Happy Republic Day!

Hi MSSS Aspirants,

Happy Republic Day to All!!!

Apart from being a part of the Republic Day activities, today's holiday can be utilized well for speeding up the preparations for the upcoming Mid-semester examinations on 11-12th Feb 2012.

As observed, all the subject's lectures are being held with regularity and with diligence. I am finding the subjects for this semester a bit hard.

Advanced Operating System Lectures are giving me shivers as it involves a lot of problem solving in the Lamport’s logical clock, vector clock, causal ordering and others.

Network Security seems a bit theoretical till now!!

Best wishes!!
Sunit

Video Lectures Are Available Now!!!

Hi MSSS Aspirants,

Video Lectures Are Available Now!!!

Best wishes!!

Useful General Discussion Forum!

Hi MSSS Aspirants,

Keep looking for the content under "General Discussion Forum" link in the web-pages of the Semester Subjects in the Taxilla web-site. Great content like, e-book downloads and a collective information sharing by the fellow students will enrich the learning experience and help a lot and give a feeling of a real batch!

Also if you are facing any issue with the course content, "Question&Answer Forum" link at the same location as given above is a great place to start with!


Best Wishes!
Sunit

Recorded Video Sessions Unavailable!

Hi MSSS Apirants,

Three days into the 2nd semester and the lectures for all the subjects have started but alas! the Recorded Video Sessions are unavailable still!

For all the students who are unable to attend the lectures at the scheduled timings will not be able to go through the classroom session and meet the professors, who are assigned to take the subject for the semester!

Best wishes!!
Sunit.

Week: 2nd-7th Jan 2012: Lecture Schedule

Hi MSSS Aspirants,

The lecture schedule for this week for the 2nd Semester subjects are:

1. Software for Embedded Systems(S2-11_ISZC424)
1. Tuesday Jan. 03, 2012,  2 PM – 3:30PM
2. Thursday Jan. 05, 2012,  2 PM – 3:30PM
2. Advanced Operating Systems (S2-11_CSZG623)
1. Monday  Jan. 02, 2012, 2 PM – 3:30PM
2. Wednesday Jan. 04, 2012, 2 PM – 3:30PM
3. Database Systems & Applications(S2-11_ISZC332)
1. Tuesday Jan. 03, 2012, 4PM– 5:30 PM
2. Thursday Jan. 05, 2012, 4PM– 5:30 PM
4. Network Security (S2-11_SSZG513)
1. Tuesday Jan. 03, 2012,  8 AM -9:30 AM
2. Thursday Jan. 05, 2012, 8 AM -9:30 AM

Best Wishes!
Sunit

Second Semester Subjects

Hi MSSS Aspirants,

The subjects for the second semester are:

1. Advanced Operating Systems
• To introduce the design and implementation issues of Distributed Operating Systems. 
2. Database Systems & Applications
• Aims at familiarizing the students with the concepts of DBMS and its applications. 
3. Network Security
• The course covers fundamental aspects of security in a modern networked environment with the focus on system design aspects and cryptography in the specific context of network / internetwork security. 
4. Software For Embedded Systems
• The course will review basics of embedded and real-time systems and generic software processes. 

Best Wishes!

Sunit

Second Semester Duration

Hi MSSS Aspirants,

Keeping it short, BITS-Pilani has declared that the semester starts on 2nd January 2012 and ends on 8th April 2012. A duration on 3 months including the exams.

Students need to keep their eyes open and minds running as just within 3 months, the semester is going to end with mid-semester exams on 11-12 Feb and Comprehensive Exams on  7-8 Apr.

Best Wishes!
Sunit

WILP Website Link Has Changed!

Hi MSSS Aspirants,

From few days, one might have faced difficulty in opening the WILP website. It is because the website link has been changed.

Old Link: http://www.bits-pilani.ac.in/WILP/
New Link: http://www.bits-pilani.ac.in/university/wilp/wilpoverview

Those who had bookmarked the above website link, have to modify the URL.

Best Wishes,
Sunit

Second Semester Starts With The New Year 2012

Hi MSSS Aspirants,

At last, after a gap of 2 full months of November and December 2011, the second semester commences from 2nd January 2012.

