37 Questions
What is the primary goal of an operating system?
To execute user programs and make solving user problems easier
What program is typically loaded at power-up or reboot to initialize all aspects of a computer system?
Bootstrap program
Which of the following is NOT considered a component of a computer system?
Application programs
Which component of a computer system controls all the major functions of the hardware?
Kernel
What structure allows high-speed I/O devices to transfer data directly to main memory without CPU intervention?
Direct Memory Access
What is the main role of the operating system in a shared computer system?
To keep all users happy by efficiently and fairly managing resources
What is the defining characteristic of the 'kernel' of an operating system?
It is the one program running at all times on the computer
Which component of a computer system is responsible for determining the logical interaction between a storage device and the computer?
Disk controller
Which of the following is NOT a typical goal of an operating system?
To provide a comprehensive set of application programs for users
When an operating system is interrupt-driven, what kind of interrupts are caused by errors or user requests?
Trap interrupts
How do the goals of an operating system differ for users of a shared computer system versus a dedicated system?
Shared systems focus on resource utilization, while dedicated systems focus on ease of use
What type of system architecture uses multiple processors and is also known as parallel systems?
Multiprocessor systems
Which structure in a computer system organizes storage systems based on speed, cost, and volatility?
Storage Hierarchy
What is the main function of an interrupt service routine in a computer system?
Save the address of the interrupted instruction
How does the CPU access information in secondary storage in a computer system?
Treat secondary storage as a cache for main memory.
In a computer system, what saves the address of all the service routines for handling interrupts?
Interrupt vector
What is the main objective of Chapter 1 in the Operating System Concepts textbook?
To discuss basic computer system organization
Which of the following is NOT a major component covered in the textbook's Chapter 1?
Network Configuration
In the context of operating systems, what does 'Memory Management' primarily refer to?
Ensuring proper allocation of system resources to programs
What purpose does 'Protection and Security' serve in the realm of operating systems?
Managing permissions and access control within the system
Which aspect of operating systems is related to the effective management of data on secondary storage devices?
Storage Management
What is the primary purpose of a network operating system?
To provide features between systems across a network
Which of the following is not a type of computer network mentioned in the text?
Global Area Network (GAN)
In a client-server computing environment, what is the role of the compute-server?
To respond to requests generated by clients and provide services
What is the key characteristic of a peer-to-peer (P2P) computing model?
Nodes can each act as a client, server, or both
What is the primary motivation behind the open-source operating system movement?
To counter the copy protection and Digital Rights Management (DRM) movement
Which of the following is not an example of an open-source operating system mentioned in the text?
Windows 10
What is the primary advantage of multiprocessing?
Increased throughput by utilizing multiple processors
What is the purpose of multiprogramming in an operating system?
To facilitate efficient utilization of CPU and I/O devices
What is the primary advantage of timesharing (multitasking) in an interactive computing environment?
Ability for users to interact with their programs while they are running
What is the purpose of dual-mode operation in an operating system?
To protect the operating system and system components from user processes
What is the purpose of a timer in an operating system?
To prevent infinite loops or processes from hogging resources indefinitely
What is the purpose of user identities (user IDs) in an operating system?
To authenticate users and grant access to system resources
What is the purpose of a group identifier (group ID) in an operating system?
To manage access control for a set of users with common privileges
What is the purpose of privilege escalation in an operating system?
To allow users to change their effective user ID to one with more rights
What is the primary purpose of protection mechanisms in an operating system?
To prevent unauthorized access to system resources
What is the primary goal of security mechanisms in an operating system?
To defend the system against internal and external attacks
Study Notes
Computer System Structure
- A computer system consists of four major components:
- Hardware: provides basic computing resources (CPU, memory, I/O devices)
- Operating System: controls and coordinates use of hardware among various applications and users
- Application programs: define the ways in which system resources are used to solve computing problems (e.g., word processors, compilers, web browsers, database systems, video games)
- Users: people, machines, or other computers
Operating System Definition
- An Operating System (OS) is a resource allocator that manages all resources and decides between conflicting requests for efficient and fair resource use.
- An OS is also a control program that controls the execution of programs to prevent errors and improper use of the computer.
Operating System Goals
- Execute user programs and make solving user problems easier
- Make the computer system convenient to use
- Use the computer hardware in an efficient manner
Computer System Organization
- The computer system can be divided into four components: hardware, operating system, application programs, and users.
- The operating system acts as an intermediary between the user and the computer hardware.
Multiprogramming and Timesharing
- Multiprogramming organizes jobs (code and data) so the CPU always has one to execute.
- A subset of total jobs in the system is kept in memory, and one job is selected and run via job scheduling.
- When a job has to wait (for I/O, for example), the OS switches to another job.
- Timesharing is a logical extension of multiprogramming, where the CPU switches jobs so frequently that users can interact with each job while it is running.
Process Management
- The operating system manages processes, which are programs in execution.
- A process requires a PCB (Process Control Block) to manage its execution.
Memory Management
- Memory management involves allocating and deallocating memory for running programs.
- Virtual memory allows execution of processes not completely in memory.
Storage Hierarchy
- Storage systems are organized in a hierarchy based on speed, cost, and volatility.
- Caching involves copying information into faster storage systems.
Protection and Security
- Protection is any mechanism for controlling access to resources defined by the OS.
- Security is the defense of the system against internal and external attacks.
Computing Environments
- There are various computing environments, including:
- Client-server computing
- Peer-to-peer computing
- Distributed computing
- Mobile computing
Open-Source Operating Systems
- Open-source operating systems are made available in source-code format rather than just binary closed-source.
- Examples include GNU/Linux and BSD UNIX.
Test your knowledge on the first chapter 'Introduction' of the textbook 'Operating System Concepts' by Silberschatz, Galvin, and Gagne. Explore concepts related to what operating systems do and computer-system organization.
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