Operating System Concepts – 9th Edition Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the purpose of the dual-mode operation in an operating system?

To facilitate better user interaction with programs.

To increase the processing power of the CPU.

To allow the operating system to protect itself from user programs. (correct)

To enable multiple users to run programs simultaneously.

Which mode of operation is also referred to as privileged mode?

System mode

Kernel mode (correct)

User mode

Virtual mode

How does the timer contribute to resource management in an operating system?

It allocates memory dynamically for user processes.

It prevents the system from crashing.

It interrupts the computer after a set time to regain control. (correct)

It resets the user code periodically.

Which of the following correctly describes privileged instructions?

Instructions that can only be executed in kernel mode. Signup and view all the answers

What does the mode bit provided by hardware help distinguish?

Between user code execution and kernel code execution. Signup and view all the answers

What is a process in the context of operating systems?

A program that is being executed. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of the interrupt vector in an operating system?

To contain addresses of interrupt service routines. Signup and view all the answers

What occurs during interrupt handling when an interrupt is triggered?

Registers and the program counter are preserved. Signup and view all the answers

What typically happens when the timer's counter reaches zero?

An interrupt is generated to regain control. Signup and view all the answers

Why might multi-mode operations be supported by modern CPUs?

To support running multiple virtual machines effectively. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following correctly defines a trap or exception?

It is a software-generated interrupt. Signup and view all the answers

What method does the operating system use to determine the type of interrupt that has occurred?

Polling and vectored interrupt systems. Signup and view all the answers

What is the basic unit of storage in a computer?

A bit Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct value for a megabyte in bytes according to standard definitions?

1,048,576 bytes Signup and view all the answers

Why is a byte considered the smallest convenient chunk of storage on most computers?

Most computers do not have instructions to move single bits. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of storage is typically volatile and can be accessed directly by the CPU?

Main memory Signup and view all the answers

What is generally true about the word in a computer architecture?

It is made up of a fixed number of bytes defined by the architecture. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the interrupt service routine?

To perform tasks based on the specific interrupt received. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes solid-state disks from hard disks?

Solid-state disks are faster and nonvolatile Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of caching in computer storage?

Copying frequently accessed files into main memory Signup and view all the answers

In the storage hierarchy, which factor is NOT typically considered when organizing storage systems?

Aesthetic appeal Signup and view all the answers

What function does a device driver serve in a computer system?

It provides a uniform interface between the controller and kernel Signup and view all the answers

Which type of storage is an example of nonvolatile memory with battery backup?

NVRAM Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic of main memory makes it an ideal place for programs and data, even though this is often not feasible?

Direct CPU access Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of the device driver during an I/O operation?

Return control to the operating system after the operation Signup and view all the answers

How does the device controller handle the completion of data transfer?

It informs the device driver via an interrupt that the operation has completed Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of using interrupt-driven I/O for bulk data movement?

It produces high overhead due to multiple interrupts per byte Signup and view all the answers

What method improves the efficiency of data transfer during I/O operations?

Direct Memory Access (DMA) Signup and view all the answers

What happens during a DMA operation once data transfer is complete?

Only one interrupt is generated to signal completion Signup and view all the answers

What does the device controller examine to begin an I/O operation?

The contents of the registers loaded by the device driver Signup and view all the answers

What advantage does DMA provide over traditional interrupt-driven I/O?

Allows for simultaneous data processing by the CPU Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the data transfer process in DMA?

Data is transferred directly between the device and memory Signup and view all the answers

What occurs when a job in a multiprogrammed system needs to wait for an I/O operation to complete?

The operating system switches to another job. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect must be managed when multiple programs are kept in memory at the same time?

Job scheduling Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of a trap in an operating system?

To provide a software-generated interrupt for errors or requests. Signup and view all the answers

What happens in a non-multiprogrammed system when there are no processes available to execute?

The operating system waits for an event. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary responsibility of CPU scheduling?

Determining which job will run first. Signup and view all the answers

How do time-sharing systems differ from non-time-sharing systems?

Time-sharing systems allow multiple jobs to run simultaneously. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents the various processes stored on disk and waiting for memory allocation?

Job Pool Signup and view all the answers

What must be decided if several jobs are ready to be brought into memory but insufficient room exists?

Which jobs will be loaded based on priority. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Common Functions of Interrupts

Interrupts control transfer to the interrupt service routine through an interrupt vector.
The architecture saves the address of the interrupted instruction for proper resumption.
Traps or exceptions are software-generated interrupts, typically from errors or user requests.
Operating systems operate in an interrupt-driven manner, reacting to hardware and software signals.

Interrupt Handling

The operating system preserves CPU state by storing register content and the program counter.
Different types of interrupts can occur, including polling and vectored interrupt systems.
Specific code segments handle responses to various types of interrupts.

Storage Definitions and Notation

The bit is the basic unit of storage, representing values 0 or 1; bits combine to represent complex data.
A byte, consisting of 8 bits, is the smallest significant unit for processing on most systems.
Computer architectures define a 'word' as a native data unit, which typically matches the system's register size (e.g., 64-bit = 8 bytes).
Common data size measurements:
- 1 kilobyte (KB) = 1,024 bytes
- 1 megabyte (MB) = 1,024² bytes
- 1 gigabyte (GB) = 1,024³ bytes
- 1 terabyte (TB) = 1,024⁴ bytes
- 1 petabyte (PB) = 1,024⁵ bytes

Storage Structure

Main memory is the primary storage directly accessed by the CPU, characterized by random access and volatility.
Secondary storage offers larger, non-volatile capacity, including hard disks and solid-state disks (SSDs).
Hard disks consist of platters with magnetic recording material, divided into tracks and sectors for data organization.
SSDs are faster than traditional hard disks and are composed of various technologies, gaining popularity for their speed.

Storage Hierarchy

Storage systems are organized hierarchically based on speed, cost, and volatility.
Caching is an optimization technique where information is stored in faster memory to improve access time.
Device drivers act as interfaces between the operating system's kernel and hardware controllers.

I/O Structure

I/O operations initiate when a device driver sets up registers within the device controller, which processes the instructions and manages the data transfer.
After data transfer, the device controller signals completion via an interrupt, allowing the driver to return control to the operating system.
Using interrupt-driven I/O is efficient for small data transfers but can introduce overhead for bulk data movement, such as disk I/O.

Direct Memory Access (DMA)

DMA allows device controllers to transfer data blocks directly to memory without CPU intervention, improving efficiency.
Only one interrupt is generated per block, reducing overhead compared to per-byte interrupt generation.

Multiprogramming and Job Scheduling

In a multiprogrammed system, multiple jobs reside in memory, necessitating memory management and job scheduling strategies.
The operating system must select jobs from the job pool, allocating main memory for execution, and may need to switch jobs as waiting conditions arise.

Operating System Operations

Operating systems remain idle until events occur, typically indicated by interrupts or traps, which can result from user requests or errors.
Proper execution separates operating system code from user applications using dual-mode operations, encompassing user mode and kernel mode.
A mode bit is used to differentiate execution types, ensuring certain privileged instructions only execute in kernel mode.

Transition from User to Kernel Mode

Timers are crucial to prevent infinite loops and resource hogging; they trigger interrupts at specified intervals to regain control.
The system sets up the timer before a scheduled process, enabling effective resource management and program termination if necessary.

Process Management

Processes represent programs in execution, requiring memory management and scheduling strategies to ensure efficient operation across shared resources.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the common functions of interrupts as outlined in the 9th edition of Operating System Concepts by Silberschatz, Galvin, and Gagne. This quiz covers the essential aspects of interrupt handling and architecture, including service routines and exception management.