18-746/15-746: Storage Systems (Spring 2014)

News

Exam 2 Solutions

Exam solutions for this semester's exam 2.
Exam 2s can be picked up from the ECE Course Hub, in HH 1112. They are generally open 9am-5pm Monday-Friday.

New VirtualBox image!

We are releasing a new virtualbox image. You can download it from HERE (md5: 173bff89e0a436b1272bce054ca7558b).
Instructions on how to use this image can be found HERE. Please go through the instructions before running the image.
This image is exactly identical to the one which Autolab uses for grading. It does not have any GUI (or other fancy stuff) since we planned on keeping all the library versions and other things as close to Autolab as possible. However, Autolab is a large-scale grading system and although we have tried our best to provide an image as close to Autolab as possible, it is impossible to exactly mimic Autolab's behavior for every corner case. A code that passes on this VM does not necessarily guarantee success on Autolab but the chances of failure will be reduced drastically.

We strongly suggest you follow these steps before concluding that Autolab is grading the code incorrectly:
- Please make sure that you have initialized any allocated memory before using it (e.g., memset allocated memory to 0). malloc() does not allocate initialized memory and local variables aren't initialized either.
- Double check string operations. A missing '\0' can wreck havoc in the code. (Think about 15-213 bufferlab).
- Fix the cause of all warnings. Please pay attention to warnings. Quite often, they are the source of silent failures.
- Make sure the code isn't making any illegal memory accesses. This can be easily found by using tools like "valgrind".
- Please realize that although we're using FUSE, the filesystem that we're developing is very much real! A good implementation can actually be used in real life. Strive to make your CloudFS usable for everyday use.

Exam #2 at 7pm on Wednesday, April 23

The second midterm will be held at 7pm - 8:20pm on Wednesday, March 3 in 4401 GHC (Rashid Auditorium). You may bring a single page (two sided) of notes in with you, but you may not use any electronic device during the exam. Do not sit immediately beside or behind another student.

Let us know immediately if you have any special circumstances pertaining to taking exams at CMU.

There will not be a class meeting at the normal time on that day.

PROJECT 2, PART 1 DEADLINE EXTENDED

Because of changes in the project as handed out, and the day late release of the material, 746 staff has decided to allow you a little more time to submit project 2, part 1:

Originally due Thursday April 3, 11:59 pm EDT

If submitted before Friday April 4, 11:59 pm EDT: 0% penalty
If submitted before Saturday April 5, 11:59 pm EDT: 0% penalty
If submitted before Sunday April 6, 11:59 pm EDT: 50% penalty
If submitted on or after Monday April 7: 100% penalty

This effects the deadline and grade of part 1 only. Part 2 deadline does not change, and you must accomplish part 1 in order to accomplish part 2. In this sense it is a bad idea to take two extra days “polishing” part 1 — submit on time and get started on part 2 without delay.

Lab 2 is out

Release date March 25, 2014
Due dates: part 1: April 3 (see above), part 2: April 17, part 3: May 1 and final report: May 2.
View Lab part 1 (in Autolab)
Download materials (on Schedule page)

Course mailing list

All class related announcements will be made on 746-announce@lists.andrew.cmu.edu. Please be sure to subscribe to this mailing list at https://lists.andrew.cmu.edu/mailman/listinfo/746-announce. An archive of messages to the mailing list can be found at the same site.

746 meeting time: 1pm

Starting from day #1, this class will meet from 1:00PM to 2:20PM in Doherty Hall 1212, rather than 12:30-2:20. So, go ahead and eat lunch before class ;).

Homework webpage is up

The Homework web page has pointers to homeworks from the previous offerings of this class.