227-0555-00L Distributed Systems
| Semester | Autumn Semester 2024 |
| Lecturers | T. R. Locher, R. Wattenhofer |
| Periodicity | yearly recurring course |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Comment | Enrolled students will be notified by e-mail about the lecture start. |
Courses
| Number | Title | Hours | Lecturers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 227-0555-00 G | Distributed Systems Groups are selected in myStudies. | 3 hrs | T. R. Locher, R. Wattenhofer | |
| 227-0555-00 A | Distributed Systems | 1 hrs | T. R. Locher, R. Wattenhofer |
Catalogue data
| Abstract | This course introduces the fundamentals of distributed systems. We study different protocols and algorithms that allow for fault-tolerant operation, and discuss practical systems that implement these techniques. |
| Learning objective | The objective of the course is for students to understand the theoretical principles and practical considerations of distributed systems. This includes the main models of fault-tolerant distributed systems (crash failures, byzantine failures, and selfishness), and the most important algorithms, protocols and impossibility results. By the end of the course, students should be able to reason about various concepts such as consistency, durability, availability, fault tolerance, and replication. |
| Content | We discuss the following concepts related to fault-tolerant distributed systems: client-server, serialization, two-phase protocols, three-phase protocols, paxos, two generals problem, crash failures, impossibility of consensus, byzantine failures, agreement, termination, validity, byzantine agreement, king algorithm, asynchronous byzantine agreement, authentication, signatures, reliable and atomic broadcast, eventual consistency, blockchain, cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and ethereum, proof-of-work, proof-of-*, smart contracts, quorum systems, fault-tolerant protocols such as piChain or pbft, distributed storage, distributed hash tables, physical and logical clocks, causality, selfishness, game theoretic models, mechanism design. |
| Lecture notes | A script is available on the web page. |
| Literature | The script is self-contained, but links to additional material are available on the web page. |
| Prerequisites / Notice | This lecture takes place in roughly the second half of the semester, as the lecture is the second part of the lecture "Computer Systems" (252-0217-00). Students may attend at most one of the two lectures, NOT both. |
Performance assessment
| Performance assessment information (valid until the course unit is held again) | |
Performance assessment as a semester course | |
| ECTS credits | 4 credits |
| Examiners | R. Wattenhofer, K. Locher, T. R. Locher |
| Type | session examination |
| Language of examination | English |
| Repetition | The performance assessment is only offered in the session after the course unit. Repetition only possible after re-enrolling. |
| Mode of examination | written 90 minutes |
| Written aids | None |
| This information can be updated until the beginning of the semester; information on the examination timetable is binding. | |
Learning materials
| Main link | Course Webpage |
| Only public learning materials are listed. | |
Groups
| 227-0555-00 G | Distributed Systems | |||
| Group | G-01 | |||
Restrictions
| There are no additional restrictions for the registration. |
Offered in
| Programme | Section | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Engineering and Information Technology Master | Recommended Subjects | W |  |
| Electrical Engineering and Information Technology Master | Specialisation Courses | W | |