OVERVIEW

In the first part of the course, analyzes the architecture of the Internet is analyzed from different, complementary and interdependent, points of view.

The history of the Internet is recapitulated, either from the technological aspect and from its industrial declinations, starting from the origins to go down to the current architecture characterized by global pervasiveness. The regulatory aspects and the different business models that the Internet had made possible will also be treated, as well as what has influenced its evolution.

In the second part, the structural and industrial aspects of Cloud Computing will be reviewed, and then the architecture of large computing platforms ("data centers") that are the logical consequence of Cloud Computing and the evolution of the Internet. In addition to describing the physical and logical architecture of these platforms, particular attention will be paid to energy and environmental sustainability aspects.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide the student of an overall understanding of the architecture of the Internet, starting from its original setup, arriving to its complex and articulated organization of nowadays, and providing also the tools for understanding the dynamics of its continuous evolution. The structure of the Internet Governance is briefly depicted, with the goal of understanding which forces have to be balanced in order to drive the technological, economic and social evolution of the global network. The basic concepts of Distributed Systems and Cloud Computing will be briefly recapped (the student must have a sound knowledge of the principles from previous courses). The course will explore in depth mainly the industrial and economic aspects of CC, with special reference to the evolution of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) since year 2000. Finally, the course aims to provide basic knowledge of the complex ICT infrastructures, describing the various logical modules of a Data Center, with special emphasis to energy efficiency and environmental impact.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Understand the technological and industrial dynamics underlying the global network.

Understand what are the regulatory principles of the Net and what they imply for the different actors.

Understand the basic aspects of the world of networked services and applications.

Know and be able to evaluate the basic architectures of Cloud Computing.

Know the main issues that ICT must face in the 21st century.

PREREQUISITES

Basic principles of h/w architecture. Basic principles of how operating systems work.

Basic principles of computer networks and protocols (which will be summarized, however).

TEACHING METHODS

Frontal Lecture. Lectures will be in English.

Texts of the presentations will be made available throughout the year.

Some thematic insights will be offered throughout the year and will be the subject of eventual (optional) student presentations.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

1. Internet Architecture

• How the I. ecosystem evolved
• How the infrastructure of I. is nowadays.
• Why the I. ecosystem is always changing
• Who pays for What.
• Who the players are.​

2. Internet Governance

• How media industries started and were established.
• Why media industries are different from other ones.
• Who controls the Internet.
• What Network Neutrality means.
• Why Network Neutrality is important.
• Who Network Neutrality affects.​

3. Cloud Computing

• What do“Utilities” mean? How do Utilities work?
• How to deliver ICT resources and services as by “a tap”
• What essential characteristics it has.
• Which different service models exist.
• Why C.C. requires a paradigm shift.
• Which businesses are more affected by the migration to C.C.
• Which business options must be considered.

4. Large-scale ICT platforms

• Cloud Computing and “warehouse-scale” ICT platforms.
• Software infrastructure and workload.
• Hardware architecture of a Data Center.
• Basic components: physical infrastructure, power management, cooling.
• A brief reference to economic models.
• Outage and change management.
• Power efficiency, green computing.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Reference books:

• W.B. Norton, "The Internet Peering Playbook", 2014 [ebook]
• C.F.Marsden, "Network Neutrality: from policy to regulation", 2017 [free ebook]
• C. Harding et al, "Cloud Computing for Business", 2011 [free ebook]
• L. Barroso et al, "The Datacenter as a Computer: Designing Warehouse-scale Machines", 2018 [free ebook]
• M. Poniatowski, "Foundation of Green IT", 2009

Suggested readings:

• Y. N. Harari, "21 Lessons for the 21st Century", 2018
• T. Wu, "The Curse of Bigness", 2018
• S. Quintarelli, "Capitalismo Immateriale", 2018
• S. Galloway, "Post Corona: from Crisis to Opportunity", 2020

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

GIUSEPPE MARINO (President)

ALESSIO MERLO

ANTONIO BOCCALATTE (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://courses.unige.it/11160/p/students-timetable

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral interview.

Possible in-depth thematic activity (to be completed before the end of the lesson period).

Students with learning disorders (SLD) are kindly requested to contact the teacher, preferably at the beginning of the course, in order to agree, on a case-by-case basis, on possible additional teaching aids and specific exam modalities, in agreement with the delegate of the Engineering courses in the Committee for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities.

Exam schedule