Overview
Distributed Systems: Principles and Development you will learn basic principles of distributed systems including architecture, design, and algorithms and how to use these principles in the development of distributed applications. You will explore the significant distributed system characteristics of scalability, heterogeneity, security, and failure handling in addition to the fundamentals of networking, inter-process communication, remote invocation, and operating system support. You will examine different approaches to supporting distributed applications including distributed objects, web services, and peer-to-peer solutions. You will learn about distributed file systems, naming, and data-related aspects of distributed transactions, and data replication. Algorithms associated to timing, and coordination and agreement will also be studied. You will also analyse the areas of mobile and ubiquitous computing and the social impact arising from the ubiquity of distributed systems. You will consolidate the key theoretical material through the computer lab tutorial sessions and development of software applications.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite unit: COIT20256 Data structures and AlgorithmsAnti-Requisite unit: COIT23005 Distributed Systems
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 3 - 2024
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 Postgraduate 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 Unit Coordinator self reflection
There is a need to gather feedback from students and the teaching team on the newly added content regarding 1) security topics (mutual authentication and symmetrical/asymmetrical cryptography) and 2) the complex distributed system case study, to assess their reception and integration into the course and inform necessary refinements for improved learning outcomes.
Collect feedback from the teaching team and check students' performance on the newly added content on the two topics. If necessary, make proper adjustments/updates to the content.
Feedback from Unit Coordinator self reflection
The rise of IoT, demand for low-latency applications, and growth of 5G underscore the importance of incorporating edge computing into the curriculum to equip students with knowledge of efficient and scalable computing solutions.
Introduce the modern distributed computing model of Edge Computing, along with key industry standards. Assess Edge Computing through a simplified case study, such as Smart Farming.
- Develop distributed applications using networking, inter-process communication, and remote invocation
- Design and develop distributed applications using one of the approaches of distributed objects, web services, and peer-to-peer solutions
- Solve problems in the distributed systems domain by applying the principles of distributed systems to authentic problems
- Critique the issues involved in developing reliable, secure, and scalable distributed systems
- Discuss the technology needs and social impact arising from ubiquitous distributed systems
- Work independently and collaboratively in small teams.
Australian Computer Society (ACS) recognises the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA). SFIA is in use in over 100 countries and provides 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. The SFIA code is included:
- Systems Design (DESN)
- Systems Integration (SINT)
- Program ming/Software Development ( PROG),
- Database/Repository Design (DBDS)
- Testing (TEST)
- Network Support (NTAS)
- Release and Deployment (RELM),
- Application Support (ASUP).
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment - 30% | ||||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 35% | ||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 35% | ||||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | ||||||
| 2 - Communication | ||||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | ||||||
| 4 - Research | ||||||
| 5 - Self-management | ||||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | ||||||
| 7 - Leadership | ||||||
| 8 - First Nations Knowledges | ||||||
| 9 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment - 30% | |||||||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 35% | |||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 35% | |||||||||
Textbooks
Distributed Systems Concepts and Design
- Edition: 5 (2012) (2012)
- Authors: George Coulouris,Jean Dollimore, Tim Kindberg and Gordon Blair
- Pearson Education
- Gordon Blair Gordon Blair , UK
- ISBN: 13: 9780137521081
- Binding: Paperback
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Jakarta EE 8 (available from https://jakarta.ee/release/8/)
- MySQL Community Server 8.06 or higher (https://dev.mysql.com/downloads/windows/installer/8.0.html)
- Apache Tomee 8.0 TomEE Plus (available from https://tomee.apache.org/download.html#tomee-8.0)
- JDK 21
- NetBeans IDE 20
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
m.che@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 04 Nov 2024Module/Topic
An Introduction to Distributed Systems
Chapter
Chapter 1 and Chapter 2
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 11 Nov 2024Module/Topic
Inter-process Communication
Chapter
Chapter 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 18 Nov 2024Module/Topic
Distributed Objects and Remote Invocation
Chapter
Chapter 5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 25 Nov 2024Module/Topic
Process and Thread Management - Operating System Support
Chapter
Chapter 7
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 02 Dec 2024Module/Topic
Security in Distributed Systems
Chapter
Chapter 11
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 09 Dec 2024Module/Topic
Replication and Fault Tolerance
Chapter
Chapter 18
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 16 Dec 2024Module/Topic
Name Services
Chapter
Chapter 13
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 23 Dec 2024Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 30 Dec 2024Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 06 Jan 2025Module/Topic
Coordination and Agreement
Chapter
Chapter 15
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 13 Jan 2025Module/Topic
Transactions, Distributed Transactions, and Concurrent Control
Chapter
Chapter 16 and 17
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 20 Jan 2025Module/Topic
Distributed File Systems
Chapter
Chapter 12
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 27 Jan 2025Module/Topic
Web Services and Mobile/Ubiquitous Computing
Chapter
Chapter 9 and Chapter 19
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 03 Feb 2025Module/Topic
A Complex Distributed System Case Study
Chapter
Unit Moodle online materials
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 10 Feb 2025Module/Topic
Assignment 3 Submission
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Unit Coordinator: Dr. Meiru Che
College of Information and Communications Technology
School of Engineering and Technology
Central Queensland University, Brisbane
Email: m.che@cqu.edu.au
1 Practical Assessment
Your task for this assignment is to design, implement, test and document a client/server system which allows concurrent access to multiple clients. The purpose of this assignment is to assess your competency in Java TCP networking, multi-threading, and object serialization. This assignment task is to assess your skills in practicing the theoretical concepts learnt in Weeks 1 - 4. Further details are in the Assignment 1 Specification document available on the Unit website .
