INFS3056
Open Systems: Concepts and Applications
Lecture 1 - Introduction

Administration

Lecturer: Chris Johnson
room CSIT N213
phone 2624
email help3056@toscanini

Classes:

20 lectures +1 in-class Quiz - 10.5 weeks

Tuesday 9am Copland G031

Thursday 11am Copland G031

5 lab/tutorials in odd weeks 3,5,7,9,11

Register your lab times using ATLES now!

Topics:

  1. Introduction to computer networks, open systems.
  2. Access to remote information
  3. Mobile code and active content
  4. Openness and Standards

Texts and other resources

Unit Web site: http://challender.anu.edu.au/infs3056
and mirror site: http://cs.anu.edu.au/people/Chris.Johnson/lecture-notes/infs3056

Texts/references no prescribed text

  • Tanenbaum, Computer Networks 3rd edition
  • Umar, Object-Oriented Client/Server Internet Environments
  • McKeown & Watson, Metamorphosis

    • Introduction to Open Systems Concepts and Applications

    What is this unit about?

    the technology behind Information Networks:
    interworking networked applications

    - the techniques that allow networked computer systems and applications from many different sources to work together;

    and the techniques that allow information providers and users to have confidence in the security of their communications.

    Reading:

    Tanenbaum chapter 1 up to section 1.5 (inclusive)

    Computer communications networks

    Electronic communication between computers is by:

  • shared medium (e.g. ``ethernet'') suitable for LANs
  • modem over POTS (ordinary telephone service)
    or mobile cellular phone service
  • leased lines
  • dedicated microwave links
  • public carriers
  • internetworks through gateways

    • and by combinations of all of these.

    Communication between computers of all sizes
    - from palmtops to supercomputers.

    Benefits of Computer Communications

  • speed
  • low cost
  • flexibility
  • distributed data
  • distributed processing
  • very wide access

    • Why Open Systems?

  • flexibility across many different computer systems
  • independence from vendors - non-proprietary
  • global coverage
  • open to all parties who agree to communicate
  • cost effective communications
  • integration with other telecomms services


    • Open Systems- Open Systems Interconnect (OSI)
    and
    Internet protocols- TCP/IP
    and
    open distributed object-oriented middleware- CORBA
    and
    etc. etc.

    Phenomenon

    growth
    growth
    growth
    growth

    Some common applications

  • electronic mail - email
  • electronic news - Usenet, bulletin boards
  • World Wide Web - WWW
  • file transfer and remote access
  • electronic onformation services
  • distributed databases
  • distributed work e.g. design, conferencing
  • Electronic Document Interchange (EDI)
  • retail applications: books, CDs, software, ...
  • EFTPOS Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale
  • validation of credit/debit cards
  • barcode scans
  • ATM - automatic teller machine
  • electronic banking
  • government form completion and submission
    • Lecture Notes Index Lecture 2

    Chris Johnson
    Last modified: Wed Aug 6 10:28:45 EST 1997
    Queries to : help3056@toscanini.anu.edu.au