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Questions and Answers
What is the main function of a device driver?
What is the main function of a device driver?
A dumb terminal can process input characters independently.
A dumb terminal can process input characters independently.
False
What are the three states of a process in process management?
What are the three states of a process in process management?
Running, Ready, Blocked
The time required for the read/write heads to move to the correct track is called _______.
The time required for the read/write heads to move to the correct track is called _______.
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Match the following types of terminals with their descriptions:
Match the following types of terminals with their descriptions:
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Which of the following correctly describes a system call?
Which of the following correctly describes a system call?
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In a multi-user operating system, the operating system executes multiple programs at the same time using multiple CPUs.
In a multi-user operating system, the operating system executes multiple programs at the same time using multiple CPUs.
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Name any two system calls related to process management.
Name any two system calls related to process management.
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The operating system keeps a list of ______ to manage memory allocation efficiently.
The operating system keeps a list of ______ to manage memory allocation efficiently.
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Match the following system calls with their respective categories:
Match the following system calls with their respective categories:
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Study Notes
Disk Storage
- Sector size can range from 32 bytes to 4096 bytes.
- A track can contain 4 to 32 sectors.
- Each disk surface can have between 75 and 500 tracks.
Seek Time
- The time taken for the read/write head to move to the correct track.
Transmission Time
- This refers to the time needed to activate the read/write head, select the appropriate disk surface, and then read the data.
Latency Time/Rotational Delay
- The time it takes for the requested sector on a track to rotate underneath the read/write head.
Device Drivers
- Device drivers act as translators between your computer and hardware devices.
- They allow your computer to communicate with various devices like printers, keyboards, and webcams.
- Each device requires its own specific driver due to their unique functionalities.
- Drivers can also convert data between different formats to ensure that your computer and the device understand each other.
VDU - Visual Display Unit
- A basic and common I/O medium.
- Typically consists of two parts: an input unit (e.g. keyboard) and an output unit (e.g. screen).
Dumb Terminal
- A type of VDU with a limited microprocessor and memory.
- Handles basic I/O operations.
- Does not process input characters.
Intelligent Terminal
- A more powerful terminal than a dumb terminal, with additional hardware and software.
- Possesses more memory and can perform some processing on input characters.
- Can execute programs independently.
Process States
- Running: The process is currently being executed by the CPU.
- Ready: The process is ready to run but is waiting for its turn in the CPU queue.
- Blocked: The process is temporarily inactive, waiting for some external event to occur, such as I/O completion or resource availability.
File System
- A method for organizing and managing files and folders on a computer.
- Can be compared to a filing cabinet, with drawers holding folders, and each folder containing files.
- The operating system acts as a librarian, helping to find and organize files efficiently.
- Offers tools for creating and managing files and folders, controlling disk space allocation.
- Two main types: tape-based and disk-based.
Tape-based File Systems
- Simple, but inefficient.
- Files are stored on reels of physical tapes.
- One or more files are usually stored on a single tape.
- Commonly used for data transport between computers.
Disk-based File Systems
- Overcame limitations of tape-based systems.
- Utilize magnetic disks to store data.
- Disk surfaces are divided into tracks and sectors.
- The number of tracks and sector size vary from disk to disk.
- Each disk has a device directory, listing files stored on the disk, including file name, starting address, file length, type, creation time, and last update time.
Magnetic Disk Terminology
- Tracks: Concentric circles on the disk surface, the number of tracks depends on the disk type.
- Sectors: Smaller units of information within a track, the smallest unit that can be read or written to.
- Seek Time: Time taken for the read/write head to move to the correct track.
- Transmission Time: Time for activating the head, selecting the surface, and reading the data.
- Latency Time/Rotational Delay: Time needed for the requested sector to rotate under the head.
System Calls
- Provide the interface between a process and the operating system.
- Available as assembly language instructions.
Information Management System Calls
- Create a file
- Create a directory
- Open a file
- Close a file
- Create a link
- Move file pointer
Process Management System Calls
- Read a process
- Block a process
- Resume a process
- Suspend a process
- Delay a process
Memory Management System Calls
- Allocate a chunk of memory to a process.
- Free a chunk of memory from a process.
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Description
This quiz covers essential concepts related to disk storage, including sector size, seek time, transmission time, and latency. Additionally, it addresses the role of device drivers and their functionality in facilitating communication between the computer and various hardware devices. Test your knowledge on these fundamental aspects of computer architecture.
