OVERVIEW

The course provides the foundations of the main virtualization technologies at the state of the art. In detail, the course focuses on several types of virtualization, like Storage-level, OS-level, Application-level, and Enterprise-level virtualization. 

The course is mostly practical, with the aim to teach the student how to deal with current virtualization technologies to build actual virtualized architectures.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The purpose of the teaching unit is to introduce Software Platforms as a fundamental module in the software development path, addressing how the development of complex software systems requires not only proficiency in programming but also knowledge of advanced models, paradigms, and tools, and covering the models, paradigms, and tools that support Web Applications, Web Services, and Microservices, as well as the evolution toward serverless computing.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Understand the technological basis related to virtualization.

2. Grasp the basic concepts at the basis of virtualization as well as understanding its pervasiveness in actual application scenarios.

3. Learn and use the basic concepts to build virtualized environments.

4. Implement and manage a realistic virtualized environment.

PREREQUISITES

Operating systems, Computer networks, basic of programming and scripting.

TEACHING METHODS

Frontal lessons and practicals, uniformly distributed (i.e., 50%-50%)

Students who hold valid certificates relating to Specific Learning Difficulties (SLD), disabilities or other educational needs are invited to contact the lecturer and the school’s disability liaison officer at the start of the course to agree on any teaching arrangements which, whilst respecting the course objectives, take into account individual learning styles. 

The contact details for the university’s disability liaison officer are available at the following link: https://unige.it/commissioni/comitatoperlinclusionedeglistudenticondisabilita. 

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

1. Foundations of virtualization and its application: hypervisor, CPU-level, and I/O-level virtualization, foundations of Cloud computing, Introduction to KVM.

2. OS-level virtualization: Fundamentals, Docker suite.

3. Storage-level virtualization: Block, File, and Object storage, distributed file-systems, and software defined storage.

4. Enterprise-level virtualization: basics of load balancing and highly available systems. Provisioning. Orchestration. Infrastructure-as-Code.

5. Public cloud infrastructure: introduction to the paradigm and its applications.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The teacher will provide slides, scientific and technical papers throughout the course.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ENRICO RUSSO (President)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/index.php?view=easycourse&_lang=it&include=corso

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Final project with discussion.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Critical discussion and demo of the project, in order to assess the level of understanding and knowledge of the student.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) may request accommodations for exams at least 7 days prior to the exam date by filling out the “accommodation request form” (available via online services at https://modulionline.unige.it/richiesta-adattamenti# no-back), which will be automatically forwarded by the system to the instructor in charge of the course and to the faculty liaison for students with disabilities and SLDs in their School/Department. 

The student will receive a copy of their request.