CQUniversity Unit Profile
COIT20257 Distributed Systems: Principles and Development
Distributed Systems: Principles and Development
All details in this unit profile for COIT20257 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

Distributed Systems: Principles and Development you will learn basic principles of distributed systems including architecture, design, and algorithms and how to use these principles in the development of distributed applications. You will explore the significant distributed system characteristics of scalability, heterogeneity, security, and failure handling in addition to the fundamentals of networking, inter-process communication, remote invocation, and operating system support. You will examine different approaches to supporting distributed applications including distributed objects, web services, and peer-to-peer solutions. You will learn about distributed file systems, naming, and data-related aspects of distributed transactions, and data replication. Algorithms associated to timing, and coordination and agreement will also be studied. You will also analyse the areas of mobile and ubiquitous computing and the social impact arising from the ubiquity of distributed systems. You will consolidate the key theoretical material through the computer lab tutorial sessions and development of software applications.

Details

Career Level: Postgraduate
Unit Level: Level 9
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisite unit: COIT20256 Data structures and AlgorithmsAnti-Requisite unit: COIT23005 Distributed Systems

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 2 - 2022

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Rockhampton
Sydney

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Practical Assessment
Weighting: 30%
2. Practical Assessment
Weighting: 35%
3. Written Assessment
Weighting: 35%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Coordinator reflection

Feedback

Students cover the concepts of distributed system security, but do not get sufficient programming practice

Recommendation

Introduce programming components for digital certificate and symmetric and asymmetric encryption; enhance distributed system security by developing a secured distributed system for assessment.

Feedback from Coordinator reflection

Feedback

Not enough depth in concurrency control, so difficult for students to apply

Recommendation

Introduce more programming components e.g. thread safety and synchronisation to apply concurrency control to cope with data inconsistency problems for constructing distributed systems.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Develop distributed applications using networking, inter-process communication, and remote invocation
  2. Design and develop distributed applications using one of the approaches of distributed objects, web services, and peer-to-peer solutions
  3. Solve problems in the distributed systems domain by applying the principles of distributed systems to authentic problems
  4. Critique the issues involved in developing reliable, secure, and scalable distributed systems
  5. Discuss the technology needs and social impact arising from ubiquitous distributed systems
  6. Work independently and collaboratively in small teams.

Australian Computer Society (ACS) recognises the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA). SFIA is in use in over 100 countries and provides a widely used and consistent definition of ICT skills. SFIA is increasingly being used when developing job descriptions and role profiles.

ACS members can use the tool MySFIA to build a skills profile at https://www.acs.org.au/professionalrecognition/mysfia-b2c.html

This unit contributes to the following workplace skills as defined by SFIA. The SFIA code is included:

  • Systems Design (DESN)
  • Systems Integration (SINT)
  • Program ming/Software Development ( PROG),
  • Database/Repository Design (DBDS)
  • Testing (TEST)
  • Network Support (NTAS)
  • Release and Deployment (RELM),
  • Application Support (ASUP).

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 - Practical Assessment - 30%
2 - Practical Assessment - 35%
3 - Written Assessment - 35%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 - Knowledge
2 - Communication
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills
4 - Research
5 - Self-management
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility
7 - Leadership
8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 - Practical Assessment - 30%
2 - Practical Assessment - 35%
3 - Written Assessment - 35%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Distributed Systems Concepts and Design

Edition: 5 (2012)
Authors: George Coulouris,Jean Dollimore, Tim Kindberg and Gordon Blair
Pearson Education
Gordon Blair Gordon Blair , UK
ISBN: 9780133001372
Binding: Paperback

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • NetBeans IDE 8.2 or a higher version
  • Java Development Kit (JDK) 8 or a higher version
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Wei Li Unit Coordinator
w.li@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 11 Jul 2022

Module/Topic

An Introduction to Distributed
Systems

Chapter

Chapter 1 & Chapter 2

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 18 Jul 2022

Module/Topic

Inter-process Communication

Chapter

Chapter 4

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 25 Jul 2022

Module/Topic

Distributed Objects & Remote Invocation

Chapter

Chapter 5

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 01 Aug 2022

Module/Topic

Process and Thread Management –Operating System Support

Chapter

Chapter 7

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 08 Aug 2022

Module/Topic

Replication and Fault Tolerance

Chapter

Chapter 18

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assignment 1 Due: Week 5 Friday (12 Aug 2022) 11:59 pm AEST
Vacation Week Begin Date: 15 Aug 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 22 Aug 2022

Module/Topic

Distributed File Systems

Chapter

Chapters 12

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 29 Aug 2022

Module/Topic

Name Services

Chapter

Chapter 13

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 05 Sep 2022

Module/Topic

Coordination and Agreement

Chapter

Chapter 15

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 12 Sep 2022

Module/Topic

Transactions and Concurrent Control

Chapter

Chapter 16

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assignment 2 Due: Week 9 Friday (16 Sept 2022) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 10 Begin Date: 19 Sep 2022

