The thesis investigates deployment of a Peer-to-Peer storage system in a cluster environment, in which machines have good and persist network connection, in order to provide the functionality of a data centre. For various reasons, the implementation is based on the Peer-to-Peer system known as Chord. Chord naturally provides storage load-balancing, especially if its virtual node scheme is used, but this needs to be improved if Chord is used to implement a storage system. A novel, threshold-based storage load-balancing scheme is proposed. Each machine in the system contributes a fixed amount of disk storage space to the Peer-to-Peer storage system. The system commences operation in the normal Chord manner except that two distinct sets of tables are initialised, one to maintain the usual Chord Ring, and one to maintain proximity information about the machines in the system. As files are inserted, the collective storage space gradually fills up. When any machine reaches the threshold for usage of its contributed space, the system behaviour is modified. Attempts are made, repeatedly if necessary, to migrate virtual nodes from heavily loaded machines to less-heavily loaded machines elsewhere in the system. The proximity information is used so as to minimise the costs of this migration. The nature of the proximity information is complex, and a Space-Filling Curve is utilised to reduce the complexity. For reasons of effectiveness, demonstrated by an evaluation against other kinds of Space-Filling Curve, the Hilbert curve is specifically chosen. The performance of the resulting implementation is evaluated in a practical experimental environment which consists of five teaching laboratories in the author’s school. Under the specific conditions of the experiments, the new system achieves significantly better distribution of storage utilisation across the participating machines and also defers the onset of unreliable behaviour in the system. In one experiment, the amount of the total storage space available that is actually utilised by the system increased from ∼ 43% to ∼ 62% using the proposed mechanism. The parameters used in the experiments have been chosen somewhat arbitrarily, so it is possible that even better results might be feasible.

Although power system load modelling is a mature research area, there is a renewed interest in updating available load models and formulating improved load modelling methodologies. The main drivers of this interest are the introduction of new types of non-conventional (e.g. power electronic interfaced) loads, the requirement to operate power supply systems with increasing levels of renewable distributed generation and the implementation of various load control functionalities (e.g. demand side management). As the majority of existing load models do not allow for a full and precise analysis of these new operating conditions, it is essential to develop new load models and update load modelling techniques. This thesis presents a detailed study of modern loads, focussing on the requirements for their correct representation in power system analysis. The developed models of the individual loads are then combined using a new load aggregation methodology for developing aggregate load models, suitable for the analysis of both existing and future power supply systems (so called ’smart grids’). The methodology uses a circuit-based load modelling approach, as this allows reproduction of the instantaneous current waveforms of the modelled load for any given supply voltage. This approach retains all electrical characteristics of the loads and provides a more realistic representation of some important phenomena (e.g. harmonic cancellation and attenuation due to load and supply system interactions) which are often neglected in traditional load modelling procedures. Case studies of the UK residential and commercial load sectors are presented as illustrations of the load aggregation methodology. The results show significant short-term and long-term temporal variations in the load characteristics, which are not available or reported in the existing literature. This information allows for a more comprehensive assessment of demand-side management functionalities and correlation with locally connected distributed generation. Both of these effects are investigated in the thesis by quantifying the possible extent and range of changes in power system performance for some expected near future changes in load configurations and network operating conditions.

The existence of distributed real-time systems calls for protocols for high accuracy time synchronization between devices. One such protocol, the Precision Time Protocol (PTP) reaches sub microsecond synchronization precision. PTP can be implemented both in hardware and software. This study aimed to analyze how system stress could affect the accuracy and precision of software implemented PTP between two devices. This was done using two Intel Galileo Generation 2 running Linux systems. Software was used to simulate CPU, I/O, network, and OS usage. Data was extracted from software logs and summarized in charts and then analyzed. The results showed that PTP synchronization accuracy and precision does suffer under certain types of system load, most notably under heavy I/O load. However the results might not be applicable to real-world scenario due to limitations in hardware and the synthetic stress tests do not correspond to real-world usage. Further research is required to analyze why and how different types of system load affects PTPs accuracy and precision. / Förekomsten av distribuerade realtidssystem kräver protokoll för noggrann tidssynkronisering mellan enheter. Ett sådant protokoll, Precision Time Protocol (PTP), kan uppnå en precision på under mikrosekunden under synkronisering. PTP kan implementeras i både hårdvara och mjukvara. Den här rapporten fokuserar på att analysera hur systembelastning kan påverka precision och noggrannheten hos mjukvaruimplementerad PTP mellan två enheter. Testen utfördes på två stycken Intel Galileo Generation 2 kö- randes Linux. Mjukvara användes sedan för att simulera belastning på olika system såsom CPU, I/O, nätverk och på operativsystemet. Data extraherades ifrån loggar från mjukvaran, vilken sammanfattades i grafer för att sedan analyseras. Resultaten visade att precisionen och noggrannheten hos PTP försämras under vissa typer av systembelastningar, mest märkbart under tung I/O belastning. Resultaten är dock potentiellt inte applicerbara på verklighetscenarion på grund av begränsingar i hårdvaran samt att syntetiska stresstest inte motsvarar normal belastning. Ytterligare forskning krävs för att analysera hur och varför olika typer av systembelastning påverkar PTPs precision och noggrannhet.

AABBSSTTRRAACCTT TTiitteell:: Use and selection of monitoring system in special physical training of Army of the Czech Republic GGooaallss:: The goal of this thesis is to give a complex, integrated and comprehensive overview about functional options and effective utilization of Monitoring System in selected areas of special physical training of Czech Army. MMeetthhooddss:: Study, analysis, synthesis and comparison of published findings of professionals from the fields of Geography, Geodesy and Special Physical Training were used in this thesis. Secondary research consisted of interviews with experts on mentioned areas and disciplines. RReessuullttss:: The main subject of this work is the utilization of Monitoring System in special physical training process. Usage of MS in selected areas of special physical training will result in effective support in terms of planning, safety and overall evaluation of its individual parts. KKeeyy wwoorrddss:: GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) GPS (Global Positioning System) GIS (Geographic Information System) Special physical training Load Monitoring system Date