CS 294-143: The Design, Evaluation, and Implementation of Modern Warehouse-Scale Computers

Instructors

Overview

This experimental course will discuss the principles and hardware and software technologies that will underlie the next generation of Warehouse-Scale Computers (WSCs). The basic building block is a ~1 MegaWatt WSC containing up to 10,000 compute nodes and up to an Exabyte (2^60 Bytes) of non-volatile memory connected via a low-latency, high-bandwidth optical switch. The technologies to be discussed include custom datacenter systems on a chip (SoCs), distributed simulation tools for warehouse-scale machines, and systems software for modern disaggregated datacenter architectures. The first part of the semester will consist of formal readings and presentations (sometimes with outside speakers) on the key underlying technologies and components of datacenter design. The remainder of the course will consist of group directed research projects developed by the students and the instructors.

Reading Summaries

When there are assigned readings, please submit a 1/2 page writeup as a private note to the instructors on Piazza by 9am on the Monday before each class meeting. These will be made public to the class during the discussion meeting.

Units

Course can be taken for either 2 or 3 units depending on size of course project. Graduate students are expected to take a 3 unit course load.

Piazza

Class communication will be Piazza, and you can sign up at CS294-143 FireClass.