Module/Topic

Distributed Transactions

Chapter

Chapter 17

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 26 Sep 2022

Module/Topic

Web Services & Mobile and Ubiquitous Computing

Chapter

Chapter 9 & Chapter 19

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 03 Oct 2022

Module/Topic

Security in Distributed Systems

Chapter

Chapter 11

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assignment 3 Due: Week 12 Friday (7 Oct 2022) 11:59 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 10 Oct 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 17 Oct 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Term Specific Information

The unit coordinator of this term is:

DR Wei Li

School of Engineering & Technology
Central Queensland University
Rockhampton QLD 4702, Australia
Phone: +61 7 4930 9686
Email: w.li@cqu.edu.au

Assessment Tasks

1 Practical Assessment

Assessment Title
Assignment 1

Task Description

Your task for this assignment is to develop a simplified Master/Worker computing framework. The Master/Worker framework is a typical client/server system to make use distributed computing power. The purpose of this assignment is to assess your competence on Java multi-threading, TCP streaming, object serialization and client/server model.

The assignment specification and marking criteria can be accessed from the unit Moodle site.


Assessment Due Date

Week 5 Friday (12 Aug 2022) 11:59 pm AEST

Assignment 1 Due


Return Date to Students

Week 6 Friday (26 Aug 2022)

Assignment 1 Results Release


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

The assignment will be assessed by the software implementation and user instruction document.

  1. Analysis and design of a software application using TCP networking and client-server model for the given problem
  2. Implementation of the application using TCP streaming, multi-threading, and object serialization
  3. Incorporation of concurrent multi-user access to the software application
  4. Use of good programming techniques/practices
  5. Rigorous testing of software application.

The detailed marking criteria can be accessed from the unit Moodle.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
You must submit your assignment via the online submission system from the unit Moodle site.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Develop distributed applications using networking, inter-process communication, and remote invocation
  • Solve problems in the distributed systems domain by applying the principles of distributed systems to authentic problems


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Self-management

2 Practical Assessment

Assessment Title
Assignment 2

Task Description

You will be tasked with a team-based software development project. You will be part of a small team to design, implement, test and document a simplified Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Content Distribution and Distributed Query system. The purpose of this assignment is to assess your competence in P2P overlay modelling, Java IP multicast programming and UDP datagram messaging. Your ability to work collaboratively in a small team will also be assessed by this assignment.

The assignment specification and marking criteria can be accessed from the unit Moodle site.


Assessment Due Date

Week 9 Friday (16 Sept 2022) 11:59 pm AEST

Assignment 2 Due


Return Date to Students

Week 11 Friday (30 Sept 2022)

Assignment 2 Results Release


Weighting
35%

Assessment Criteria

The assignment will be assessed by the software implementation and user instruction document.

  1. Analysis and design of a software application using UDP networking and peer-to-peer communication for the given problem
  2. Implementation of the application using IP multicast and P2P overlay
  3. Critique the issues involved in developing reliable and scalable distributed systems
  4. Work independently and collaboratively in small teams

The detailed marking criteria can be accessed from the unit Moodle site.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
You must submit your assignment via the online submission system from the unit Moodle site.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Design and develop distributed applications using one of the approaches of distributed objects, web services, and peer-to-peer solutions
  • Solve problems in the distributed systems domain by applying the principles of distributed systems to authentic problems
  • Critique the issues involved in developing reliable, secure, and scalable distributed systems
  • Work independently and collaboratively in small teams.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility
  • Leadership

3 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Assignment 3

Task Description

Your task for this assignment is to address some theoretical issues in the area of distributed systems or distributed computing. The purpose of this assignment is to assess your understanding of the theoretical issues or competence to apply the theoretical principles. Writing of a formal academic report is also assessed.

The assignment specification and marking criteria can be accessed on the unit Moodle site.


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Friday (7 Oct 2022) 11:59 pm AEST

Assignment 3 Due


Return Date to Students

The marked assignment will be returned on the day of Certification of Grades


Weighting
35%

Assessment Criteria

The assignment will be assessed by understanding and application of the given theoretical issues.

  1. Clear demonstration of your understanding of the topics given in the specification
  2. Critical review of relevant information and logical construction of arguments
  3. Relevant discussion of the impact of specific aspects of distributed systems
  4. Appropriate formatting, clarity of expressions, and relevant and correct use of references.

The detailed marking criteria can be accessed on the unit Moodle site.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
You must submit your assignment via the online submission system from the unit Moodle site.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Critique the issues involved in developing reliable, secure, and scalable distributed systems
  • Discuss the technology needs and social impact arising from ubiquitous distributed systems
  • Work independently and collaboratively in small teams.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?