SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY

Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA)

BSc Computer Science / I.C.T

SOT303A: Operating Systems 2017/2018 (3 Credit Hours)

Period: First semester (September to December, 2017)

Lecturer: Mr. Emmanuel Djaba

Office Locations: B5
E-mail : emml.djaba@gmail.com | emmanuel.djaba@st.gimpa.edu.gh

Description
The increasing use of computing devices in various aspects of our lives has been matched by
the development of various operating systems to power these devices. From popular operating
systems such as Android and IOS to less popular ones such as MINIX3, operating systems
provide a platform that enables the successful marriage of hardware and software.

Prerequisite
SOT207: Computer Organisation and Architecture

Course Objectives
This course is geared towards providing students with an in-depth understanding of the
fundamental principles that guide the development, implementation and operation of operating
systems.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the fundamental concepts that
underline operating systems.
2. Compare and contrast the implementation of these concepts in popular operating
systems.

Broad Topics
A Operating System Structures
B Processes Management
C Memory Management
D Storage Management
E Protection and Security

Course Delivery Methods

The course will be delivered through lectures, reading assignment exercises, student presentations, case
study projects, and possibly video tutorials.

Prescribed Text

Books
Book #1: Operating System Concepts 9th ed., Silberschatz, I, Galvin B. Peter, Gagne Greg (2012)
Wiley, ISBN- 978 1 118 06333 0

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SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY
Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA)
BSc Computer Science / I.C.T

SOT303A: Operating Systems 2017/2018 (3 Credit Hours)

Book #2: Operating Systems Design and Implementation 3rd ed., Tanenbaum S. A, Woodhull S. A,
(2009) Prentice Hall, ISBN-13: 978-0-13-142938-3

COURSE CONTENTS AND SCHEDULE

Session Theme Topics Remarks

1. Introduction Course outline discussion

1.1 Introduction
1.2 Operating System Structures
2. Processes 2.1 Process Concept
2.2 Process Scheduling
2.3 Operations on Processes
2.4 Inter process Communication

3. Threads 3.1 Multicore Programming

3.2 Multithreading Models
3.3 Thread Libraries
3.4 Implicit Threading
3.5 Threading Issues
3.6 Examples
4. Process 4.1 The Critical-Section Problem
Synchronization 4.2 Peterson’ Solution
4.3 Synchronization Hardware
4.4 Mutex Locks
4.5 Semaphores
4.6 Classic Problems of Synchronization
4.7 Examples

5. CPU Scheduling 5.1 Basic Concepts

5.2 Scheduling Criteria
5.3 Scheduling Algorithms
5.4 Multiple-Processor Scheduling
5.5 Real-Time CPU Scheduling
5.6 Examples
6. Deadlocks 6.1 System Model
6.2 Deadlock Characterization
6.3 Methods for Handling Deadlocks
6.4 Deadlock Prevention
6.5 Deadlock Avoidance
6.6 Deadlock Detection
6.7 Recovery from Deadlocks
7. Mid Semester Quiz Semester Project
goes out

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SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY
Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA)
BSc Computer Science / I.C.T

SOT303A: Operating Systems 2017/2018 (3 Credit Hours)

8. Main Memory 8.1 Swapping
Management 8.2 Contiguous Memory Allocation
8.3 Segmentation
8.4 Paging
8.5 Examples
9. Virtual Memory 9.1 Demand Paging
Management 9.2 Copy-on-Write
9.3 Page Replacement
9.4 Allocation of Frames
9.5 Thrashing
9.6 Memory-Mapped Files
10. File System 9.7 Examples
10.1 File Concept
Interface & 10.2 Access Methods
Implementation 10.3 Directory and Disk Structure
10.4 File Mounting and Sharing
10.5 File-System Structure
10.6 File-System Implementation
10.7 Directory Implementation
10.8 Allocation Methods
10.9 Free Space Management
11. I/O Systems 11.1 I/O Hardware
11.2 Application I/O Interface
11.3 Kernel I/O Subsystem
11.4 Streams
11.5 Performance
12. Protection & 12.1 Goals of Protection
Security 12.2 Principles of Protection
12.3 Domain of Protection
12.4 Access Matrix
12.5 Access Control
12.6 The Security Problem
12.7 The Security Problem
12.8 Program Threats
12.9 System and Network Threats
13.0 Implementing Security Defences

13. Submission of
Semester Project

Grading Policy on measurement of learning outcomes

Final written examination…………. 60%

Semester Project …………. 15%
Mid semester Quiz …………. 15%

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SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY
Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA)
BSc Computer Science / I.C.T

SOT303A: Operating Systems 2017/2018 (3 Credit Hours)

Short Tests…………. 5%
Attendance and class participation…………. 5%

Grading Scheme

Grade Numerical Mark % Interpretation Grade Point

A 75 -100 Distinction 4.00

A- 70 -74 Excellent 3.75
B+ 65 – 69 Very Good 3.50
B 60 – 64 Good 3.00
C+ 55 – 59 Average 2.50
C 50 - 54 Average 2.00
C- 45 - 49 Weak Pass 1.75
D 30 - 44 Fail 1.5
F Below 30 Fail 1.0
I Incomplete -
Z Disqualified -

Other Policies and Regulations

Please locate the Undergraduate Handbook on the GIMPA website, read it carefully, and
endeavour to observe all of the provisions published in it.

Registration
GIMPA policy requires all students to be officially registered in each class they are attending.
Students who are not officially registered for a course by published deadlines should not be
attending classes and will not receive credit or a grade for this course. Each student must
confirm enrolment by checking his/her personal page in the Institute’s Enterprise Resource
Planning system prior to the deadline indicated. If registration errors are not corrected by this
date and you continue to attend and participate in classes for which you are not officially
registered, you will not receive a grade at the end of the semester.

Examination and Other Assessment

If for any reason (such as medical, accident, lateness, etc), a student is unable to take an
examination or other assessments, then he or she may take what was missed at the next
offering. No separate examination or other assessment will be organized for any student.

Plagiarism
In accordance with the policies in the undergraduate student handbook, plagiarism in any
form (both in terms of appropriating someone’s text as your own or developed software as

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SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY
Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA)
BSc Computer Science / I.C.T

SOT303A: Operating Systems 2017/2018 (3 Credit Hours)

yours) will not be tolerated on this course. Any such occurrence that is verified will attract a
score of zero.

Policy and/or Possible Syllabus Revision

The instructor or/and the School of Technology reserve the right to amend the policy and content
of this course without prior notice to its participants if deemed necessary as long as this is consistent
with the GIMPA policy on course revisions.