Week 6 Tuesday (10 Dec 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Assignment 1 Due
Week 8 Tuesday (7 Jan 2025)
Assignment 1 results release two weeks after submission
The assignment will be assessed by the software implementation and user instruction document.
1. Appropriate Analysis and design of a software application using TCP networking and client-server model for the given problem
2. Correct implementation of the application using TCP streaming, multi-threading, and object serialization
3. Correct incorporation of concurrent multi-user access to the software application
4. Use of good programming techniques/practices
5. Rigorous testing of software application.
- Develop distributed applications using networking, inter-process communication, and remote invocation
- Solve problems in the distributed systems domain by applying the principles of distributed systems to authentic problems
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Self-management
2 Practical Assessment
Your task for this assignment is to design, implement, test and document a secure three tier client/server system which allows concurrent access to multiple clients. Your system will have a graphical user interface, a business logic layer, and a back-end database. This assignment task is to assess your skills in practicing the theoretical concepts learnt in Weeks 1 - 8 and in the prerequisite units. You will be completing the software design and development working in teams consisting of 3 - 5 members. You will develop a test plan and test the software application individually. You will individually write and submit a report documenting the testing details and any other theoretical aspects required. Further details are in the Assignment 2 Specification document available on the Unit website.
Week 9 Thursday (16 Jan 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Assignment 2 Due
Week 11 Thursday (30 Jan 2025)
Assignment 2 results release two weeks after submission
The assignment will be assessed by the completed software implementation, documentation of testing, user instruction, and peer-review report.
1. Analyse the given problem and design a 3 tier client-server software application using distributed system
concepts.
2. Correct design and implementation of a software solution to provide a secure multi-user client access using one
of the approaches of distributed objects, or web services.
3. Use of good programming techniques/practices
4. User interface design following user interface design guidelines.
5. Rigorous testing of software application
6. Correct and concise documentation as required.
7. Good collaboration working in a small team.
The detailed marking criteria can be accessed from the Assignment 2 Specification available from the Unit Website.
- Design and develop distributed applications using one of the approaches of distributed objects, web services, and peer-to-peer solutions
- Solve problems in the distributed systems domain by applying the principles of distributed systems to authentic problems
- Critique the issues involved in developing reliable, secure, and scalable distributed systems
- Work independently and collaboratively in small teams.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
3 Written Assessment
Your task in this assignment is to demonstrate your understanding of the role distributed systems play in facilitating pervasive computing and critically evaluate the technology needs in terms of reliability and security and the related issues impacting the society. This assessment task is to write a formal academic report demonstrating your knowledge in the topics learnt in Weeks 1 - 12 as well as your understanding of the current developments in distributed systems. Further details including marking criteria are available in the Assignment 3 Specification document available on the Unit website.
Exam Week Tuesday (11 Feb 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Assignment 3 Due
The marked assignment will be returned on the day of Certification of Grades
1. Clear demonstration of your understanding of the importance of distributed system principles of security, reliability etc. as per the requirement.
2. Demonstration of good understanding of the topics related to current developments in Distributed Systems as given in the Assignment specification.
3. Demonstration of deep understanding of the theoretical concepts learnt in relation to current applications.
4. Critical review of relevant information and logical construction of arguments.
5. Relevant discussion of the impact of specific aspects of distributed systems to society.
6. Appropriate formatting, clarity of expressions, and relevant and correct use of references.
- Critique the issues involved in developing reliable, secure, and scalable distributed systems
- Discuss the technology needs and social impact arising from ubiquitous distributed systems
- Work independently and collaboratively in small teams.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
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?
