CS 159 Greensheet
Introduction to Parallel Processing
Spring 2007
Instructor: John Avila
Course Title: Introduction to Parallel Processing
Number of Units: 3
Catalog Description:
Major parallel architectures: shared memory, distributed memory, SIMD, MIMD.
Parallel algorithms: techniques for scientific applications, measures of
performance. Parallel programming: principles and implementations in various
languages. Assignments on available parallel and vector computers.
Prerequisite: CS 146 (with a grade of "C-" or better) or instructor consent.
Objectives:
- To understand the architecture of various forms of parallel computers
- To examine algorithms to take advantage of these forms
- To develop parallel programs for a cluster of linux workstations
Text:
- Barry Wilkinson and Michael Allen
- Parallel Programming
Techniques and Applications using Networked Workstations
and Parallel Computers (2nd Edition)
Pearson/Prentice Hall (2005)
ISBN: 0-13-140563-2
The plan:
We will cover the first 11 chapters of the text except for Chapter 8.
As appropriate, I will bring in material from other sources.
We will have accounts on a Linux cluster here at San Jose State and
programming assignments will be carried out on this networked computer
system.
Academic Integrity:
Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced
by your enrollment at SJSU, and the University's Academic Integrity
Policy requires you to be honest in all your academic course work.
Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the Office of
Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The
policy on academic integrity can be found at
http://sa.sjsu.edu/student_conduct.
Every assignment that you submit must be your own work.
Anyone who copies work from another source
or allows another to copy from him or her will be reported to the university
resulting in disciplinary action including a failing grade in this class.
Additional Notes:
- If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability,
or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please
make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours.
University policy requires that students with disabilities register with the SJSU
Disability Resource Center to establish a
record of their disability.
- Please familiarize yourself with SJSU policies and procedures:
particularly the add/drop
policy. It is your responsibility to know and observe these policies.
However, if there is something about a policy that you don't understand, please
feel free to ask! You can also find answers to many questions at the
Student Advising Center. Note that
this semester the last day to drop without consequence is Monday, Feb. 5, and the last day to add is Monday, Feb. 12. After these dates it becomes very difficult to
drop or add a class, so be sure you are in good shape before these dates arrive!
Exams:
There will be two midterms; one after we cover Chapter 4, the second
after we cover Chapter 9. In addition, there will be a final exam.
Final Exam Schedule
| Tuesday, May 22 |
5:15pm - 7:30pm |
|
Computer facilities:
All students in this course will automatically receive a computing
account on a Linux cluster jointly belonging to the Computer Science
Department and the Meteorology Department.
The language that we will use for programs on the cluster is C. I will
provide all the information you need to be able to do this if you have
had Java or C or C++ experience.
Grading:
- Components:
- The midterms will make up 25% of the grade EACH.
- Homework assignments will make up 20% of the grade.
- The final exam will make up 30% of the grade
-
- The "bad day" correction:
- If your worst midterm has a grade less than your final exam
grade, then I will replace that midterm grade with your final
exam grade. For example, if your worst midterm grade was 65% and
you received 75% on your final exam, then I would give you 75%
on your worst midterm as well as your final.
-
- How to compute your grade:
- (Total midterm 1 points)/(Total possible midterm 1 points) * 0.25
+ (Total midterm 2 points)/(Total possible midterm 2 points) * 0.25
+ (Total homework points)/(Total possible homework points) * 0.20
+ (Final exam score)/(Total possible final exam score) * 0.30
= raw score.
| raw score |
Final grade |
| 0.90-1.00 |
A |
| 0.80-0.89 |
B |
| 0.70-0.79 |
C |
| 0.60-0.69 |
D |
| < 0.60 |
F |
+ and - grades are given for A through C grades if you are at the top
or the bottom of the range. There are no + or - grades for D or F grades.
Office hours:
Tuesdays 2:45pm to 5:15pm (MH 218)
Thursdays 2:45pm to 5:15pm (MH 218)
I also encourage you to send me e-mail if you have questions
regarding the course.
Office: MacQuarrie 218
e-mail: avila@cs.sjsu.edu
web page:
http://www.cs.sjsu.edu/faculty/avila/
Phone: 924-1398 (e-mail is always better)