So, lets start the new year with the new semester and new subjects. But for that, lets buy the books first ;)

Next article will contain information about the second semester subjects!

Best Wishes!!

Netbanking Is Enabled For Fee Payment!!

Hi MSSS Aspirants,

What a relief from the hassles of visiting bank and standing in line for Demand Draft for the payment of fees for the next semester registration.

Now the payment can be done through Netbanking and the complete process takes less than 5 minutes!!! Thanks BITS for enabling and making it easy for all the students!

Best Wishes,
Sunit.

First Semester Results Are Out!!!

Hi MSSS Aspirants,

First Semester Results are out!! Hurray!! Yipeee!! After a long wait of 45 days! 16th December 2011. Need to send the registration form with paid fees receipt on or before 30th Dec 2011.

Best Wishes,
Sunit

When Are The First Semester Exam Results Coming Out??!?

Hi MSSS Aspirants!

From past one week I am feeling an urge to resume the studies for the MSSS. After the comprehensive exams were over on 30th October 2011, it has been 26 days today :O :O :O. I almost forgot that I am student a of the WILP, BITS, Pilani and am enrolled in the MSSS program :).


When are the results coming out?

Best Wishes for the results!

Anticipation Of First Semester Results!

Hi MSSS Aspirants,

Though BITS-Pilani WILP-division is proactive enough to declare the schedule for all sorts of exams to be held during the Semester, it refrains from declaring the same for the results of them!!!

Are You Utilizing BITS' Books24x7 Account?

Hi MSSS Aspirants,

On 29th October 2011 an e-mail from "WILP Main Admin" had notified that for all the students enrolled for the WILP programs, an account has been created in the www.books24x7.com website. To read more about book24x7, click here. The steps to activate and login to the website are given below.

• Step 1: Go to http://ebooks.bits-pilani.ac.in
• Step 2: On the login page enter the following:

• Username: Your BITS full email id.
• Password: As mentioned in the mail.

You will be redirected to the books24x7 site after a successful login. Search for the books and add them to one of the "Personal Folder" for efficient look-up of relevant books for the subsequent usage.

Happy Learning!!

Second Semester: Study Plan: Database Systems & Applications

Hi MSSS Aspirants,

Below is the study plan for the Second Semester for subject, Database Systems & Applications.

Date	Topic
Mon 19 Dec 11	Introduction to Database Management Systems, File organization
Tue 20 Dec 11	To Be Planned(TBP)
Wed 21 Dec 11	TBP
Thu 22 Dec 11	TBP
Fri 23 Dec 11	TBP
Sat 24 Dec 11	TBP
Sun 25 Dec 11	TBP
Mon 26 Dec 11	Data Independence in databases
Tue 27 Dec 11	TBP
Wed 28 Dec 11	TBP
Thu 29 Dec 11	TBP
Fri 30 Dec 11	TBP
Sat 31 Dec 11	TBP
Sun 1 Jan 12	TBP
Mon 2 Jan 12	Data Models
Tue 3 Jan 12	TBP
Wed 4 Jan 12	TBP
Thu 5 Jan 12	TBP
Fri 6 Jan 12	TBP
Sat 7 Jan 12	TBP
Sun 8 Jan 12	TBP
Mon 9 Jan 12	Query processing systems
Tue 10 Jan 12	TBP
Wed 11 Jan 12	TBP
Thu 12 Jan 12	TBP
Fri 13 Jan 12	TBP
Sat 14 Jan 12	TBP
Sun 15 Jan 12	TBP
Mon 16 Jan 12	TBP
Tue 17 Jan 12	TBP
Wed 18 Jan 12	TBP
Thu 19 Jan 12	TBP
Fri 20 Jan 12	TBP
Sat 21 Jan 12	TBP
Sun 22 Jan 12	TBP
Mon 23 Jan 12	Database Design techniques
Tue 24 Jan 12	TBP
Wed 25 Jan 12	TBP
Thu 26 Jan 12	TBP
Fri 27 Jan 12	TBP
Sat 28 Jan 12	TBP
Sun 29 Jan 12	TBP
Mon 30 Jan 12	Concepts of security and integrity in databases
Tue 31 Jan 12	TBP
Wed 1 Feb 12	TBP
Thu 2 Feb 12	TBP
Fri 3 Feb 12	TBP
Sat 4 Feb 12	TBP
Sun 5 Feb 12	TBP
Mon 6 Feb 12	Distributed Databases
Tue 7 Feb 12	TBP
Wed 8 Feb 12	TBP
Thu 9 Feb 12	TBP
Fri 10 Feb 12	TBP
Sat 11 Feb 12	TBP
Sun 12 Feb 12	TBP
Mon 13 Feb 12	TBP
Tue 14 Feb 12	TBP
Wed 15 Feb 12	TBP
Thu 16 Feb 12	TBP
Fri 17 Feb 12	TBP
Sat 18 Feb 12	TBP
Sun 19 Feb 12	TBP
Mon 20 Feb 12	Applications using DBMS.
Tue 21 Feb 12	TBP
Wed 22 Feb 12	TBP
Thu 23 Feb 12	TBP
Fri 24 Feb 12	TBP
Sat 25 Feb 12	TBP
Sun 26 Feb 12	TBP
Mon 27 Feb 12	TBP
Tue 28 Feb 12	TBP
Wed 29 Feb 12	TBP
Thu 1 Mar 12	Revision
Fri 2 Mar 12	Revision
Sat 3 Mar 12	Revision
Sun 4 Mar 12	Revision
Mon 5 Mar 12	Revision
Tue 6 Mar 12	Revision
Wed 7 Mar 12	Revision
Thu 8 Mar 12	Revision
Fri 9 Mar 12	Revision
Sat 10 Mar 12	Revision

