CISC231 Advanced UNIX

Department of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics: Computer/Information Science

  1. Course Number and Title

    CISC231 Advanced UNIX (Experimental)

  2. Number of Credits

    3 credits

  3. Minimum Number of Instructional Minutes Per Semester

    3000 minutes

  4. Prerequisites

    CISC131 (C or better)

    Corequisites

    None

  5. Other Pertinent Information

    This course will minimally use a VAX based UNIX system. Major concentrated effort will be placed on the normal tasks of a system administrator to include system backup and file maintenance. As such programming and system related tasks will be assigned throughout the semester. Classroom demonstrations will be given in addition to the normal lectures and laboratory assignments.

  6. Catalog Course Description

    This course is a continuation of CISC131. It concentrates on systems programming, maintenance, and control of the UNIX system.

  7. Required Course Content and Direction

    1. Learning Goals:

      1. Establish and maintain user accounts and privileges in a UNIX system.
      2. Write and understand programs in ‘C’ in a UNIX environment particularly for the purpose of system maintenance.
      3. Perform routine operations in the maintenance and use of a UNIX based systems to include backup and inter-system communications connections.

    2. Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities:

      1. Review of “C” language ‘struct’ and ‘union’ statements.
      2. Reviewing the Unix process table from the shell level..
      3. Reviewing the user’s environment from the shell level.
      4. Unix Kernel calls.
      5. Unix Execution and Forking Processes.
      6. Parent/child process relationships.
      7. User, Group and Process ID Operations.
      8. Controlling the user’s terminal behavior.
      9. Using RAW mode and CRMOD mode.
      10. Killing Processes.
      11. File Linkage and Operations
      12. Random access file operations.
      13. Priority levels for processes and their manipulation.
      14. Creating inter-process communications channels.
      15. Profiling a user’s program.
      16. The Unix Epoch.
      17. Timing processes.
      18. User Masking bits.
      19. Unix Library calls.
      20. Default stream I/O package.
      21. Buffered I/O devices.
      22. Other file errors.
      23. Streamed I/O.
      24. Buffered read and write.
      25. User Environment Operations.
      26. System errors. Error strings.
      27. Formatted printing.
      28. Basic input/output system.
      29. Understanding the structure of the file system.
      30. Understanding the structure of an I-node.
      31. Unix programs.
      32. Using a debugger on a ‘core’ file image.

    3. Assessment Methods for Core Learning Goals:

    4. Reference, Resource, or Learning Materials to be used by Students:

      Departmentally selected textbook. Details provided by the instructor of each course section.

  8. Teaching Methods Employed

    At least 2 hours each week will be devoted to the presentation of course material and special projects in a classroom setting. The remaining time will be used for laboratory exercises and assignments.

Review/Approval Date -Unavailable