INSTITUTE OF ACCOUNTANCY ARUSHA

MODULE OUTLINES 2023/2024

Module Code : ITU07318

Module Name : Distributed Computing Systems

Credit Hours :8

Pre-requisite : NIL

Facilitator Name : Mr. Yona A. Sangula

Email :[email protected]

1
MODULE DESCRIPTION

This course covers general concepts in the design and implementation of distributed systems, covering all
the major branches such as Cloud Computing, Grid Computing, Cluster Computing, Supercomputing, and
Many-core Computing.

MODULE OBJECTIVES

At the end of this module, student should be able to:

 Apply distributed features in designing computing systems

 Employ communication models in distributed systems.
 Use programming constructs in implementing distributed systems

LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Apply knowledge of distributed systems techniques and methodologies.

2. Explain the design and development of distributed systems and distributed systems applications.
3. Use the application of fundamental Computer Science methods and algorithms in the development
of distributed systems and distributed systems applications.
4. Discuss the design and testing of a large software system, and to be able to communicate that
design to others.

2
Topic Sub Topic Objectives Learning Assessment Task
Outcome Methodology

Distributed Characterizati At the end of this Students Give five

features in on of topic students should be 1. Individual types of
computing Distributed should be able to: able use the Assignmen hardware
systems Systems  Introductio concept to: ts resource
n  Identify 2. Presentatio and five
 Examples and use n types of
of various data or
distributed terminolog software
systems ies in resource
 Trends in distributed that can
distributed systems usefully be
systems  Describe shared.
 Focus on various Give
resource trends in examples
sharing distributed of their
 Challenge systems sharing as
s  To apply it occurs in
the skills practice in
in sharing distributed
data/infor systems.
mation
References  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX2PSA0si5g
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajjOEltiZm4
 Zedan, H. S. M. (2014). Distributed Computer Systems: Theory and Practice.
Amsterdam: Elsevier Science
 Steen, M., &Tanenbaum, A. S. (2017). Distributed Systems. 3rd Ed. Scotts Valley,
CA: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
System System Modules At the end of this  To 1. Quiz List the
Models topic students compare 2. Individual types of
should be able to and assignmen local
describe: contrast t resource
 Physical among the 3. Class that are
models models activity vulnerable
 Architectur  To make to an attack
al models critical by an
 Fundament analysis of untrusted
al models the program
distributed that is
downloaded

3
 models from a
remote site
and run in a
local
computer.
References  Zedan, H. S. M. (2014). Distributed Computer Systems: Theory and Practice.
Amsterdam: Elsevier Science
 Steen, M., &Tanenbaum, A. S. (2017). Distributed Systems. 3rd Ed. Scotts Valley,
CA: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
 https://cs.uwaterloo.ca/~bernard/courses/cs454/1.ArchitectureModels.pdf

Networking Networking and At the end of this Upon 1. PracticalCompare

and Internetworking topic students completion assignmenthe structure
Internetworkin should be able to you will be t of URLs as
g • Types of able to: 2. Quiz used for
network  Explain 3. Test web
• Network different services
principles types of with that of
• Internet network remote
protocols  Describe object
• network references
principles as specified
 Explain the in Section
internet 4.3.4. State
protocols in each case
how they
are used to
execute
a client
request.
 Stallings, W. (2006). Data and Computer Communications, 7th ed, Pearson
Education.
 Tanenbaum, A (2003). Computer Networks, 5th ed, Pearson Education.
 Zedan, H. S. M. (2014). Distributed Computer Systems: Theory and Practice.
Amsterdam: Elsevier Science
 Steen, M., &Tanenbaum, A. S. (2017). Distributed Systems. 3rd Ed. Scotts Valley,
CA: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.

Remote Remote At the end of this Upon Class quiz 1.

4
Invocation Invocation topic students completion assignment Describ
should be able to you will be ea
describe able to apply scenario
- Request-reply the skills in in which
protocols implementing a client
- Remote distributed could
procedure call systems receive
- Remote method a reply
invocation from an
- Java RMI earlier
call.
2. Describ
e the
ways in
which
the
request-
reply
protocol
masks
the
heterog
eneity of
operatin
g
systems
and of
comput
er
network
s.
References  Zedan, H. S. M. (2014). Distributed Computer Systems: Theory and Practice.
Amsterdam: Elsevier Science
 Steen, M., &Tanenbaum, A. S. (2017). Distributed Systems. 3rd Ed. Scotts Valley,
CA: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.

Operating Operating At the end of this Should apply

System System Support topic students the knowledge
Support should be able to and skills to:
describe:  Develop
-The operating distributed
system layer systems in
- Protection
5
 - Processes and Java
threads  Perform
- Communication thread,
and invocation process,
- Operating system and IPC
architecture  Perform
networking
Java
programs
References  Steen, M., &Tanenbaum, A. S. (2017). Distributed Systems. 3rd Ed. Scotts Valley,
CA: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
 Kurose, J & Ross, K (2003) Computer Networking: a Top-Down Approach
Featuring the Internet, 2nd ed, Addison-Wesley Longman.