Best Wishes!!

Second Semester: Study Plan: Advanced Operating Systems

Hi MSSS Aspirants,

Below is the study plan for the Second Semester for subject, Advanced Operating Systems.

Date	Topic
Mon 19 Dec 11	Overview of advanced operating systems: motivation for their design, and various types of advanced operating systems
Tue 20 Dec 11	To Be Planned(TBP)
Wed 21 Dec 11	TBP
Thu 22 Dec 11	TBP
Fri 23 Dec 11	TBP
Sat 24 Dec 11	TBP
Sun 25 Dec 11	TBP
Mon 26 Dec 11	Distributed operating systems: architecture of distributed systems, theoretical foundation of distributed systems, deadlock detection/resolution
Tue 27 Dec 11	TBP
Wed 28 Dec 11	TBP
Thu 29 Dec 11	TBP
Fri 30 Dec 11	TBP
Sat 31 Dec 11	TBP
Sun 1 Jan 12	TBP
Mon 2 Jan 12	Distributed operating systems: agreement protocols, file systems, distributed shared memory, scheduling, fault tolerance and recovery
Tue 3 Jan 12	TBP
Wed 4 Jan 12	TBP
Thu 5 Jan 12	TBP
Fri 6 Jan 12	TBP
Sat 7 Jan 12	TBP
Sun 8 Jan 12	TBP
Mon 9 Jan 12	Multiprocessor operating systems: multiprocessor system architectures, multiprocessor operating system design issues
Tue 10 Jan 12	TBP
Wed 11 Jan 12	TBP
Thu 12 Jan 12	TBP
Fri 13 Jan 12	TBP
Sat 14 Jan 12	TBP
Sun 15 Jan 12	TBP
Mon 16 Jan 12	TBP
Tue 17 Jan 12	TBP
Wed 18 Jan 12	TBP
Thu 19 Jan 12	TBP
Fri 20 Jan 12	TBP
Sat 21 Jan 12	TBP
Sun 22 Jan 12	TBP
Mon 23 Jan 12	Multiprocessor operating systems: threads, process synchronization, process scheduling and memory management
Tue 24 Jan 12	TBP
Wed 25 Jan 12	TBP
Thu 26 Jan 12	TBP
Fri 27 Jan 12	TBP
Sat 28 Jan 12	TBP
Sun 29 Jan 12	TBP
Mon 30 Jan 12	TBP
Tue 31 Jan 12	TBP
Wed 1 Feb 12	TBP
Thu 2 Feb 12	TBP
Fri 3 Feb 12	TBP
Sat 4 Feb 12	TBP
Sun 5 Feb 12	TBP
Mon 6 Feb 12	Data base operating systems: introduction, concurrency control: theoretical and algorithmic aspects
Tue 7 Feb 12	TBP
Wed 8 Feb 12	TBP
Thu 9 Feb 12	TBP
Fri 10 Feb 12	TBP
Sat 11 Feb 12	TBP
Sun 12 Feb 12	TBP
Mon 13 Feb 12	TBP
Tue 14 Feb 12	TBP
Wed 15 Feb 12	TBP
Thu 16 Feb 12	TBP
Fri 17 Feb 12	TBP
Sat 18 Feb 12	TBP
Sun 19 Feb 12	TBP
Mon 20 Feb 12	Case Study: Amoeba and Mach.
Tue 21 Feb 12	TBP
Wed 22 Feb 12	TBP
Thu 23 Feb 12	TBP
Fri 24 Feb 12	TBP
Sat 25 Feb 12	TBP
Sun 26 Feb 12	TBP
Mon 27 Feb 12	TBP
Tue 28 Feb 12	TBP
Wed 29 Feb 12	TBP
Thu 1 Mar 12	Revision
Fri 2 Mar 12	Revision
Sat 3 Mar 12	Revision
Sun 4 Mar 12	Revision
Mon 5 Mar 12	Revision
Tue 6 Mar 12	Revision
Wed 7 Mar 12	Revision
Thu 8 Mar 12	Revision
Fri 9 Mar 12	Revision
Sat 10 Mar 12	Revision

