Computer System Overview Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What are the four main components of a Computer System?

Hardware (correct)

Application programs (correct)

Operating System (correct)

Users (correct)

What are the three main purposes of an Operating System?

To manage system resources (correct)

To make it easier for users to interact with computer (correct)

To control the execution of application software (correct)

What is an Operating System?

An operating system is a program that manages a computer's hardware as well as providing an environment for applications programs to run on.

What are two different strategies to running multiple programs at a time on a computer system?

Multiprogramming Signup and view all the answers

What are the four main computer system resources managed by an Operating System?

I/O devices Signup and view all the answers

What activities does an Operating System do to manage processes?

Scheduling processes and threads on the CPU, creating and deleting both user and system processes, suspending and resuming processes, providing mechanisms for process synchronization, providing methods for process communication, providing mechanisms for deadlock handling. Signup and view all the answers

What activities does an Operating System do to manage memory?

Keeping track of used memory and who owns what part of memory, deciding which processes to move in or out of memory, allocating and deallocating space as needed. Signup and view all the answers

What activities does an Operating System do to manage file storage?

Creating and deleting files, access control, creating and deleting directories, supporting file manipulation, mapping files onto secondary storage, backing up files. Signup and view all the answers

What activities does an Operating System do to manage mass storage?

Free-space management, storage allocation, disk scheduling. Signup and view all the answers

What activities does an Operating System do to manage I/O devices?

Handles buffering, caching, and spooling, provides a general device-driver interface, drivers for specific hardware devices. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between protection and security?

Security is to defend from internal and external attacks Signup and view all the answers

List and describe eight types of computer system environments.

Traditional, Mobile computing, Distributed systems, Client-server, Peer-to-Peer, Virtualization, Cloud, Real-time embedded systems. Signup and view all the answers

What are two hardware features that are used to support an Operating System and how do they work?

Interrupts and mode bit. Interrupts handle hardware and software events to transfer control to the appropriate service routines. Mode bit differentiates between user mode and privilege mode for executing different types of programs. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Computer System Components

Four main components: Hardware, Operating System, Application programs, Users.

Purposes of an Operating System

Facilitates user interaction with the computer.
Controls application software execution.
Manages system resources.

Definition of Operating System

A program that oversees hardware management and provides an environment for application execution.

Strategies for Running Multiple Programs

Multiprogramming: Ensures the CPU is always executing an instruction by running multiple programs concurrently.
Timesharing: Extends multiprogramming by allowing the CPU to switch among jobs, requiring some user interaction.

Resources Managed by the Operating System

Four main resources: Processes, Memory, Storage, I/O Devices.

Process Management Activities

Schedules processes and threads on the CPU.
Handles creation and deletion of both user and system processes.
Suspends and resumes processes as needed.
Provides synchronization mechanisms and methods for process communication.
Manages deadlock handling mechanisms.

Memory Management Activities

Tracks used memory and ownership.
Decides on processes moving in/out of memory.
Allocates and deallocates memory space as required.

File Storage Management Activities

Manages file creation and deletion.
Controls access permissions for files.
Organizes files through directory management.
Provides support for file manipulation and maps files to secondary storage.
Handles backing up files on nonvolatile storage.

Mass Storage Management Activities

Manages free space.
Allocates storage resources.
Handles disk scheduling tasks.

Difference Between Protection and Security

Protection: Mechanisms that control user and process access to the system.
Security: Measures taken to defend against internal and external threats.

Types of Computer System Environments

Traditional: General-purpose computer environment for diverse tasks.
Mobile Computing: Portable devices like smartphones and tablets.
Distributed Systems: Networked separate systems offering resource access.
Client-server: A central server manages computations for connected terminals.
Peer-to-Peer: Systems can act as both client and server based on service needs.
Virtualization: Allows one OS to run applications from another OS.
Cloud Computing: Internet-based delivery of computing resources and applications.
Real-time Embedded Systems: Specialized computers designed for specific tasks with limited features.

Hardware Features Supporting Operating Systems

Interrupts: Triggered by hardware or software events, transferring control to an interrupt service routine for handling the event and returning to the original program.
Mode Bit: Enables two execution modes:
- User Mode: For application execution.
- Privilege Mode: For operating system execution, allowing privileged instructions for system control tasks.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the basic components of a computer system and the functions of an operating system with these flashcards. Each card covers essential definitions and purposes, helping you understand the foundational elements of computer science.