Parallel and Distributed Course Outline
Parallel and Distributed Course Outline
MAIN/KAMPALA CAMPUS
DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTING
COURSE OUTLINE
JAN-MAY 2024
This course will introduce students to parallel and distributed systems, focusing on both shared memory
parallel computers and distributed memory multicomputer or clusters. Students will also be introduced to
concepts of parallel programming using appropriate program languages (eg. C++ and Java). Topics to be
covered will include introduction to parallel and distributed systems, hardware architecture, software
architecture, concurrency enterprise systems and synchronization, data and work portioning, common
parallel strategies, shared memory and threads, multiprocesors, distributed memory and message passing,
system area networks, Network protocol impact, operating systems issues and virtualization.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
To train students the different architectures used in distributed systems and how it
supports message passing
LEARNING OUTCOMES.
Explain the different software and hardware architectures used in distributed systems
clusters
Explain the use of shared memory parallel computers and distributed memory
multicomputer
Distinguish between cloud computing, grid computing and peer to peer networks
Attendance 5%
Assignments 10%
Tests 15%
Presentations 20%
Students should be aware that the grading and assessments of any tests, assignments and exams
are standard and can not be compromised by either a lecturer or students. The bulletin gives the
final grade point average of the
COURSE OUTLINE / CONTENT (NB: Please indicate any Holidays, Main events or breaks)
January Wk 2 Registration
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Coulouris, Jean Dollimoreand Tim KindbergDistributed Systems: Concepts and Design, Third
Edition Published by Addison –Wesley 2000
2. Software Architecture in Practice (2nd edition), Bass, Clements, and Kazman
3. Clemens Szyperski: Component Software: Beyond Object-Oriented Programming, Addison
Wesley Publishing Company, 2002
4. Jon Siegel: An Overview Of CORBA 3.0, Object Management Group, 2002
5. Christine Hofmeister, Robert Nord, DilipSoni: Applied Software Architecture, Addison
Wesley -Object Technology Series, 1999
6. Paul Clements, Felix Bachmann, Len Bass, David Garlan, James Ivers, Reed Little, Robert
Nord, Judith Stafford: Documenting Software Architectures -Views and Beyond, Addison-
Wesley, 2002
7. Frank Buschmann, RegineMeunier, Hans Rohnert, Peter Sommerlad, Michael Stal: Pattern-
OrientedSoftware Architecture, Volume 1: A System of Patterns, John Wiley & Sons., 1996