15-minute session: read for 3 minutes, trace for 3, experiment for 7, and complete the check for 2. Spend longer whenever you need.
On NUMA systems, memory access cost can depend on which node owns the pages and where the thread runs. Allocation policy and first touch can influence placement. Measure local and remote access on an actual multi-node system; a single-node VM cannot demonstrate a NUMA speedup. Record node topology and verify placement rather than inferring it from allocation code.
Practice and evidence: Predict the example or draw its state transitions. Change one assumption, test the boundary, and record the actual result. Explain what this small model does not establish about a production system.
Keep three notes: your prediction, the actual result, and why they match or differ. The completion check grades understanding; the practice task builds skill.