Computer Architectures and Operating Systems
Datorarkitekturer med operativsystem

EITF60, 7.5 credits, G2 (First Cycle)

Valid for: 2026/27
Faculty: Faculty of Engineering LTH
Decided by: PLED C/D
Date of Decision: 2026-04-16
Effective: 2026-05-18

General Information

Depth of study relative to the degree requirements: First cycle, in-depth level of the course cannot be classified
Mandatory for: IDA2
Language of instruction: The course will be given in Swedish

Aim

• Have an overview of basic principals of construction in a computer system and be familiar with the foundations of the operating system.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

• be able to explain the concepts of pipelining, cache memory, virtual memory and operating systems
• be able to describe how these concepts collaborate in a modern computer architecture
• be able to compare the performance of different architectures considering the instruction set, pipelining and memory organisation.

Competences and skills
For a passing grade the student must

• evaluate different architectures and estimate their usage
• make overview of important characteristics of a computer architecture and an operating system.

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

• have developed skills to analyze the performance of a computer system, especially with regard to interaction between processor and memory system.

Contents

The different components of a computer system and their interaction will be described. A computer systems performance depends upon different factors such as the programs, instruction set and architecture. The course will cover, among other things, memory management, different types of buses and parallel processors. Pipelining and cache memory technique are two fundamental principles which will be studied. The course will also touch upon examples of embedded systems and highlight the operating systems role in an efficient, fully functioning computer system.

In the operating system part of the course, the following subjects will be discussed:

•  The design of operating systems.
• Different types of operating systems.
• Processes.
• Memory management.
• File handling.

Examination details

Grading scale: TH - (U, 3, 4, 5) - (Fail, Three, Four, Five)
Assessment:

The examination is performed by practical exercises, written report, tests and written exam. To receive a pass, that is grade 3, it is required to pass a given set of practical exercises and the online tests which is executed during the course. For higher grades, that is 4 and 5, it is required, in addition to what is needed for grade 3, to pass additional practical exercises and the written test (at the end of the course).

The examiner, in consultation with Disability Support Services, may deviate from the regular form of examination in order to provide a permanently disabled student with a form of examination equivalent to that of a student without a disability.

Modules
Code: 0119. Name: Examination.
Credits: 4.0. Grading scale: TH - (U, 3, 4, 5). Assessment: Grades are given by a combination of online tests and written examination
Code: 0219. Name: Laboratory Work.
Credits: 2.0. Grading scale: UG - (U, G). Assessment: Verbal examination while the laboratory is performed. Further information: All laboratory exercises are to be completed while the course is active and all laboratory exercises are to be completed within the same academic year.
Code: 0319. Name: Report.
Credits: 1.5. Grading scale: UG - (U, G). Assessment: Written report. Further information: All parts required for the report section must be completed while the course is active and all parts must be performed in the same academic year.

Admission

Admission requirements:

• EDI610 Digital Systems or EITA15 Digital Systems

Reading list

• Patterson, David A: Computer organization and design : the hardware software interface. Cambridge, MA : Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, an imprint of Elsevier, 2021, ISBN: 0128203315.
• Supplied material.

Contact

Course coordinator: Erik Larsson, erik.larsson@eit.lth.se
Course homepage: https://www.eit.lth.se/course/eitf60