Overview
Modern computer systems commonly rely on distributed and cloud computing systems, which enable seamless access to networked resources such as processors, data stores, sensor networks, cyber-physical systems, and multimedia services. In this unit, you will gain foundation knowledge, and an understanding of the system models and their enabling technologies. You will learn the core concepts of distributed computing, such as interprocess communication, concurrency and synchronisation, transactions and concurrency control as well as distributed databases and files. This unit also exposes you to distributed system characteristics of scalability, heterogeneity, security, and failure handling. The areas of mobile and ubiquitous computing and the social impact arising from the ubiquity of distributed systems will also be explored. You will learn to develop secure and reliable distributed computing applications and web services that can perform concurrent operations across multiple computers.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisites: COIT12200 and COIT11237.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2025
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from In-class student feedback
Students are keen to learn new technologies in distributed systems, such as edge computing and advanced security.
Consider the introduction of Edge computing technology as part of the planned major update of this unit for 2025.
Feedback from Unit Coordinator self reflection
More content on security is needed in this unit.
Consider adding more security-related topics such as mutual authentication, and symmetrical/asymmetrical cryptography as part of the planned major update of this unit for 2025.
- Evaluate techniques for creating secure, reliable, and efficient distributed systems by examining the technology needs and social impact arising from ubiquitous distributed systems
- Design and develop secure distributed applications in a distributed service-oriented architecture
- Analyse the use of algorithms and mechanisms to execute coordinated concurrent processes in distributed systems
- Implement software applications that enable concurrent access to distributed databases and transactions.
Australian Computer Society (ACS) recognises the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA). SFIA is a widely used and consistent definition of ICT skills. SFIA is increasingly being used when developing job descriptions and role profiles. ACS members can use the tool MySFIA to build a skills profile at https://www.acs.org.au/professionalrecognition/mysfia-b2c.html
This unit contributes to the following workplace skills as defined by SFIA 8. The SFIA code is included:
- Solution architecture (ARCH)
- Software Design (SWDN)
- Systems integration and build (SINT)
- Programming/Software Development (PROG),
- Database Design (DBDS)
- User Experience Evaluation (USEV)
- Testing (TEST)
- System Installation and Removal (HSIN)
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 20% | ||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 35% | ||||
| 3 - Reflective Practice Assignment - 45% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Visual Studio Code (latest version)
- Python 3.10 (or higher)
- Python PyPI (pip) packages including zmq, flask, boto3, hdfs, black, pylint and requests
- Java Runtime Environment, e.g. Java 17 (Open JDK)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
j.shield@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
1 Introduction
Chapter
Refer to the unit website for the readings.
- van Steen & Tanenbaum, Chps 1 & 2
- Bobrov, Chp 2
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
2 Threads
Chapter
- van Steen & Tanenbaum, Chp 3
- Lanaro, Ngyuen & Sakis, Chp 10
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
3 Communication
Chapter
- van Steen & Tanenbaum, Chp 4
- Bitterman & Deb, Chp 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
W3 Practical (7%)
Practicals Due: Week 3 Friday (28 Mar 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
4 Linearisability
Chapter
- van Steen & Tanenbaum, Chp 7
- Verma et al., Chp 10
Events and Submissions/Topic
W4 Practical (7%)
Module/Topic
5 Sequential Consistency
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
W5 Practical (7%)
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
6 Causal Consistency
Chapter
Kleppmann, Chp 9
Events and Submissions/Topic
W6 Practical (7%)
Module/Topic
7 Fault Tolerance
Chapter
- van Steen & Tanenbaum, Chp 8
- Haloi, Chp 2
- Tankariya & Parmar, Chp 12
Events and Submissions/Topic
W7 Practical (7%)
Module/Topic
8 Web Services
Chapter
- Relan, Chp 1
- Peralta, Chp 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Git commit
Project Due: Week 8 Friday (9 May 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
9 Coordination
Chapter
van Steen & Tanenbaum, Chp 5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Git commit
Module/Topic
10 Naming
Chapter
van Steen & Tanenbaum, Chp 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Git commit
Module/Topic
11 Security
Chapter
- van Steen & Tanenbaum, Chp 9
- Gaspar & Stouffer, Chp 6
- Lanaro, Chp 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Git commit
Module/Topic
No lecture
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Unit Coordinator: Jamie Shield, Cairns, j.shield@cqu.edu.au
1 Practical Assessment
Your task for this assignment is to design, implement, test and document small client/server and peer-to-peer distributed systems. The purpose of this assignment is to assess your competency in distributed networking, multi-threading and consistency.
Week 3 Friday (28 Mar 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Due in weeks 3,4,5,6 and 7
Immediate feedback
This assessment consists of small programming activities. Each question will be marked on aspects such as functionality, coding style, documentation of code and testing, error handling, variable naming, code reuse and referencing.
- Design and develop secure distributed applications in a distributed service-oriented architecture
- Implement software applications that enable concurrent access to distributed databases and transactions.
2 Reflective Practice Assignment
You will develop a distributed system including analysis of requirements, assessment of the social impacts, design, implementation and testing. You will apply the distributed systems technologies taught in Weeks 1-12 to manage non-Byzantine faults such as latency and network partitions.
Group Work
You may work alone or in groups of 2 or 3 people for this assignment. All group members must be identified in the group work artefacts. Evidence must be provided that all group members contributed adequately to the final submissions. All group members must submit via the unit website. The moderation process might allocate group members different marks. Sharing of artefacts, for example, code, between groups is not permitted.
Repository
Create a private code repository and invite your tutor and the unit coordinator. One code repository is to be used by all group members. You must make at least four weekly contributions to a private GitHub repository prior to the due date for this assignment.
Code Reuse
In this unit, you are encouraged to search for and reuse good quality code and to use generative AI tools responsibly. All sources of code should be referenced. Deprecated code should not be used. Sharing of artefacts, for example, code, outside of your group is not permitted.
Week 8 Friday (9 May 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Each week, for Weeks 8, 9, 10 and 11, you will submit artefacts such as social impact assessments, designs, test plans, code and videos of you. You will submit a link to your repository and its contents to the unit website in Week 11.
Feedback will be provided by the certification of grades.
You will be marked on aspects such as evidence of contribution to your group, functionality, coding style, quality of test plan, documentation of code and testing, ease of use, error handling, no use of banned language features, variable naming, use of Git repository, code reuse and referencing.
- Evaluate techniques for creating secure, reliable, and efficient distributed systems by examining the technology needs and social impact arising from ubiquitous distributed systems
- Design and develop secure distributed applications in a distributed service-oriented architecture
- Analyse the use of algorithms and mechanisms to execute coordinated concurrent processes in distributed systems
- Implement software applications that enable concurrent access to distributed databases and transactions.
3 Written Assessment
Your task in this assignment is to review, research, and reflect on techniques for creating secure, reliable and efficient distributed systems including the social impacts arising from ubiquitous distributed systems. This assessment task is to demonstrate your understanding of existing techniques and your ability to research future developments in distributed systems. The activities include:
- Review exercises: Apply existing techniques and methodologies
- Research papers: Find, read, and summarise relevant research papers
- Reflections: Write reflections on your findings and insights
Week 12 Friday (6 June 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Immediate feedback subject to moderation.
This assessment consists of small activities. Your assessment will be marked on aspects such as the correctness, the quality of writing including strength of arguments, clarity of expression, relevant and correct use of referencing.
- Evaluate techniques for creating secure, reliable, and efficient distributed systems by examining the technology needs and social impact arising from ubiquitous distributed systems
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
