Course Web Page

You can find the main course webpage here. That is where the course announcements and updates will take place. Additional webpages will be listed below if needed.

Teaching Staff

  • Intructor: Mohammad A. Noureddine (nouredd2 AT illinois.edu)
    • Office: 232 Coordinated Science Lab
    • Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
  • Teaching Assistant: Kartik Palani (palani2 AT illinois.edu)
    • Office: 231 Coordinated Science Lab
    • Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday: 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  • Teaching Assistant: Michael Rausch (mjrausc2 AT illinois.edu)
    • Office: 231 Coordinated Science Lab
    • Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday: 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Logistics

  • Meeting Time: 9:30 - 10:45 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday
  • Location: ECEB 2013

Schedule

You can view a tentative schedule of the class sessions on the course schedule page.

Course Overview

ECE/CS 541 is a comprehensive introduction to methods for computer system and network analysis. It focuses on methods that are applicable to a wide range of systems and practical uses and implementations of these methods.

Text

No required text. There will be readings from research papers and texts on reserve at the Grainger Engineering Library.

Prerequisites

ECE 313 (“Probability Theory with Applications”) or equivalent. At least one 400-level or higher course in computer architecture or networks.

Grading Policy

Grades will be assigned based on performance on assignments, a project, a mid-term, an in-class probability quiz, and a paper presentation. The weight assigned to each component will be as follows:

  • Semester Project …………………………… 35%
  • Homeworks …………………………………… 27%
  • Midterm (in class) ………………………….. 30%
  • Probability Quiz (in class) ………………. 5%
  • Class Participation …………………………. 3%
  • Paper Presentation ………………………… 5%*

Course Description

ECE/CS 541 is a comprehensive introduction to methods for computer system and network analysis. It focuses on methods that are applicable to a wide range of systems and practical uses and implementations of these methods. Broadly speaking, the course is divided into three parts: analytic/numerical modeling, simulation, and measurement. Each of these three approaches to computer system and network analysis has important uses, and will be covered in detail. Using each of these methods, the course will address models for performance, dependability (reliability and availability), survivability, and performability (combined performance/dependability/security) analysis.

In doing so, we will first briefly review stochastic processes, as applied to computer system and network analyses. We will then study dependability-specific methods (fault trees, reliability block diagrams), single queues, networks of queues, and product-form analysis techniques. Finally, we will address techniques based on stochastic Petri nets and stochastic activity networks, which are appropriate for performability analysis. To that end, we will briefly address numerical issues in the solution of both steady-state and transient behaviors of models.

In the simulation portion, we will first provide an overview of process and discrete-event-based simulation. We will then address the issues of random variable generation, and issues related to simulator execution: initial transient determination, stopping criteria, and various statistical issues. We will focus on simulation of computer and communication networks, and use simulation tools designed for this purpose.

This course is intended to be a fun, interactive introduction to computer system analysis. Hands-on learning, through the use of software tools in the homeworks and project, will be emphasized. Students from all areas of electrical and computer engineering and computer science, as well as other engineering disciplines, are encouraged to enroll.

Course Rules:

  • The probability quiz is an in-class short quiz that covers the material we go over in our probability review.
  • There will be four to five homework assignments, each worth 4 to 5% of the total grade. Homeworks must be done individually. General ideas regarding homework may be discussed (this is encouraged), but the work handed in must be your own.
  • The homework assignments are designed to test your understanding of the analytic tools and techniques that will be covered in class, in addition to providing you with hands-on experience building models and analyzing them.
  • All homeworks are due at the beginning of class on the due date, or by the time stated for digital submissions. You will have 1 late submission credit (5 days) at the start of the semester that you can use for any assignment. Once used, no further late assignments are accepted.
  • The project and presentation will be done in groups. Students must clearly state their contributions to the project and make individual presentations. Different grades may be assigned to different people in a project.
  • All work must be completed during the semester; no incompletes will be given except under extenuating circumstances.
  • Paper presentations will be held towards the end of the semester with the goal of exposing students to active research that leverages the tools and techniques we have learned in the class. Students are expected to read, understand, summarize, and present research papers from top systems and modeling conferences. We will post a list of possible papers two to three weeks before presentations start. Paper presentations will be done individually.*

* Due to the relatively large number of students registered, we can no longer support paper presentations without sacrificing class time. Therefore we have opted to cancel paper presentation and replace them with class participation and online discussion.