Best Wishes!!

Second Semester: Study Plan: Network Security

Hi MSSS Aspirants,

Below is the study plan for the Second Semester for subject,Network Security.

Date	Topic
Mon 19 Dec 11	Security concepts
Tue 20 Dec 11	To Be Planned(TBP)
Wed 21 Dec 11	TBP
Thu 22 Dec 11	TBP
Fri 23 Dec 11	TBP
Sat 24 Dec 11	TBP
Sun 25 Dec 11	TBP
Mon 26 Dec 11	Security attacks and risks
Tue 27 Dec 11	TBP
Wed 28 Dec 11	TBP
Thu 29 Dec 11	TBP
Fri 30 Dec 11	TBP
Sat 31 Dec 11	TBP
Sun 1 Jan 12	TBP
Mon 2 Jan 12	Security architectures
Tue 3 Jan 12	TBP
Wed 4 Jan 12	TBP
Thu 5 Jan 12	TBP
Fri 6 Jan 12	TBP
Sat 7 Jan 12	TBP
Sun 8 Jan 12	TBP
Mon 9 Jan 12	Security policy management
Tue 10 Jan 12	TBP
Wed 11 Jan 12	TBP
Thu 12 Jan 12	TBP
Fri 13 Jan 12	TBP
Sat 14 Jan 12	TBP
Sun 15 Jan 12	TBP
Mon 16 Jan 12	Security mechanisms
Tue 17 Jan 12	TBP
Wed 18 Jan 12	TBP
Thu 19 Jan 12	TBP
Fri 20 Jan 12	TBP
Sat 21 Jan 12	TBP
Sun 22 Jan 12	TBP
Mon 23 Jan 12	Cryptography algorithms
Tue 24 Jan 12	TBP
Wed 25 Jan 12	TBP
Thu 26 Jan 12	TBP
Fri 27 Jan 12	TBP
Sat 28 Jan 12	TBP
Sun 29 Jan 12	TBP
Mon 30 Jan 12	TBP
Tue 31 Jan 12	TBP
Wed 1 Feb 12	TBP
Thu 2 Feb 12	TBP
Fri 3 Feb 12	TBP
Sat 4 Feb 12	TBP
Sun 5 Feb 12	TBP
Mon 6 Feb 12	Security standards
Tue 7 Feb 12	TBP
Wed 8 Feb 12	TBP
Thu 9 Feb 12	TBP
Fri 10 Feb 12	TBP
Sat 11 Feb 12	TBP
Sun 12 Feb 12	TBP
Mon 13 Feb 12	TBP
Tue 14 Feb 12	TBP
Wed 15 Feb 12	TBP
Thu 16 Feb 12	TBP
Fri 17 Feb 12	TBP
Sat 18 Feb 12	TBP
Sun 19 Feb 12	TBP
Mon 20 Feb 12	Security system interoperation and case studies of the current major security systems.
Tue 21 Feb 12	TBP
Wed 22 Feb 12	TBP
Thu 23 Feb 12	TBP
Fri 24 Feb 12	TBP
Sat 25 Feb 12	TBP
Sun 26 Feb 12	TBP
Mon 27 Feb 12	TBP
Tue 28 Feb 12	TBP
Wed 29 Feb 12	TBP
Thu 1 Mar 12	Revision
Fri 2 Mar 12	Revision
Sat 3 Mar 12	Revision
Sun 4 Mar 12	Revision
Mon 5 Mar 12	Revision
Tue 6 Mar 12	Revision
Wed 7 Mar 12	Revision
Thu 8 Mar 12	Revision
Fri 9 Mar 12	Revision
Sat 10 Mar 12	Revision

