First part of the seminar will introduce the fundamentals of distributed computing. Concepts discussed will include: communication, timing, synchronization, performance, availability, scalability and access control.

Main text: Distributed Computing Fundamentals, Simulations and Advanced Topics by H.Attiya and J.Welch, McGraw-Hill inc., 1998.

Second part of the seminar will address practical technological issues such as object brokering, components, middleware, networking, lookup, discovery and leasing. We will have demonstrations involving these technologies: RMI, Java ORB, EJB, Jini and Javaspaces.

Main texts: Developing Java Enterprise Applications by S.Asbury, and S.Wiener, John-Wiley and sons, 1999. Core Jini by K.Edwards, The Sun Microsystems Java Series, Prentice-Hall Inc., 1999.

Finally we will study existing distributed computing models and their shortcomings in handling the operation of current internet-based systems. The plan is to analyze the existing models, study the requirements of modern systems and to come up with proposals for newer and better suited application models for large scale distributed systems. The models will focus on supporting next generation internet and enterprise computing. We will apply the knowledge gained and the technologies studied in the first two parts of the seminar to prove the feasibility of the proposed models.

Main texts: Distributed Information Systems in Business by W.Konig, et al. , Editors, Springer-Verlag Inc, 1996.
 Managing Information Across the Enterprise by R. K . Wysocki and R. L. DeMichiell, John-Wiley & Sons,    1997.

Undergradutes will register as CSE499.