Notes on Distributed OS readings for January 14, 2008
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kahn1972-resource.pdf
  This is one of the early papers describing the rationale behind the
  ARPANET (which later evolved into the Internet).  For more
  background on the ARPANET, see this video (optional):

  Computer Networks - The Heralds of Resource Sharing
  http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4989933629762859961

  Note how both the ARPANET and and standard operating systems were
  developed to facilitate resource sharing.


nelson1981-rpc.pdf
  You only need to read the thesis summary which starts at page 224 in
  the PDF.  If you have time, however, I'd suggest looking at the
  rest, particularly the introduction and related work.


birrell1984-rpcimpl.pdf
  Compare the perspective of this RPC implementation description with
  the more design-oriented focus of Nelson's thesis.


Reading Responses
-----------------

In your reading response, you can reflect on whatever came to mind
when reading these papers.  The one key requirement is that you
demonstrate that you read the papers; however, you have to do so
without merely summarizing them!  While you may discuss the in-class
questions in your response, I'm more interested in your own personal
perspective on the readings.


Questions to be discussed in class
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1. What did the (technical) world look like when this paper was
   published?
2. What is the paper about?  What are the key ideas?
3. What is the basic argument of the paper, and what sort of evidence
   is used to make the argument?
4. To what extent do you "believe" the argument?  Why?
5. What did the authors get right about the future?
   What did they miss about the future?
6. What has been forgotten since this paper?