Computer Organization and Networking for Scientists

Course Number: 289.05
Course Title: Computer Organization and Networking for Scientists
Credit: 3 semester hours
Prerequisites: ACS 165

OVERVIEW

This course is designed to introduce students in the sciences to the hardware and software components common to all computing systems and the special features unique to specific systems. The emphasis will be on the relationship between the performance of a numeric algorithm and the capabilities and limitations of the computer, the operating system, and the network. The computing platforms to be studied include independent microcomputers, networked workstations, and high performance (super) computers. Operating system capabilities will be discussed in general, but most of the examples will be drawn from UNIX. Networking will be discussed from the point of view of a person who needs access to remote resources or who needs to distribute a computation over a network of computers.

This is an interdepartmental course for Applied Computer Science, Physics, and Chemistry. It is one of a set of courses that are designed for undergraduate students who have a special interest in Computational Science.

EXPLANATION OF PREREQUISITE

ACS 289.05 focuses on the relationship between a computer program and the architecture of the computing system that is used to run the program. ACS 165 provides the programming experience that students need to understand this relationship.

CONTENT OUTLINE

The order of topics in the outline below is not intended to represent the order of presentation. Lectures, readings, and assignments will often discuss situations that relate information from several topic areas and sub-areas.

A. Data Representation ...2 days

1) Binary, Decimal and Hexadecimal Data 2) Physical Representation of Data (eg. integer, character, real)

B. Hardware Architecture and Instructions... 12days

1) Central Processors, Memory Organization
2) Intro to Assembly Language
(Instructions, Addressing Modes)
3) Processor Modes
(e.g. Sequential & Parallel Processing)
4) Digital Logic
5) Peripherals, Auxiliary Storage

C. Operating Systems and Software...15days

1) Operating System Types and Examples
2) Program Management
(Tasks, Processes, Scheduling, Synchronization)
3) File Handling
(Organization, Utility Programs, Device Management)
4) UNIX Utility Programs
5) Security and Protection
6) UNIX Script Files

D. TeIecommunications and Networks ...9 days

1) Serial, Parallel Access
2) Buses, Controllers
3) Communication System Technology
4) Networks & Control
5) Distributed Computer Systems

E. Mapping Computations onto Computing Platforms ...7 days

1) Key Characteristics of Numeric Computations
2) Mapping onto Vector Processors
3) Mapping onto Massively Parallel Computers
4) Mapping onto Networked Workstations