Best Wishes!!

Second Semester: Study Plan: Software for Embedded Systems

Hi MSSS Aspirants,

Below is the study plan for the Second Semester for subject, Software for Embedded Systems.

Date	Topic
Mon 19 Dec 11	Real-time and Embedded Systems
Tue 20 Dec 11	To Be Planned(TBP)
Wed 21 Dec 11	TBP
Thu 22 Dec 11	TBP
Fri 23 Dec 11	TBP
Sat 24 Dec 11	TBP
Sun 25 Dec 11	TBP
Mon 26 Dec 11	Software issues in Embedded Systems
Tue 27 Dec 11	TBP
Wed 28 Dec 11	TBP
Thu 29 Dec 11	TBP
Fri 30 Dec 11	TBP
Sat 31 Dec 11	TBP
Sun 1 Jan 12	TBP
Mon 2 Jan 12	Software Development Process
Tue 3 Jan 12	TBP
Wed 4 Jan 12	TBP
Thu 5 Jan 12	TBP
Fri 6 Jan 12	TBP
Sat 7 Jan 12	TBP
Sun 8 Jan 12	TBP
Mon 9 Jan 12	Requirements Analysis – Use Cases, Identification and Analysis of use cases, Use Case Diagrams.
Tue 10 Jan 12	TBP
Wed 11 Jan 12	TBP
Thu 12 Jan 12	TBP
Fri 13 Jan 12	TBP
Sat 14 Jan 12	TBP
Sun 15 Jan 12	TBP
Mon 16 Jan 12	TBP
Tue 17 Jan 12	TBP
Wed 18 Jan 12	TBP
Thu 19 Jan 12	TBP
Fri 20 Jan 12	TBP
Sat 21 Jan 12	TBP
Sun 22 Jan 12	TBP
Mon 23 Jan 12	Design – Architectural Design, Design Patterns, Detailed Design.
Tue 24 Jan 12	TBP
Wed 25 Jan 12	TBP
Thu 26 Jan 12	TBP
Fri 27 Jan 12	TBP
Sat 28 Jan 12	TBP
Sun 29 Jan 12	TBP
Mon 30 Jan 12	TBP
Tue 31 Jan 12	TBP
Wed 1 Feb 12	TBP
Thu 2 Feb 12	TBP
Fri 3 Feb 12	TBP
Sat 4 Feb 12	TBP
Sun 5 Feb 12	TBP
Mon 6 Feb 12	Implementation – Languages, Compilers, Runtime Environments and Operating Systems for embedded software.
Tue 7 Feb 12	TBP
Wed 8 Feb 12	TBP
Thu 9 Feb 12	TBP
Fri 10 Feb 12	TBP
Sat 11 Feb 12	TBP
Sun 12 Feb 12	TBP
Mon 13 Feb 12	TBP
Tue 14 Feb 12	TBP
Wed 15 Feb 12	TBP
Thu 16 Feb 12	TBP
Fri 17 Feb 12	TBP
Sat 18 Feb 12	TBP
Sun 19 Feb 12	TBP
Mon 20 Feb 12	Testing – Methodologies, Test Cases.
Tue 21 Feb 12	TBP
Wed 22 Feb 12	TBP
Thu 23 Feb 12	TBP
Fri 24 Feb 12	TBP
Sat 25 Feb 12	TBP
Sun 26 Feb 12	TBP
Mon 27 Feb 12	TBP
Tue 28 Feb 12	TBP
Wed 29 Feb 12	TBP
Thu 1 Mar 12	Revision
Fri 2 Mar 12	Revision
Sat 3 Mar 12	Revision
Sun 4 Mar 12	Revision
Mon 5 Mar 12	Revision
Tue 6 Mar 12	Revision
Wed 7 Mar 12	Revision
Thu 8 Mar 12	Revision
Fri 9 Mar 12	Revision
Sat 10 Mar 12	Revision

