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227-0555-00L 4 Credits MSC D-ITET

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Distributed Systems

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Roger Wattenhofer, Dr. Thomas Roger Locher

Enrolled students will be notified by e-mail about the lecture start.

VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:29:08

Abstract

This course introduces the fundamentals of distributed systems. We study different protocols and algorithms that allow for fault-tolerant operation, and discuss practical systems that implement these techniques.

Objective

The objective of the course is for students to understand the theoretical principles and practical considerations of distributed systems. This includes the main models of fault-tolerant distributed systems (crash failures, byzantine failures, and selfishness), and the most important algorithms, protocols and impossibility results. By the end of the course, students should be able to reason about various concepts such as consistency, durability, availability, fault tolerance, and replication.

Content

We discuss the following concepts related to fault-tolerant distributed systems: client-server, serialization, two-phase protocols, three-phase protocols, paxos, two generals problem, crash failures, impossibility of consensus, byzantine failures, agreement, termination, validity, byzantine agreement, king algorithm, asynchronous byzantine agreement, authentication, signatures, reliable and atomic broadcast, eventual consistency, blockchain, cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and ethereum, proof-of-work, proof-of-*, smart contracts, quorum systems, fault-tolerant protocols such as piChain or pbft, distributed storage, distributed hash tables, physical and logical clocks, causality, selfishness, game theoretic models, mechanism design.

Resources

Lecture Notes

A script is available on the web page.

Literature

The script is self-contained, but links to additional material are available on the web page.

Learning Materials (Links)

Main link
Course Webpage

General Information

Language: English
Levels: MSC
Frequency: Yearly recurring

Examination

Type: session examination
Mode: written 90 minutes
Aids: None

Course Components

Type	Title	Time & Place	Hours
lecture with exercise	Distributed Systems Groups are selected in myStudies.	Mon 10:15-12:00 (CAB G 61) Wed 10:15-12:00 (CHN D 44) Wed 10:15-12:00 (CHN D 46) Wed 10:15-12:00 (HG E 21) Wed 10:15-12:00 (LEE D 101) Wed 10:15-12:00 (ML F 40) Wed 10:15-12:00 (ML J 34.1) Wed 10:15-12:00 (ML J 34.3) Fri 10:15-12:00 (CAB G 61)	3 h weekly
independent project	Distributed Systems	No time listed	1 h weekly

Offered In

Electrical Engineering and Information Technology Master
- Master Studies (Programme Regulations 2018)
  - Track: Computers and Networks (The core courses and specialisation courses below are a selection for students who wish to specialise in the area of "Computers and Networks", see . The individual study plan is subject to the tutor's approval.)
    - Specialisation Courses (These specialisation courses are particularly recommended for the area of "Computers and Networks", but you are free to choose courses from any other field in agreement with your tutor. A minimum of 40 credits must be obtained from specialisation courses during the Master's Programme.)
- Master Studies (Programme Regulations 2008)
  - Major Courses (A total of 42 CP must be achieved during the Master Programme. The individual study plan is subject to the tutor's approval.)
    - Computers and Networks
      - Recommended Subjects (These courses are recommended, but you are free to choose courses from any other special field. Please consult your tutor.)