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Questions and Answers
What is the main goal of an operating system?
Which component of a computer system provides basic computing resources?
What is the distinguishing feature of handheld computers in terms of resource optimization?
Which statement best describes the role of an operating system as a resource allocator?
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In what way does an operating system act as a control program?
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What is the primary function of the bootstrap program?
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Which of the following statements about firmware is correct?
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In a computer system's operation, which component is responsible for a particular device type?
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What is the purpose of a local buffer in a device controller?
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How does a device controller inform the CPU that it has finished its operation?
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Study Notes
Computer System Structure
- A computer system can be divided into four components: hardware, operating system, application programs, and users.
- Hardware provides basic computing resources such as CPU, memory, and I/O devices.
- Operating system controls and coordinates the use of hardware among various applications and users.
- Application programs define how system resources are used to solve computing problems for users.
- Users can be people, machines, or other computers.
Bootstrap Program
- A bootstrap program is loaded at power-up or reboot.
- It is typically stored in ROM or EPROM, known as firmware.
- The bootstrap program initializes all aspects of the system and loads the operating system kernel.
Firmware
- Firmware is a specific type of software that acts as an intermediary between software and hardware.
Computer-System Operation
- One or more CPUs and device controllers connect through a common bus providing access to shared memory.
- The CPU and devices compete for memory cycles.
- I/O devices and the CPU can execute concurrently.
- Each device controller is in charge of a particular device type and has a local buffer.
- The CPU moves data from/to main memory to/from local buffers.
- I/O is from the device to the local buffer of the controller.
- The device controller informs the CPU that it has finished its operation by causing an interrupt.
Interrupts
- Interrupts transfer control to the interrupt service routine through the interrupt vector.
- The interrupt architecture must save the address of the interrupted instruction.
- A trap or exception is a software-generated interrupt caused by an error or user request.
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.
Operating System Definition
- An operating system is a resource allocator that manages all resources and decides between conflicting requests for efficient and fair resource use.
- An operating system is a control program that controls the execution of programs to prevent errors and improper use of the computer.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the components of a computer system and the goals of an operating system based on Operating System Concepts - 9th Edition. Learn about the structure of a computer system including hardware components and the role of an operating system as an intermediary between users and computer hardware.
