMS
Taxila website www.taxila.bits-pilani.ac.in on the date of the Regular
Test/Examination. The Make-up Tests/Exams will be conducted only at selected exam
centres on the dates to be announced later.
Instructor-in-Charge