High Performance Computing and Distributed Systems - 2019 entry
MODULE TITLE | High Performance Computing and Distributed Systems | CREDIT VALUE | 15 |
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MODULE CODE | ECMM448 | MODULE CONVENER | Unknown |
DURATION: TERM | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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DURATION: WEEKS | 11 |
Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated) | 30 |
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The demand for ever-increasing computational power drives the development and exploitation of high-performance computing and distributed systems that underpin computation-intensive scientific innovation and revolutionise engineering technologies in all fields. This module is designed to equip you with a solid foundation and useful skills in high-performance and distributed computing. In this module, you will learn advanced high-performance computer architectures and organisation, as well as gain skills in parallel processing algorithm design and programming. You will also acquire important knowledge of the architectural models and inter-process communications in distributed systems and their development and applications.
Students should be able to program in C or Fortran for the High Performance Computing assignment, and should be familiar with Java for the Distributed Systems aspect of this module. Familiarity with the basics of differential equations is required for the High Performance Computing part of the module.
This module aims to provide you with a thorough grounding in different types of computational device available for high-performance computing and distributed systems. After presenting the fundamental ideas and basic concepts of high-performance computing, the module outlines the architectures, components and parallel programming of high-performance computers. You will also gain knowledge of the architectural models of distributed systems and learn how to design Java API for inter-process communications and remote method invocation in distributed systems. The module will introduce you to recent developments and future trends in architecture and algorithm of high-performance and distributed computing.
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
Module Specific Skills and Knowledge
2. Demonstrate knowledge of high-performance computer architectures and how to make effective use of these architectures.
Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge
7. Interpret an informal requirement specification.
Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge
10. Use technical manuals and books to interpret technical errors.
- Motivation of and introduction to high-performance and distributed computing;
- Parallel computer architecture: shared-memory and distributed-memory architectures, multi-core processors, Graphics Processing Unit (GPUs);
- Interconnection networks in high performance computers: topologies, latency and bandwidth;
- Parallel processing algorithm and programming design: Message Passing Interface (MPI), OpenMP, domain decomposition, parallel overheads and scaling;
- Characteristics, challenges and architectural models of distributed systems: heterogeneity, openness, security, scalability, failure handling, concurrency and transparency, client-server model and its variations, peer-to-peer model;
- Inter-process communication in distributed systems: Java API for UDP and TCP communications;
- Programming models for distributed applications: distributed objects and remote method invocation.
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities | 32 | Guided Independent Study | 118 | Placement / Study Abroad | 0 |
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Category | Hours of study time | Description |
Scheduled learning and teaching | 22 | Lectures |
Scheduled learning and teaching | 10 | Workshops |
Guided independent study | 30 | Coursework (individual-assessed work) |
Guided independent study | 20 | Individual project |
Guided independent study | 68 | Guided independent study |
Form of Assessment | Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) | ILOs Assessed | Feedback Method |
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Practical programming and Implementation of analytical model | 2 hours | 2,3 | Written feedback |
Practical programming and implementation of simulator | 2 hours | 4,5 | Written feedback |
Coursework | 50 | Written Exams | 50 | Practical Exams |
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Form of Assessment | % of Credit | Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) | ILOs Assessed | Feedback Method |
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Coursework - 2 assignments with equal weighting | 30 | 30 hours | All | Written feedback |
Individual project | 20 | 20 hours | 1,2,3 | Written feedback |
Written exam – Closed book | 50 | 2 hours - Summer Exam Period | All | Model answers supplied on request |
Original Form of Assessment | Form of Re-assessment | ILOs Re-assessed | Time Scale for Re-assessment |
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All assessments | Written Examination (100%) | All | August Referral/Deferral Period |
Referred and deferred assessment will normally be by examination. For referrals, only the examination will count with a mark of 50% being awarded if the examination is passed. For deferrals, candidates will be awarded the higher of the deferred examination mark or the deferred examination mark combined with the original coursework mark.
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener
Basic reading:
ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/
Web based and Electronic Resources:
Other Resources:
Reading list for this module:
Type | Author | Title | Edition | Publisher | Year | ISBN |
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Set | Sterling, T., Anderson, M. and Brodowicz, M. | High Performance Computing: Modern Systems and Practices | 1st | Elsevier | 2018 | 978-0-12-420158-3 |
Set | M.J. Quinn | Programming in C with MPI and OpenMP | Mcgraw-Hill | 2003 | 0072822562 | |
Set | G. Couloris, J. Dollimore, T. Kinberg, and G. Blair | Distributed Systems – Concepts and Design | 5th | Addison-Wesley | 2011 | 0273760599 |
CREDIT VALUE | 15 | ECTS VALUE | 7.5 |
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PRE-REQUISITE MODULES | None |
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CO-REQUISITE MODULES | None |
NQF LEVEL (FHEQ) | 7 | AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING | No |
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ORIGIN DATE | Tuesday 10th July 2018 | LAST REVISION DATE | Tuesday 10th July 2018 |
KEY WORDS SEARCH | computer modelling, computer simulation, performance evaluation |
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Please note that all modules are subject to change, please get in touch if you have any questions about this module.