Principles of Computer System Design: An Introduction

This textbook, Principles of Computer System Design: An Introduction,is an introduction to the principles and abstractions used in the design of computer systems. It is an outgrowth of notes written by the authors for the M.I.T.

Part II of the textbook continues a main theme of Part I —enforcing modularity— by introducing still stronger forms of modularity. This book introduces stronger forms of modularity that can help protect against component and system failures and against malicious attacks. We explore communication networks, constructing reliable systems from unreliable components, creating all-or-nothing and before-or-after transactions, and implementing security.

The main chapters covers:

• The Network as a System and as a System Component
• Fault Tolerance: Reliable Systems from Unreliable Components
• Atomicity: All-or-Nothing and Before-or-After
• Information Security