Operating Systems (G6059)

15 credits, Level 5

Spring teaching

This module studies the system-level structures that underpin operating systems and networks.

The primary focus is on processes, showing how they contain dynamic threads and address spaces, and on understanding how both shared memory and messages can be used to communicate between processes.

Concepts covered will include:

• process management
• memory management
• file systems
• synchronisation primitives
• communication abstractions and their implementation over packets switched networks, using TCP and IP as examples.

Particular emphasis will be on showing how to make these structures secure.

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 33 hours of contact time and about 117 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.