CS342: Algorithms for Parallel and Distributed Systems
Fall, 1996

In today's networked world, an understanding of parallel and distributed computing is becoming crucial for anyone involved in computer technology. In this new course we will cover algorithms for basic problems that arise in parallel and distributed systems. Possible topics to be covered include

Efficient methods of managing large amounts of data in a distributed environment-database primitives, sorting, joins, pattern matching.

Methods to effectively allocate the computational and communications resources of a parallel system-scheduling and load-balancing.

High-performance algorithms for numerical computations.

Techniques for building reliable and secure distributed systems.

Object-oriented development tools in distributed systems.

An attractive feature of the course is that lectures will be deemphasized in favor of an active learning approach. In small groups, (with extensive faculty guidance) students will work together to discover algorithms for the problems considered. Experiments with active learning indicate that students enjoy it much more than a straight lecture approach, and that it develops skills that students require in today's rapidly changing technology environment The course will be taught in the new Parallel and Distributed Laboratory, containing 15 SUN's Sparc5 workstations, many with multimedia support, and a Sun's SPARCserver 1000E with 8-processor multiprocessor. This laboratory will only be available to students enrolled in courses that use the laboratory. Finally, this course will prepare you for a project course in the Spring of 1997 in which groups of students will carry out project inspired by suggestions from our industrial partners. So, if you are interested in a novel approach to learning state-of-the-art material on state-of-the-art equipment, and want to develop skills that will certainly increase your marketability, consider registering for CS342. Note: Prerequisite Removed. In order to fully utilize our laboratory, we have replaced the prerequisite of CS341 with CS212 and CS202, or, for certain special cases, by permission of instructor. For further information contact Professor Joel Wein wein@mem.poly.edu, LC230, (718)-260-3376.
CS342 || Introduction || Laboratory || Syllbus || Homeworks || Active Assignments || Polytechnic || CIS Dept.
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