Computer Organization and Networks (WS 2021/22)
From a single gate to a web server in one semester
Table of Content
Content
In this course we study logic design and computer organization. We learn to model synchronous digital systems at functional layer as well as structural layer by using the hardware-design language Verilog. Based on this, we discuss typical concepts found in computer organization: The fetch/execute algorithm, instruction sets, input and output, the stack, interrupt, handshake, memory technologies, direct memory access, and virtual memory. Furthermore, we learn the fundamentals of computer networks and communication technology. It discusses the network layers typically found in today's Internet-based communication. Thus, protocols found in today's networks are analyzed with respect to their function and their historical development.
The course is offered for students in the third semester within their bachelor studies. It is advisable to have successfully completed the programming courses offered in the first and second semesters. The course consists of four parts:
- Basics (logic gates, number representation, sequential logic, state machines)
- Processors, part I (Instruction sets, pipelining, memory layout, peripherals, C to machine language, interrupts)
- Networks (Basics, Layers: Link, network, transport and application)
- Processors, part II (branch prediction, security)
Material
Lecture Recordings are available on TUbe. All examples that are shown in the lectures are available via git from examples-2021.| Date | Begin | End | Slides |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-10-06 | 13:00 | 15:15 | 00 Welcome 01 Combinational Circuits |
| 2021-10-13 | 13:00 | 15:15 | 02 Number representation |
| 2021-10-20 | 13:00 | 15:15 | 03 State Machines |
| 2021-10-27 | 13:00 | 15:15 | 04 Basics on processors |
| 2021-11-03 | 13:00 | 15:15 | 05 Pipelining |
| 2021-11-10 | 13:00 | 15:15 | 06a Assembly, Stack & Calling Convention |
| 2021-11-17 | 13:00 | 15:15 | 06a continued 06b Stack examples |
| 2021-11-24 | 13:00 | 15:15 | 07 Network basics, link layer, and network layer |
| 2021-12-09 | 17:30 | 19:45 | 08 Network and transport layer |
| 2020-12-15 | 13:00 | 15:15 | 09 Application layer + Networking wrap-up |
| 2021-01-12 | 13:00 | 15:15 | 10_Polling and Interrupts 11_Faster Processors |
| 2021-01-19 | 13:00 | 15:15 | Second Part (Caches) of Chapter 11 |
| 2021-01-26 | 13:00 | 15:15 | 12 Virtual Memory 13 Information on Exam |
- Discord invitation link
- Software stack used: git, Digital, Icarus Verilog (at least version 11), SV2V, Yosys, GTKWave, asmlib, automake, and GCC easy way: use the VirtualBox image with all tools preinstalled (we provide support if you have any questions) hard way: replicate the toolchain from ansible. Commit ffdb4a5d80c3225578 was used to build CON2021VM (we provide limited support)
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2021-10-08 | publication Task 1 tutorial videos: Getting started, Task 1.a, SystemVerilog, Task 1.b |
| 2021-10-11 | weekly question hours start |
| 2021-10-29 | deadline Task 1.a |
| 2021-11-05 | deadline Task 1.b publication Task 2 tutorial videos: Task 2.a, Task 2.b |
| 2021-11-26 | deadline Task 2.a |
| 2021-12-03 | deadline Task 2.b publication Task 3 tutorial videos: Task 3.a (slides), Task 3.b (slides, examples) |
| 2021-12-06 | week of assignment interviews for Tasks {1.a, 1.b, 2.a} |
| 2022-01-14 | deadline Task 3.a |
| 2022-01-21 | deadline Task 3.b weekly question hours end |
| 2022-01-24 | start assignment interviews for Tasks {2.b, 3.a, 3.b} |
- 30th of May 2022
- 23rd of June 2022
- Course website: WS2019/2020, WS2020/2021
- Lecture exams:
Administrative Information
The lecture will be held in a hybrid setting. The practicals will be held online.- The lecture takes place every Wednesday at 13:00 and will be held in two blocks of 60min with a 15min break in-between. The exam after the annual lecture is in written form with a duration of 90 minutes.
- “lecture hall group”: show up on Wednesday at 13:00 in lecture hall i13. A valid 3G certificate is required.
- “Standardgruppe”: join the live lecture on Wednesday at 13:00 at TUTube to participate. Questions in the chat will be forwarded to the lecturer.
- The practicals consist of these parts:
- tutorial videos: will be published here to introduce students to a topic or assignment
- question hours: happen every week. Time and day varies among TAs.
- assignment sheet: will contain the assignments and is distributed with your git repository at the beginning of the semester
- deadlines: always happen on 23:59
- assignment interviews: your TA will send you an invitation. You discuss your solutions with your TA in Discord then.
- grading: based on the assignments handed in by your TA.
