Course syllabus for Interconnection networks

The course syllabus contains changes
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Course syllabus adopted 2024-01-29 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameSammankopplingsnät
  • CodeDAT575
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPHPC
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyComputer Science and Engineering
  • DepartmentCOMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 86123
  • Maximum participants50 (at least 10% of the seats are reserved for exchange students)
  • Open for exchange studentsYes
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0124 Laboratory 4 c
Grading: TH		0 c4 c0 c0 c0 c0 c
0224 Examination 3.5 c
Grading: TH		0 c3.5 c0 c0 c0 c0 c
  • 13 Jan 2025 am J
  • 14 Apr 2025 pm J
  • 28 Aug 2025 pm J

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

Mathematics (including Calculus (at least 7,5 credits) and Linear algebra (at least 7,5 credits)), Programming in a general-purpose language (e.g. C/C++/Java/Haskell or similar) (at least 7,5 credits); Introduction to Computer Engineering (at least 7,5 credits); and one of the following courses: Discrete mathematics and/or Mathematical statistics and/or Probability theory and/or Algorithms and/or Data structures (at least 7,5 credits).

Aim

This course introduces the students to the field of Interconnection Networks with emphasis on Networks on Chip. The course will provide a balanced insight of both theoretical trends and practical hands-on experience with Interconnection Networks. In addition to the basic concepts, the students are taught advanced topics in network topologies, routing, flow control, router design, performance analysis of networks, Quality of Service, Fault Tolerance.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

1. Knowledge and understanding

⦁ recognize the function and uses of interconnection networks. (lecture; exam)
⦁ describe different design aspects of interconnection networks. (lecture; exam)
⦁ identify tradeoffs between different design choices for a network. (lecture; exam, labs)


2. Skills and abilities

⦁ use a modern evaluation setup to evaluate the performance of an interconnection network. (lectures, labs; labs)
⦁ use modern system simulation tools to evaluate the performance of a network-based computer system. (labs; labs)
⦁ measure and analyze the performance of an interconnection network standalone and as part of a computer system. (lectures, labs; labs)
⦁ ability to cooperate in diverse group compositions with team members with different skills, cultural and educational backgrounds, gender and nationality


3. Judgment and approach

⦁ critically judge the advantages and disadvantages of alternative design choices for different network aspects. (lectures; exam, lab)
⦁ compare different types of interconnection networks. (lectures; exam, lab)

Format: "Intended learning outcomes. (related student activity; related assessment method)"

Content

The particular topics to be covered are but not limited to: uses of Interconnection Networks, different aspects of their design (routing, flow control, deadlocks), Network components (routers, network interface), performance aspects (evaluation methodology, quality of service, fault tolerance).

More precisely, the course contents are the following:

- Purpose and Uses of Interconnection Networks
- Buses and Arbitration,
- Network topologies,
- Routing,
- Flow control,
- Deadlocks and Livelock,
- Router design and Allocation,
- Network Interfaces
- Performance analysis of networks,
- Quality of Service,
- Fault Tolerance

Organisation

The course consists mainly of Lectures and Labs.

There are about 12 lectures (roughly 2 per week).

There are lab assignments performed in groups of 2 students related to system level and standalone, RTL evaluation of Interconnection network parameters.

Teaching language is English.

Literature

Lecture slides and the following book complimentary to the lecture slides:

Principles and Practices of Interconnection Networks, by William J. Dally and Brian Towles, (ISBN 0-12-200751-4)

Examination including compulsory elements

The course is examined by an individual written exam for 3.5 HEC points and laboratory project assignments 4 HEC points.

The Laboratory work is carried out in groups of normally 2 students and are graded with fail (U), 3, 4, 5.
The grading scale of the exam and the entire course comprises fail (U), 3, 4, 5

The grade of the entire course is calculated as the average of the laboratory project and written exam, weighted by their HEC points. 

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.

The course syllabus contains changes

  • Changes to course rounds:
    • 2024-03-22: Examinator Examinator Ioannis Sourdis (sourdis) added by Viceprefekt
      [Course round 1]