These
figures show, in order, (1) a peer to peer system (Gnutella), (2) a sensor
network, (3) clouds (!), (4) the Internet ISP topology, and (5) a food web in a biological
ecosystem.
[Tuesdays and Thursdays] @ [12.30 PM - 1.45 PM] @ [Siebel Center 1131]
Instructor: Dr. Indranil Gupta ("Indy"), indy at cs dawt illinois dawt edu, 3112 SC.
Office hours: Tuesdays 2.00 pm - 3.00 pm, and Thursdays 3.00 pm - 4.00 pm (class days only) in 3112 SC.
TA: Brian Cho, bcho2 at cs dawt illinois dawt edu, Office hours by appointment.
Class Newsgroup: class.sp10.cs525. Instructions on accessing newsgroups.
This is a course on distributed systems. It brings together research centered in theory, on peer-to-peer systems, on cloud computing, and on sensor networks. The course reviews classical work in these scattered areas of distributed computing research, and explores overlaps across them. The course has one semester-long project that is aimed at producing a conference/workshop-quality research paper. The paper must address an open research problem, prove bounds and/or propose new algorithms, and contain analytical and experimental evaluation. Previous course projects have had high success rates at conferences/workshops (see past CS525/CS598IG projects at the bottom of this page). Three to five "best projects'' at the end of the semester will be earmarked for expedited submission to a renowned conference, with the help of the instructor's involvement even after the semester is over.
Experimental Testbeds: You can request Indy for a PlanetLab slice, or Emulab project, or CCT (Cloud Computing Testbed) account, or AWS (Amazon Web Services) account (there are limited number of slots available for each: about 5 projects on each testbed). There will be a very limited number of project accounts available on each of these systems. Therefore, (1) all requests will be granted on an as-needed basis, and (2) you will be given an account on typically only one of these testbeds, so please choose carefully depending on your project requirements!
(Announced 5/10/2010)
Award Winners: The Best Final Project Paper Award in this semester's CS525 is jointly awarded to the following two groups (in no particular order):
Runners-Up and Special Mentions: Were also announced - please see your email.
Congratulations to everyone on a job very well done!
5/10/2010: This course is now over. You should have received feedback on your final report via email from Indy (if you have not, please email Indy). You will hear about your course grade through the University. Have a good summer!
2/2: Signup Sheet for Project Discussion Meetings is posted on the class.sp10.cs525 newsgroups. Please sign up! (groups of 2)
1/28: If you have not been able to sign up for a presentation slot, please send email to Indy as soon as possible!
1/26: Thursday office hours have been changed to 3-4 pm this week onwards.
1/21: Please sign up for a presentation slot by January 31st (go to Indy's office hours after class). For your options see the "Schedule" link above.
1/19: First lecture.
1/14: Course web page online. Happy New Year!
Policies on Ethics, Attribution and Cheating
Reviews: You may discuss papers with others in the class, but reviews should be written independently. In other words, if two reviews are found to have been copied from each other, both students will be punished. The best way to ensure that you are safe is by mentioning right at the top of your review that "This review was written after discussion with Mr. John Doe and Ms. Jane Joe".
Presentation: Your work (presentations and reviews) should be original and independent, although you are allowed to cooperate with your partner for your session. Reusing slides from someone else's presentation should be done only if it is absolutely necessary, but should be acknowledged right at the beginning of the presentation.
The standard university policies on original work, cheating and attribution apply to all work in the course. Violation of these may result in either lowering of course grade by one letter, or failing the course, or a different final decision left to the instructor.
Some Past CS525/CS598IG Projects that were Subsequently Published in Conferences/Journals (check http://dprg.cs.uiuc.edu for copies of papers)
Some Fall 2003 CS 598IG Project Papers that became conference/journal papers
Some Fall 2004 CS 598IG Project Papers that became conference/journal papers
Some Spring 2006 CS598IG Project Papers that became conference papers (some under submission)
Some Spring 2007 CS525 Project Papers that became conference papers (some under submission)
Spring 2008 CS525 Project Papers that became conference papers (in no particular order)
Spring 2009 CS525 Best Final Project Papers in class (project names withheld since in-progress)
If you would like to see copies of any of these papers, please drop by my office.