CSE807 - Computer System Performance Evaluation - Spring'03

Michigan State University DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE
TU TH 3:00-4:20 PM, C311 Wells Hall   Professor Herman D. Hughes   

ANNOUNCEMENT

 

DESCRIPTION :

CSE807 is a 3-credit course with CSE410 and STT 441 as prerequisite. It introduces the main concepts and techniques needed to plan the capacity of computer systems, predict their future performance under different configurations, and design new applications that meet performance requirements. The course is mainly based on the use of analytic queuing network models of computer systems. These techniques are applied to study the performance of centralized, distributed, client/server systems, and Web server performance. The course also discusses performance measuring tools for operating systems such as Unix and Windows NT. The course provides the students with hands-on experience in performance evaluation through a project.

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GRADING POLICY:

Grades are based on two tests, one project, and homework assignments. Grades will be numerical on the scale 0-100. Your final numerical grade, G, is computed as follows:
 
 

G = 

0.30 * Midterm-grade + 0.30 * Final-grade + 0.25 * Project grade + 0.05 * Homework

 

+ 0.05 * Presentation + 0.05 * Computer assignment

The following table is used to convert the final numerical grade to a MSU grade:
 
 

G  

MSU grade 

[91,100] 

4.0 

[82,90) 

3.5 

[74,81) 

3.0 

[65,73) 

2.5 

[60, 64) 

2.0 

[0, 59) 

0 

There is no curving. No extra credit assignments will be given after the semester is over to increase grades. The instructor may decide to give an extra-credit assignment during the semester. Everyone will be given the opportunity to do the extra-credit assignment.

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ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:

The University's policy on Integrity of Scholarships and grades is central to the academic environment and will be followed by all students enrolled for the course.  Discussion of course material with fellow students is a valuable learning technique and is to be encouraged.  However, copying another's work is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.  All course work is to be completed by the student to whom it is assigned.  The minimum grade in a case of academic dishonesty is 0.0 for the assignment in question.  Depending on the case, a course grade of 0.0 may be given, and the matter may be referred to the Student-Judiciary for further action.

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SYLLABUS:
 
 

Week 1: 

Introduction to Performance Evaluation and Capacity Planning

Weeks 2:

A Capacity Planning Methodology

Weeks 3:

Building Performance Models of Computer Systems

Weeks 4-5:

System Level Models of Computer Systems

Weeks 6-7:

Efficient Solutions to Performance Models

Week 8:

Midterm

Weeks 9:

Multiclass Performance Models of Computer Systems

Week 10:

Performance Models of Client/Server Systems

Weeks 11-12:

Web Server Performance

Weeks 13:

Experimental Design and Analysis

Weeks 14:

Software Performance Engineering

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RESOURCES

Transaction Processing Performance Council: organization that defines and publishes transaction processing and database benchmarks known as the TPC benchmarks.

The Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation: organization that establishes, maintains, and endorses a standardized set of benchmark metrics for performance evaluation known as SPEC ratings.

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PROJECT:

Students will work in groups of two to three people in the project. Each team will work on a different project and will make a presentation (a final exhibition) to the whole class (date TBD). An electronic classroom will be available for the presentation. Each group has to turn in a written report describing the performance problem being studied, the model built, the data collection procedures used, the various numerical results, and conclusions taken. Each member of the group has also to turn in an individual (one-page) report indicating his/her perception of how the work was distributed among the group members and what the contribution of each was. Students are encouraged to report any breakdowns on group organization and operational aspects as early as possible, so that these problems can be overcome. In order for projects to complete successfully, it is very important to plan all the activities and to follow a schedule. Starting to work on a project a few days before it is due, will very likely cause problems to its successful completion. A Web page will be developed for the group projects and students are expected to "publish" their projects in html.

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IMPORTANT DATES :
 
 

First Day of Classes 

January 7, 2003. 

Holiday ( Martin Luther King Day - no class)

January 20, 2003

Spring Recess (no classes) 

Monday, March 3 - Friday, March 7 , 2003

Midterm 

 

Final Exam 

Tuesday April 29 7:45-9:45 a.m.

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IMPORTANT RULES :

No collaboration is allowed among students in any of the individual exams. Students are allowed to discuss with other students the solution of homework assignments. Collaboration in the project is only allowed within the group.

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