Operating System Concepts Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What system call does a process use to request deletion once it has completed execution?

delete()

terminate()

exit() (correct)

close()

What role does a client-side stub play in remote procedure calls?

It marshals parameters and locates the server. (correct)

It acts as a proxy for the server's procedure.

It sends messages directly to the client.

It performs the actual procedure on the server.

When a parent process terminates, what typically happens to its child processes in certain operating systems?

Child processes enter a suspended state.

Child processes are automatically terminated. (correct)

Child processes are promoted to parent processes.

Child processes continue executing independently.

Which of the following accurately describes ordinary pipes?

They are typically used for parent-child process communication. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of process in Google Chrome is responsible for rendering web pages and handling HTML and Javascript?

Renderer process Signup and view all the answers

What system call might a parent process use to abort a child process?

abort() Signup and view all the answers

What programming language specification is used to compile stub code in Windows?

Microsoft Interface Definition Language (MIDL) Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic does NOT relate to named pipes?

They are restricted to single-directional communication. Signup and view all the answers

Why might a parent process terminate its child processes using the abort() system call?

The task assigned to the child is no longer required. Signup and view all the answers

In remote procedure calls, what occurs after the server-side stub receives a message?

It performs the procedure on the server using the unpacked parameters. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of a parent process in process creation?

It creates child processes. Signup and view all the answers

In process creation, what does 'pid' stand for?

Process identifier. Signup and view all the answers

What execution option indicates that a parent process waits for its children to terminate?

Synchronous execution. Signup and view all the answers

Which system call is used to create a new process in UNIX?

fork() Signup and view all the answers

What can children processes do regarding the resources of their parent process?

They can selectively share resources. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the address space of a child process during creation?

The child’s address space is identical to the parent. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes the relationship between parent and child processes?

Parents and children can execute independently after creation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the exec() system call after a fork() in UNIX?

To replace the process's memory space with a new program. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of scheduler activations?

To facilitate communication between the kernel and upcall handler Signup and view all the answers

In Windows threading, what component is used to represent the state of a processor for a thread?

Register set Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes Linux threads?

They share the address space of the parent task when created. Signup and view all the answers

What do the private data storage areas in Windows threads typically hold?

Data used by run-time libraries and dynamic link libraries Signup and view all the answers

What best describes the nature of thread stacks in Windows?

Stacks are separate for user and kernel modes. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of the short-term scheduler in a process scheduling system?

Allocates CPU and selects which process to execute next. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes an I/O-bound process?

Spends more time doing I/O than computations. Signup and view all the answers

What does the context of a process represent in a process control block (PCB)?

The execution state of the process that must be saved and restored. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of maintaining scheduling queues in a CPU scheduling system?

To enable efficient process selection for execution. Signup and view all the answers

How does a long-term scheduler differ from a short-term scheduler?

It controls which processes are brought into the ready queue, invoked infrequently. Signup and view all the answers

What is one consequence of complex operating systems during context switching?

Longer context-switch times due to more information being saved. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of queue contains processes waiting for an I/O device?

Device queue Signup and view all the answers

What information does accounting information track in process management?

CPU time used and clock time elapsed since process start. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the ready queue in a process scheduling system?

It includes processes that are ready to execute and reside in memory. Signup and view all the answers

What must occur during a context switch between processes?

The state of the old process must be saved, and the new process state loaded. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Operating System Fundamentals

The program counter indicates the location of the next instruction to execute.
CPU registers hold all process-centric register contents.

Process Management

CPU scheduling information includes priorities and scheduling queue pointers.
Memory-management information details the memory allocated to each process.
Accounting information tracks CPU usage, elapsed time, and time limits.
I/O status information provides details on allocated I/O devices and open files.

Process Scheduling

Enhances CPU utilization by quickly switching processes for time-sharing.
The process scheduler selects which process to execute next and manages scheduling queues.
Job queue contains all processes in the system.
Ready queue consists of processes in main memory, ready, and waiting to execute.
Device queues house processes waiting for an I/O device, with processes migrating among queues.

Types of Schedulers

Short-term scheduler (CPU scheduler) selects the next process to execute; invoked frequently and must be efficient.
Long-term scheduler (job scheduler) determines which processes to bring into the ready queue; invoked less frequently and can be slower.
Process types:
- I/O-bound processes spend more time in I/O; have many short CPU bursts.
- CPU-bound processes focus on computations; have few lengthy CPU bursts.
Long-term scheduler seeks a balanced mix of process types.

Context Switching

Occurs when the CPU switches to another process, requiring the saving of the old process's state.
The process context is represented in the Process Control Block (PCB).
Context-switch time entails overhead; system does no productive work during this time.
Hardware support can influence context switch efficiency, with some CPUs offering multiple register sets.

Process Operations

The operating system provides mechanisms for:
- Process creation.
- Process termination.

Process Creation

Parent processes create child processes, forming a hierarchical tree structure.
Each process is identified by a unique process identifier (pid).
Resource-sharing options include:
- Full sharing among parent and children.
- Partial sharing of resources.
- No shared resources.
Execution options may vary; parents and children can run concurrently or the parent can wait for the children to finish.

Tree of Processes Example (Linux)

Init process (pid = 1) is at the root.
Example child processes include login, kthreadd, and sshd.

Process Address Space

Child processes typically duplicate the parent's address space.
The fork() system call creates new processes; exec() replaces a process's memory space with a new program.

Process Termination

Processes terminate by executing the last statement and using the exit() system call, returning status data to the parent.
Resources are deallocated by the operating system.
Parents can terminate child processes using the abort() system call under certain conditions:
- Resource allocation exceeded.
- The task is no longer needed.
- Parent termination dictates child termination policies.

Multiprocess Architecture in Web Browsers

Google Chrome operates as a multiprocess application, managing separate browser and renderer processes to enhance stability and performance.
Renderer processes handle page rendering and JavaScript.

Remote Procedure Calls (RPC)

RPC abstracts procedure calls between networked processes, utilizing client-server architecture.
Stubs allow client-side and server-side communication through marshalled parameters.

Pipes for Inter-Process Communication

Pipes facilitate communication between processes, offering unidirectional or bidirectional options.
Ordinary pipes require a parent-child relationship; named pipes do not.

Windows Threading Model

Windows implements a one-to-one mapping for threads within the Windows API.
Each thread has a unique ID, register set, and separate user/kernel stacks.

Linux Threading Model

Linux refers to threads as tasks; creation is performed using the clone() system call, allowing for shared address space.

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Description

Test your understanding of key operating system concepts including program counters, CPU registers, and memory management. This quiz covers essential elements such as scheduling, accounting information, and I/O status, crucial for optimizing system performance.