This course provides an introduction into the technologies behind cloud computing. A combination of lectures and hands-on programming assignment and term project expose the student to the leading cloud computing paradigms (e.g., Amazon EC2, Hadoop MapReduce, Spark). The lecture part will provide an overview of the underlying clustering technologies that make cloud computing possible (e.g., cluster networking, virtual machines). The students will complete a simple assignment using Amazon EC2 individually and a term project with a group of 4 students. In the term project, the students will build a private Cloud on a PC cluster with 4 Linux machines and participate in the design, assembling, configuring, and benchmarking of the private cloud system. The software stack will include Linux, Xen, Ganglia, Hadoop, and Spark. Each group is required to turn in a project report and give a project presentation and a live demo at the end of the semester.
Special Note: The maximum class size is limited to 90 students due to the limited number of PCs in our lab.
| Course Learning Outcomes | Relevant Programme Learning Outcome |
| CLO1. Able to master the key technologies about the Cluster and Cloud Computing, and be able to contrast similar technologies. | PLO.4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 |
| CLO2. Able to self-learn the latest Cloud Computing technologies and build their own Cloud system on a PC cluster. | PLO.3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 |
| View Programme Learning Outcomes | |
| Course Content | No. of Hours | Course Learning Outcomes |
| 1. Introduction of Cloud Computing | 3 | CLO1 |
| 2. Cloud Service Models: SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS | 3 | CLO1 |
| 3. Using Public Cloud Amazon EC2 (workshop) | 3 | CLO1 & COL2 |
| 4. MapReduce and Hadoop File System | 3 | CLO1 |
| 5. Xen, Hadoop, and Spark Installation (workshop) | 3 | CLO1 & COL2 |
| 6. Virtualization Techniques (Xen, VMWare, KVM, Docker, Kubernetes) | 6 | CLO1 |
| 7. Apache Spark | 3 | CLO1 |
| 8. Cluster Networking (ARP, VLAN/VXLAN, NAT) | 3 | CLO1 |
| 9. Data Center Networking and SDN | 3 | CLO1 |
| Description | Type | Weighting * | Examination Period ^ | Course Learning Outcomes |
| Port a simple Java/Python application on a public Cloud (Amazon EC2) | Continuous Assessment | 15% | - | CLO2 |
| Build a real Cloud system using Xen (or Kubernetes) and Apache Hadoop on a PC cluster, develop applications using Spark programming model. | Continuous Assessment | 35% | - | CLO2 |
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Written exam covers all taught content in the course. |
Written Examination | 50% | May 10 to 29, 2021 | CLO1 |
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* The weighting of coursework and
examination marks is subject to approval
^ The exact examination date uses to be released when all enrolments are confirmed after add/drop period by the Examinations Office. Students must oblige to the examination schedule. Students should NOT enrol in the course if they are not certain that they will be in Hong Kong during the examination period. Absent from examination may result in failure in the course. There is no supplementary examination for all MSc curriculums in the Faculty of Engineering. |
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- Available from the course webpage
| Date | Time | Venue | Remark | |
| Session 1 | 18 Jan 2021 (Mon) | 7:00pm - 10:00pm | MW-T2 | Hybrid |
| Session 2 | 25 Jan 2021 (Mon) | 7:00pm - 10:00pm | MW-T2 | Hybrid |
| Session 3 | 1 Feb 2021 (Mon) | 7:00pm - 10:00pm | MW-T2 | Hybrid |
| Session 4 | 8 Feb 2021 (Mon) | 7:00pm - 10:00pm | MW-T2 | Hybrid |
| Session 5 | 22 Feb 2021 (Mon) | 7:00pm - 10:00pm | MW-T2 | Hybrid |
| Session 6 | 1 Mar 2021 (Mon) | 7:00pm - 10:00pm | MW-T2 | Hybrid |
| Session 7 | 15 Mar 2021 (Mon) | 7:00pm - 10:00pm | Online | Online Zoom only |
| Session 8 | 22 Mar 2021 (Mon) | 7:00pm - 10:00pm | MW-T2 | Hybrid |
| Session 9 | 29 Mar 2021 (Mon) | 7:00pm - 10:00pm | MW-T2 | Hybrid |
| Session 10 | 12 Apr 2021 (Mon) | 7:00pm - 10:00pm | MW-T2 | Hybrid |
| MW - Meng Wah Complex | ||||
20 [For MDASC students]