Written Test

The basic lecture provides an overview of the following five areas: Internet, Coding, Assembly Programming, Computer Architecture, Operating Systems and Power Supply. In all 5 areas, a basic system view is provided. The following topics are covered in the 5 areas:
Internet: Protocol layers and basic structure of the Internet
Coding: number representations and character encoding, source encoding, channel encoding, line encoding;
Assembler programming: basics, calling subroutines in assembler, using the stack, program translation and execution, (impact of) compiler optimization;
Computer architecture: Instruction Set Architecture, Application Binary Interface ,Structure of computers, Moore's Law, basic performance considerations; Von Neumann architecture, CISC/RISC architectures
Operating systems: Processor structure, pipelining, hazards, exceptions; memory technologiesand hierarchy, locality principles, caches, processes and process management, structure and operation of virtual memory, Translation-Lookaside Buffer (TLB), cache coherence with multiple processors,user/kernel mode; structure of storage media, failover, RAIDs; Virtual Machines, advantages of virtualization, virtualization methods, Virtual LAN (VLAN); I/O devices, handshaking protocols for buses, parallel and serial buses, PCI, USB, control of I/O devices by the processor,data exchange between I/O devices and main memory, Direct MemoryAccess (DMA), advanced topics in operating systems;Energy supply:Climate change, quantitative comparison of CO2 emissions,power grids, energy markets, energy transition, power/heat coupling, demand-side management.

The students know basics in the areas of Internet, coding, assembly language programming, computer architecture, operating systems and power supply. They will be able to explain important terms, interrelationships and advantages and disadvantages. They understand the basic structure and operation of the systems covered at various levels. They will be able to sketch and interpret their structures and modes of operation. They can recognize the theoretically acquired concepts in practice and apply what they have learned.

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