Operating System Concepts 10th Edition: Computer System Structure
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Questions and Answers

What is the smallest unit of storage in a computer?

Bit

How many bits make up a byte?

8 bits

What is a word in terms of computer storage?

A given computer architecture’s native unit of data

How many bytes make up a kilobyte (KB)?

<p>1,024 bytes</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what unit are networking measurements typically given?

<p>Bits</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the notation for a gigabyte (GB) in terms of bytes?

<p>1,024^3 bytes</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of an operating system?

<p>Execute user programs and make solving user problems easier</p> Signup and view all the answers

How can the computer system be divided according to the text?

<p>Hardware, Operating system, Application programs, Users</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the operating system for shared computers like mainframes?

<p>Resource allocator and control program</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe the characteristics of mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.

<p>Resource poor, optimized for usability and battery life</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the kernel in an operating system?

<p>The one program running at all times on the computer</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does an interrupt-driven I/O cycle work?

<p>Interrupt transfers control to the interrupt service routine</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the two methods for handling I/O according to the text?

<p>After I/O starts, control returns to user program only upon I/O completion; After I/O starts, control returns to user program without waiting for I/O completion</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the basic unit of computer storage according to the text?

<p>The bit</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe the structure of Hard Disk Drives (HDD).

<p>Rigid metal or glass platters covered with magnetic recording material</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the advantage of Non-volatile memory (NVM) devices over hard disks?

<p>Faster, nonvolatile</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of caching in a computer system?

<p>Copying information into faster storage system to improve access speed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Direct Memory Access (DMA) work in relation to high-speed I/O devices?

<p>DMA allows the device controller to transfer blocks of data from buffer storage directly to main memory without CPU intervention.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of a bootstrap program in an operating system?

<p>The bootstrap program initializes the system and loads the kernel.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does multiprogramming help in utilizing CPU and I/O devices efficiently?

<p>Multiprogramming ensures that CPU always has a job to execute, even when one job is waiting.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the concept of multitasking (timesharing) in operating systems.

<p>Multitasking involves frequent switching of jobs by the CPU, allowing users to interact with each job while it is running.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of virtual memory in a computer system?

<p>Virtual memory allows the execution of processes not completely in physical memory.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is dual-mode operation important in an operating system?

<p>Dual-mode operation allows the OS to protect itself and other system components by distinguishing between user code and kernel code.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does the device driver play in managing I/O operations?

<p>The device driver provides a uniform interface between the device controller and the kernel.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does swapping assist in executing processes in a memory-constrained system?

<p>Swapping moves processes in and out of memory to make space for running processes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What triggers a hardware interrupt in an operating system?

<p>A hardware interrupt is generated by one of the devices to request CPU attention.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the Von Neumann architecture signify in the context of how a modern computer works?

<p>The Von Neumann architecture represents the design where program instructions and data share the same memory space.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does a memory layout for a multiprogrammed system differ from a single program system?

<p>In a multiprogrammed system, memory layout involves keeping a subset of total jobs in memory and switching between them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Computer Storage

  • The smallest unit of storage in a computer is a bit.
  • A byte is composed of 8 bits.
  • A word in computer storage is a group of bytes that can be accessed and processed as a single unit.

Data Measurement

  • A kilobyte (KB) is equal to 1,024 bytes.
  • Networking measurements are typically given in bits per second (bps).
  • A gigabyte (GB) is equal to 1,073,741,824 bytes.

Operating System

  • The main function of an operating system is to manage computer hardware resources and provide common services to computer programs.
  • A computer system can be divided into hardware and software components.
  • The operating system plays a crucial role in managing shared computers like mainframes.

Mobile Devices

  • Mobile devices like smartphones and tablets are characterized by their portability, touchscreens, and wireless connectivity.

Operating System Components

  • The kernel is the core part of an operating system that manages hardware resources and provides services to applications.
  • Interrupt-driven I/O cycle: the CPU executes a program, and when I/O is needed, the CPU sends a request to the I/O device, which then generates an interrupt to the CPU when the I/O operation is complete.

I/O Handling Methods

  • Two methods for handling I/O: programmed I/O and interrupt-driven I/O.

Storage Devices

  • The basic unit of computer storage is a bit.
  • Hard Disk Drives (HDD) consist of a magnetic disk, read/write head, and motor.
  • Non-volatile memory (NVM) devices have an advantage over hard disks in terms of faster access time and lower power consumption.

Cache Memory

  • Caching: temporarily storing frequently accessed data in a faster memory location to reduce access time.

Input/Output Operations

  • Direct Memory Access (DMA) allows high-speed I/O devices to access memory directly, reducing CPU involvement.
  • A bootstrap program loads the operating system into memory during the boot process.

CPU and I/O Utilization

  • Multiprogramming: running multiple programs concurrently to efficiently utilize CPU and I/O devices.
  • Multitasking (timesharing): rapidly switching between multiple programs to create the illusion of simultaneous execution.

Virtual Memory

  • Virtual memory provides a mechanism for using secondary storage to supplement main memory, enabling a system to run larger programs than physical memory can hold.

Operating System Modes

  • Dual-mode operation: an operating system can run in either user mode or kernel mode.

Device Management

  • A device driver manages I/O operations between the operating system and hardware devices.

Process Execution

  • Swapping: temporarily transferring a process from main memory to secondary storage to free up memory space, enabling efficient execution of multiple processes in a memory-constrained system.

Interrupt Handling

  • A hardware interrupt is triggered by an I/O device completing an operation.

Computer Architecture

  • The Von Neumann architecture is a design model for modern computers, featuring a central processing unit, memory, and input/output devices.

Memory Layout

  • In a multiprogrammed system, the memory layout differs from a single program system in that multiple programs coexist in memory, requiring memory management and protection mechanisms.

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Description

Learn about the computer system structure according to the Operating System Concepts 10th Edition by Silberschatz, Galvin and Gagne. Explore the four components of a computer system, including hardware that provides basic computing resources such as CPU, memory, and I/O.

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