30 Questions
What type of signal does the device controller raise to alert the CPU that an operation is complete?
Interrupt signal
How does the CPU communicate with the device controller to specify the operation type and data involved?
Through specific registers
What is the main purpose of the local buffer in the device controller during data transfers?
To store temporary data before processing
When an interrupt signal is raised, how does the CPU respond?
Halts its current task and acknowledges the controller
During the device controller's data movement phase, what does it do when it needs to write data?
Moves data from the controller's buffer to the device
What initiates the data transfer process between the CPU and the device controller?
CPU sends instructions to the device controller
What is the main storage media that the CPU can directly access?
Dynamic Random-access Memory (DRAM)
Why is the bootstrap program stored in EEPROM instead of RAM?
EEPROM is nonvolatile
What is the primary reason for not storing the bootstrap program in RAM?
To ensure the bootstrap program remains intact even when power is turned off
What type of memory is infrequently written to and is nonvolatile?
Electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)
Which type of storage provides large nonvolatile capacity but is slower compared to main memory?
Secondary storage
What is the first program to run on a computer when powered on?
Bootstrap program
What is responsible for moving data between peripheral devices and local buffer storage in a computer system?
Device controller
In a computer system, what provides the operating system with a uniform interface to a device?
Device controller
What component of a computer system is responsible for concurrent execution and competing for memory cycles?
CPUs
Which hardware component is specifically responsible for understanding and managing a device controller?
Device drivers
What is in charge of a particular device type in a computer system?
Device controller
In a computer system, what connects one or more CPUs to device controllers?
Shared memory
What is the basic unit of computer storage?
Bit
What technology uses rigid metal or glass platters covered with magnetic recording material?
Hard Disk Drives (HDD)
Which storage device technology is faster than hard disks and nonvolatile?
Solid State Drives (SSDs)
How many bits make up a byte?
8
What determines the logical interaction between a storage device and a computer?
Disk controller
Which of the following is not a type of non-volatile memory device mentioned in the text?
Disk controller
What is the main difference between hardware and software interrupts?
Hardware interrupts are generated by hardware devices to signal that they need attention from the OS, while software interrupts are software-generated.
Which of the following is an example of a software-generated interrupt?
Division by zero
What is the role of properly designed operating systems in ensuring program integrity?
To prevent incorrect or malicious programs from causing incorrect execution of other programs or the OS itself.
In a computer system, why is it important to distinguish between the execution of operating-system code and user-defined code?
To ensure that errors in user-defined code do not impact the execution of the operating system or other programs.
When might an infinite loop in a process trigger a software interrupt?
When an invalid memory address is accessed.
What triggers a software interrupt related to a system call?
The need for an OS service like writing data to a file.
Test your knowledge on computer system organization and the structure of computer systems according to the Operating System Concepts – 10th Edition by Silberschatz, Galvin and Gagne. This quiz covers topics such as CPUs, device controllers, shared memory, and concurrent execution.
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