Consensus Algorithms

Instructor: Ling Ren

Lectures: Tue/Thu 12:30 PM - 01:45 PM, 1214 Siebel Center

Office hours: Wed 2 PM - 3 PM or by appointment, 4312 Siebel Center

This course covers classic results and recent advances in consensus algorithms: state-of-art algorithms and bounds under different problem formulations, assumptions and paradigms.

CS598LR Consensus Algorithms Fall 2019 Schedule

Lecture notes

Student presentations and notes (Illinois login required)

Additional Resources

Important papers that are not covered

Time, Clocks, and the Ordering of Events in a Distributed System

Consensus in the Presence of Partial Synchrony

The Part-Time Parliament

Another advantage of free choice

Random Oracles in Constantinople

Textbooks

Distributed Computing: Fundamentals, Simulations, and Advanced Topics 2nd Edition by Hagit Attiya and Jennifer Welch

Introduction to Reliable and Secure Distributed Programming 2nd Edition by Christian Cachin, Rachid Guerraoui and Luís Rodrigues

Distributed Algorithms by Nancy Lynch

Grading

15% Class Participation (scribe wanted!)

35% Assignment ~~(out 10/08, due 10/25)~~ (Updated: broken up into three parts. See schedule.)

50% Lecture/presentation

Each student can choose between giving a lecture or completing a final project. For lectures, you can choose a topic from the list provided below; you will be required to read one or two papers on the topic, explain them to the class and share your lecture note. For projects, you are expected to come up with your own project idea; you will be required to present your result in class and submit a written report. Engineering projects are perfectly fine as long as they are related to course contents.

Certain lecture topics accommodate teams of two. A team of two project is encouraged if it indeed involves twice the work. Each individual presentation will be 25 minutes. Each team presentation will be 40 minutes. (Note the shortened time due to increased enrollment.) You should factor in the time for audience interruption. Selection of lecture topics or project ideas is due 10/08, but you are encouraged to finalize your pick earlier. Scribe/lecturer slots are first-come first-serve.