Syllabus

ECPE / COMP 293A - Cloud Computing - Spring 2012

Instructor

Jeff Shafer

Office: Anderson Hall 205

Phone: (209) 946-2302

Email: jshafer at pacific dot edu

Office Hours: Mon and Wed, 1:30-3:30pm. Other days by appointment

Course Basics

Course Description

This course will focus on the hot topic of cloud computing today at two levels. First, at a low level, we will explore the technological underpinnings that enable modern cloud computing, with a focus on virtualization technology (such as Xen), middleware systems, and programming models (such as MapReduce). We will discuss current research focused on improving the security, performance, fault-tolerance, and energy efficiency of these cloud computing systems. Second, at a high level, we will utilize these cloud computing technologies as application programmers to construct distributed and large-scale data processing systems in class projects. These projects will focus on understanding the tradeoffs of cloud computing systems and applying the right technology for the needs of a particular application and data set.

Learning Objectives

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Understand the cloud computing paradigm, including how it was created and its relationship to other computing models
• Critically evaluate research papers on cloud computing technologies
• Successfully implement systems using programming models such as MapReduce and infrastructure systems such as Amazon Web Services.

Attendance Policy

Attendance is mandatory for this class and is particularly important in facilitating engaging group discussions. The only acceptable excuses for missing class or an assignment due date are serious illness, death in the immediate family or important professional activities. Illness or death in the family may require documentation. Excuses for professional activities must be approved by the instructor in advance.

While there is no dedicated portion of your grade allocated to "physical presence in the classroom", note that the research paper summaries are worth 30% of the class grade, and I will not award any points in the case where a paper summary is completed but the student did not attend the corresponding in-class discussion. Students who miss class meetings are responsible for keeping up with paper readings, tutorials, announcements, and other materials that may be posted on the course website or sent via email (at your email address posted in Sakai).

Grading Policy

Grades for the course are assigned on the scale below:

Your course grade is based on the following items:

• Participation in paper discussions and critiques, including written summaries of each paper - 30%
• For more details, see Guidelines for Audience Members
• Paper presentations (leading 2-3 class discussions) - 20%
• For more details, see Guidelines for Paper Presenters
• Projects - 50%

Paper summaries are due at the beginning of class, and will not be accepted late. Further, it is not acceptable to submit a paper summary electronically, and then not attend the corresponding class discussion.  Zero points will be awarded in this situation, with the exception of approved absences described above.

Late projects will be accepted with a 2% deduction in points for every day late. Late projects will not be accepted more than 5 days past the deadline. You will have plenty of time to do assignments, but only if you start when they are assigned.

Please note that copies of student work may be retained by the instructor to assess how the learning objectives of the course are met.

Academic Dishonesty / Honor Code

Each student will join a group for the duration of the semester. All projects are to be done by your assigned group. Each group may split up the project tasks in whatever way they see fit, as long as the division of labor is equitable and documented in the written project reports. You may use any available reference material to help you with the projects. However, you must clearly identify any code that was not written by your group, state where it came from, and to what extent you modified it. You may discuss high-level approaches to the course projects with students in the class outside your group, but different groups may not share specific implementations or code.

Cases of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. On a first offense, the student will be given a written warning and a grade of zero for the work in question. On a second offense, notice will be sent to the student's academic advisor, the Dean of the School of Engineering and Computer Science and the Dean of the student's own school, and the matter will be turned over to the Office of Student Life for resolution.

Students with Disabilities

Any student with a physical disability or with a learning disability needing accommodations should register with the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities, in Bannister Hall. The office will assist with any needed accommodations. If you have questions or wish to discuss your disability, please feel free to see me directly.

Nondiscrimination Policy

The University of the Pacific does not discriminate in the administration of any of its educational programs, admissions, scholarships, loans, athletics, or other University activities or programs on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, handicap, sexual orientation or preference, sex or age.