CSE 531 – Distributed and Multiprocessor Operating Systems
Fall 2009
Project #0
Due Date: Do not submit, this is for your practice and knowledge

Overview:

This is a self-study project. Run all the programs (threads, locking, semaphores, monitors) from the p-threads tutorial done in class. The files are available in gzipped-tar format, which is easily unwrapped in Linux. Link -> here

1. Run each program. Make sure you understand the output and how it works

2. Make changes to the program and observe what happens. Be creative; do not be afraid of breaking it. It can be a valuable learning experience.

Details of running

The programs have to be compiled with p-threads library. The compile command is:

gcc –lpthread filename.c

The programs work with Linux. If you have a machine (or virtual machine) that has Linux installed, you have nothing to do other than download, unzip and go.

If you do not have Linux, or have never used it.

>>In class students follow these instructions

1. Get the 2 files from the DVD handed out in class. The DVD (5 copies) are now located in the brown table located in the middle of BY 426. Please copy the files and do not steal the original. The DVD is marked “531 2009”.

2. Run the executable to install the VMWare Player

3. Unzip the ZIP file to get a set of files (4GB)

4. Run VMware Player and load up the virtual machine in the directory you put the unzipped files. It will boot up Ubuntu Linux.

5. You will need to log-in, the user name is “user” and the password in “user”

6. Click on Terminal to get DOS-prompt like black box.

7. Also use Firefox to download the gzip file to the desktop

8. Now open the desktop and use the places menu to create folder and extract the gzip file contents there.

9. Navigate to the folder, using the cd command

10. You should be able to work things out from here

>> Online students, contract me by email to get a copy. Suggest an easy method if possible. Also, if it is possible for you to share a copy of a DVD with another online student, it will be very helpful for me.

To edit files, use gedit.