788.08P

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<TITLE>788.08P</TITLE>
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<h2> 788.08P: Network-Based Computing<br>
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<h3> Instructor: Prof. Dhabaleswar K. Panda<br>
      Winter 2008 <br>
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<h4> Course Description: </h4> 

The objective of this course is to understand the principles and
practice of the emerging network-based computing paradigm.  We will
study advances in networking and computing technologies as well as the
computational/networking demands of current and emerging
applications. Brief overview of the emerging network-based
computing applications will be covered. System architectures
for different kinds of
network-based computing systems will be analyzed. Computational,
communication, networking, I/O, and QoS requirements of emerging
network-based computing applications together with emerging 
trends in virtualization will be analyzed.
Challenges and research issues in designing
network-based computing systems and applications will be discussed in
detail.  Limitations of current solutions, impact of next generation
networking technologies
on designing future network-based computing    
systems and applications, and future research challenges will be
discussed.     

<h4> Text: </h4>  
Selected papers from the literature. Please refer to the attached
<a href="reading.html">reading list </a> and 
<a href="presentation_schedule">presentation schedule.        
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<h4> Grading Plan: </h4>  
There are five components: 
<pre> <strong> 
- attendance, participation in class discussion,         (10%)
  and evaluation of class presentations
- class presentation                                     (20%)
- final exam                                             (30%)
  (comprehensive, 03/06/08 evening (tentative) 
- class project                                          (40%)
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<h4> Class Presentation: </h4>  

Please refer to the <a href="reading.html">reading list </a> 
and <a href="presentation_schedule">presentation schedule </a>
and select 
a date (with corresponding set of papers) for presentation. 
If you are working on a given project, it will be preferable  
to choose a different set of papers for presentation. This will 
allow you to learn different things.  

The presentation schedule will be filled-up based on the order
in which I receive the preferences. To avoid conflicts with others, 
you can give me preferences
for two dates. 

The class presentation will be evaluated based on preparation
(knowledge assimilation), presentation style (organization,
smoothness, and clarity), finishing the presentation in time, and
answering questions during the discussion.

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We will be using an   
<a href="evaluation_form ">evaluation form </a> to evaluate every 
student presentation. Each student needs to fill out this form for 
every student speaker 
and return it (hardcopy only) to me by the following class. I will 
give them  
back to the student after removing the evaluator's information. 
I will use this information to evaluate the speaker's presentation 
as well as the evaluators' skill to evaluate a presentation.  

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You must consult me when preparing your slides and finalizing them.
This is to ensure that the presentations are compact and provide a
smooth flow. Please discuss about your presentation plans with me
two weeks before the presentation date and the slides with me 
one week before
the presentation date.               

<h4> Class Project: </h4>  

Due to the research-oriented nature of this course, the project will
play an important part in the learning experience and in the grading
process. Projects will be evaluated based on their 
technical quality, originality, depth of analysis, and completeness.

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Projects will be mostly done in an individual manner.  Maximum two
people may be in a group if the scope of the project is big and there
is sufficient understanding between the members that both will
contribute equally to the success of the project (members will get the
same grade in project).  The project will be
research-oriented. Depending on the nature of the topic, it may
consist of one or more of the following components: theory, design,
analysis, simulation, or experimental results.            

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You are free to consult with me while defining the project and working 
on it during 
the quarter. I will provide a list of possible projects during the 
second week of classes. 
Those who have been already involved in 888.08P in earlier quarters
can carry out their earlier projects.  The new students can meet 
with me to discuss their research interests and we will define 
project topics.    

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I will be meeting with each of you frequently during the quarter 
to discuss the progress
of your project. 

<h4> Project Schedule: </h4>  
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End of 2nd week     - discussion with the instructor to select/focus topic
End of 3rd week     - proposal (around two pages) due
End of 4th week     - feedback from instructor and finalizing the topic
Project Report due  - final exam week (on or before 03/13/08)          
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