6
 ASSESSMENT PLAN

1.0 INTRODUCTION

This assessment plan has been prepared by the Institute of Accountancy Arusha (IAA). The process of
developing this assessment plan for the module of Computer Systems Architecture was under close
guidance of NACTE so as to ensure that the plan meets required qualification standards set by regulatory
authority. This assessment plan is one of the tools that are required during the implementation of the
Competent Based Education and Training (CBET) curricula.

The plan is also meant to facilitate and harmonize the assessment of learning outcomes in computer
science. The learning outcomes stipulated within the NTA curriculum shall be the basis of the assessment
of the student competences. The assessor shall assess the student’s ability to apply of knowledge and
skills in a broad range of complex technical activities, a high degree of personal responsibility and some
responsibility for the work of others.

This assessment plan was developed in August, 2023 to be implemented in the first semester in the
academic year 2023/2024. It was developed from the Higher Diploma in Information Technology (NTA
Level 7) document of 2020.This assessment plan has two components of the module to be assessed,
namely continuous assessment (CA) which carries 50% and semester examination (SE) which carries 50%
of the module weight. The module shall be assessed both theoretically and practically.

There are two tables in this plan, one is for the enabling and sub-enabling outcomes and the other is for the
specifications of competences. The latter has sub-enabling outcomes with the related tasks which shall be
assessed against the competences achieved in relation to the domains.

This assessment plan contains sub-enabling outcomes with related tasks that shall be tested in both
continuous assessment (CA) and semester examination (SE). A tick (√) which appears in either CA or SE
column indicates the time when the task shall be assessed. Where a tick (√) appears in both CA and SE
columns, the task shall be assessed in both. A task that has higher level competences shall be assessed
during the continuous assessment (CA) while a task that has lower level competences shall be assessed
during the semester examination (SE) respectively. Assessors shall focus on those core areas of
competences as stipulated in the curriculum.

7
2.0 ENABLING AND SUB ENABLING OUTCOMES
Enabling Outcomes Sub-enabling Outcomes

Use distributed systems

techniques in building fast,
2.3.1 Apply distributed features in designing computing systems
scalable, fault-tolerant
2.3.2 Employ communication models in distributed systems.
distributed systems
2.3.3 Use programming constructs in implementing distributed systems

8
3.0 SPECIFICATIONS OF COMPETENCES (Grid Table)

The table below shows sub-enabling outcome, task associated for each sub-enabling outcome and
expected competences/outcomes or abilities for each item in the assessment area.

Sub-enabling Outcome and Related Task Competence to be

assessed
No. of tasks
provided under
Continuous
Assessment and

Wider attributes
Understanding
semester

Knowledge
examination
CA SE

Skills
50% 50%
Sub-enabling Outcome:
Apply distributed features in designing computing systems
Tasks:
(a) Discuss distributed systems characteristics √ √
(b) Explain distributed operating systems √ √ √
(c) Describe distributed security and Java security √ √ √
features

Employ communication models in distributed systems.

Tasks:
(a) Explain inter-process communication in distributed √ √
systems

(b) Identify remote procedure calls √ √ √

(c) Explain networking and internetworking

communication models

Use programming constructs in implementing distributed systems

Tasks:
(a) Develop distributed systems in Java √ √

(b) Perform thread, process, and IPC

(c) Perform networking Java programs

9
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS/RUBRICS
4.1 Assessment Methods
This module will be assessed through continuous assessment and semester examinations. Continuous assessment
will carry 50% of the module weight and the semester examination will carry 50% of the module weight. The
examination regulations shall be those agreed jointly by the Institute of Accountancy Arusha and National Council for
Technical Education (NACTE).

Under continuous assessment CA:

 There shall be two written test which each will carry 15% of the continuous assessment weight
 There shall be one individual assignment which will carry 10% of the continuous assessment
weight
 There shall be one group assignment which will carry 10% of the continuous assessment weight

Under semester examination SE:

 There shall be one written examination paper which will carry 50% of the semester examination
weight
Duration

 The duration for the continuous assessment test will be two (2) hours
 The duration for the written semester examination will be three (3) hours

Questions and Marks Distribution

 The SE will have five (5) questions
 Each question will weigh 20% of total marks

10
Required References:

Zedan, H. S. M. (2014). Distributed Computer Systems: Theory and Practice. Amsterdam:

Elsevier Science

Steen, M., &Tanenbaum, A. S. (2017). Distributed Systems. 3rd Ed. Scotts Valley, CA:
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.

Recommended References:

Vidyarthi, D. P., Sarker, B. K., Tripathi, A. K. & L. T., Yang. (2009). Scheduling in Distributed
Computing Systems: Analysis, Design and Models. New York, NY: Springer Publishing

Burns, B. (2018). Designing Distributed Systems: Patterns and Paradigms for Scalable,
Reliable Services. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly Media, Inc.

Kshemkalyani, A. D. &Singhal, M. (2008). Distributed Computing: Principles, Algorithms, and

Systems. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

11