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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of a disk controller in a computer system?
What is the primary function of a disk controller in a computer system?
- To control the movement of read/write heads and data transfer between the disk and system bus (correct)
- To manage the flow of data between the CPU and memory
- To provide a buffer for data transfer between the disk and memory
- To perform error correction and data encryption on data stored on the disk
What is the purpose of a track buffer in a disk drive?
What is the purpose of a track buffer in a disk drive?
- To provide a secondary storage location for data
- To cache frequently accessed data from the disk
- To store data temporarily while it is being transferred from the disk to memory
- To hold the current track location and sector data (correct)
Which of the following is a characteristic of a sequential access device?
Which of the following is a characteristic of a sequential access device?
- Data is accessed directly using a unique address
- Data is accessed in a continuous sequence of bytes (correct)
- Data is accessed using a directory or index
- Data is accessed randomly using a track and sector number
What is the purpose of a sector translator in a disk drive?
What is the purpose of a sector translator in a disk drive?
What is the primary advantage of using a RAID 5 configuration?
What is the primary advantage of using a RAID 5 configuration?
What is the primary reason for using interleaving in a multitrack disk?
What is the primary reason for using interleaving in a multitrack disk?
What is the main difference between a hard disk and a floppy disk?
What is the main difference between a hard disk and a floppy disk?
What is the primary function of a DMA controller in a computer system?
What is the primary function of a DMA controller in a computer system?
Which of the following I/O devices is most likely to use a FIFO buffer?
Which of the following I/O devices is most likely to use a FIFO buffer?
What is the primary advantage of using a switched I/O architecture?
What is the primary advantage of using a switched I/O architecture?
Study Notes
Here are the study notes for Chapter 7: Input/Output Systems:
I/O Systems
- I/O systems consist of devices, interfaces, and controllers that allow data to be transferred between the computer and the outside world
- I/O operations involve data transfer between devices and memory, and may be performed using either programmed I/O or interrupt-driven I/O
Programmed I/O
- In programmed I/O, the CPU executes a sequence of instructions to perform I/O operations
- The CPU repeatedly checks the status of the device and waits until the device is ready for data transfer
- Programmed I/O is used for low-speed devices, such as keyboards and displays
Interrupt-Driven I/O
- Interrupt-driven I/O allows the CPU to continue executing instructions while I/O operations are being performed
- When a device is ready for data transfer, it generates an interrupt signal to the CPU
- The CPU temporarily suspends its current operation and executes a specialized routine called an interrupt handler
I/O Interface
- An I/O interface is a set of circuits and logic that connect devices to the computer
- I/O interfaces can be either parallel or serial
Parallel Interface
- In a parallel interface, multiple bits are transmitted simultaneously over separate wires
- Parallel interfaces are used for high-speed devices, such as printers and disks
Serial Interface
- In a serial interface, bits are transmitted one at a time over a single wire
- Serial interfaces are used for low-speed devices, such as keyboards and mice
I/O Controllers
- I/O controllers are specialized chips that manage the flow of data between devices and memory
- I/O controllers can be either dedicated controllers or general-purpose processors
Direct Memory Access (DMA)
- DMA allows devices to directly access memory without involving the CPU
- DMA is used for high-speed devices, such as disks and tapes
I/O Channels
- I/O channels are dedicated paths for data transfer between devices and memory
- I/O channels can be either multiplexed or demultiplexed
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Description
Test your knowledge of input/output systems in computer architecture with this quiz, covering topics from Chapter 7 of the Essentials of Computer Organization and Architecture, Sixth Edition textbook. Questions will challenge your understanding of I/O interfaces, input/output operations, and storage devices. Are you ready?