Best Wishes!!

The Second Semester Subjects

Hi MSSS Aspirants,

The Second Semester will be more challenging for the non-Computer Science Engineering Graduates as compared to the First one because the subjects in the first semester there were many subjects which were also a part of non-Computer Science streams of Engineering like Electronics and Communication, Instrumentation and Control and others. On the other hand, the second semester subjects are purely related to the Computer Science field without any overlap with other streams of Engineering!

The subjects chosen for the Second Semester are:

1. Software for Embedded Systems
• Real-time and Embedded Systems; Software issues in Embedded Systems; Software Development Process; Requirements Analysis – Use Cases, Identification and Analysis of use cases, Use Case Diagrams. Design – Architectural Design, Design Patterns, Detailed Design. Implementation – Languages, Compilers, Runtime Environments and Operating Systems for embedded software. Testing – Methodologies, Test Cases.
2. Network Security
• This course examines issues related to network and information security. Topics include security concepts, security attacks and risks, security architectures, security policy management, security mechanisms, cryptography algorithms, security standards, security system interoperation and case studies of the current major security systems.
3. Advanced Operating Systems
• Overview of advanced operating systems: motivation for their design, and various types of advanced operating systems; Distributed operating systems: architecture of distributed systems, theoretical foundation of distributed systems, deadlock detection/resolution, agreement protocols, file systems, distributed shared memory, scheduling, fault tolerance and recovery; Multiprocessor operating systems: multiprocessor system architectures, multiprocessor operating system design issues, threads, process synchronization, process scheduling and memory management; Data base operating systems: introduction, concurrency control: theoretical and algorithmic aspects; Case Study: Amoeba and Mach.
4. Database Systems & Applications
• Introduction to Database Management Systems; File organization; Data Independence in databases; Data Models; Query processing systems; Database Design techniques; Concepts of security and integrity in databases; Distributed Databases; Applications using DBMS.

Best Wishes!!

The First Semester Is Over!

Hi MSSS Aspirants!

The First Semester is over! How it passed away is still a mystery to be solved! The semester started on August 2011. I blinked for a second and the mid-semesters arrived in the next month, September. I again blinked another time and this time it was assignment time and another blink brought the end-semester exams in the month of October just after the festival of Diwali!!! The entire semester ended in 3 months!! What was that?

I know, firstly this question is to be asked to ourself, since all the schedules were pre-declared and there was a total transparency of the pattern and conduct. Secondly, it seems that for a better utilization of the course and preparation for the exam it is necessary to adopt the Tortoise's strategy! Slow and steady!

As this program is only for the working professionals and therefore it seems that the duration of the semesters have been kept short and sweet! So that, in the entire duration of the course, almost half of time, a student is involved in the academic activities. Needless to say that the program is very flexible and therefore the right to choose most of the semester subjects were in the hands of the student and that too before the MS course started. So a student can adjust the study time either by spreading it across the year or by going hand in hand with the Lectures held on-line.

For example for the second semester, the subjects for my candidature will be as below:

1. Software for Embedded Systems
2. Network Security
3. Advanced Operating Systems
4. Database Systems & Applications

So I am free to go ahead with the studies and research in this direction right from the time the first semester exams ended on 30th October 2011.

Awesome!!!

Best wishes for the results for the first semester and for the upcoming second semester!!