18-747 Data Center Computing
12 units, Carnegie Mellon University
Modern computing systems support a wide range of hyperscale web services such as cloud computing, social networks, video streaming, online messaging, web search, and online banking. This course will focus on studying the systems software, hardware, and distributed systems technology that compose modern data center computing systems. The course will also expose students to crosscutting data center problems related to service level objectives, latency unpredictability, total cost of ownership, energy efficiency, scalability, sustainability, and equity. The course is a combination of lectures, paper reading and reviewing, in class presentations, and a semesterlong project. Students will read up to two seminal papers per topic and submit brief summaries via hotcrp. In the classroom, we will have a student presentation of the papers accompanied by an interactive discussion on the papers in terms of design innovation and challenges. From time to time, we will have guest speakers who are typically the authors of the paper being discussed. Students will work in groups of three on a semesterlong, openended research project on a cuttingedge data center topic. This course is appropriate for graduate and advanced undergraduate students from ECE and CS who are interested in a vertical study of modern cloud computing and advanced data center systems. It is also appropriate for ECE and CS students who want to gain some experience with a semesterlong research project on a cuttingedge modern computer systems topic. This course is especially suited for students who are more interested in open ended discussions, are interested in learning new concepts onthefly, and have a curiosity to explore the unknown. Students are expected to attend class meetings and actively participate in the discussions. Paper summaries, presentations, and class participation are a significant part of the grade.
Prerequisites: none listed
Offered: Spring 2027
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