24 Questions
What is the primary function of a micro kernel in an operating system?
To provide a communication facility between client programs and services
What is a benefit of using a micro kernel approach in operating system design?
Easier extension of the operating system
Which of the following operating systems is NOT an example of a microkernel-based operating system?
Linux
What is a characteristic of system programs in a computer system?
They do not differentiate between system calls and hardware instructions
What is a result of having a smaller kernel in a micro kernel approach?
Fewer changes are required when modifying the kernel
What is a benefit of running services as user rather than kernel processes?
Increased security and reliability
What is the purpose of system calls in a computer system?
To provide a layer of abstraction between hardware and system programs
What is the result of having a micro kernel in an operating system?
A smaller kernel with minimum process and memory management
What is one of the primary functions of managing primary storage?
Allocating memory space for program execution
What is the main purpose of synchronizing the execution of cooperating processes?
To ensure integrity of shared data
What is an essential service provided by an operating system to manage files?
Managing secondary storage devices
What is the main goal of process protection in an operating system?
To prevent Processes from accessing memory space that does not belong to them
What is one of the key benefits of allowing simultaneous execution of processes?
Improved system responsiveness
What is an essential service provided by an operating system to manage directories?
Providing a user view of directory structure
What is the main purpose of deallocating disk space when files are removed?
To free up disk space for other files
What is the primary goal of providing a mechanism for users to protect their files and directories?
To ensure file and directory security
What is the primary responsibility of the OS in terms of file management?
Creating and deleting files and directories
What is the main purpose of a protection system in a computer system?
To control access to resources and prevent unauthorized access
What is a characteristic of a distributed system?
Each processor has its own local memory and clock
What is the primary function of a command-line interpreter in an operating system?
To read user commands and try to execute them
What is the benefit of a distributed system to the user?
Access to various resources maintained by the system
What is the purpose of backing up files in a file system?
To prevent data loss by storing files on stable storage media
What is a key challenge in designing a communication network for a distributed system?
Dealing with contention and security issues
What is the role of the kernel in some operating systems with respect to the command-line interpreter?
The kernel includes the command-line interpreter as part of its code
Study Notes
Operating System Responsibilities
- Creating and deleting files and directories
- Supporting primitives for file and directory manipulation
- Mapping files onto secondary storage
- Backing up files on stable storage media
Protection System
- Controls access of programs, processes, or users to system resources
- Necessary in multi-user systems with concurrent process execution
Distributed Systems
- A collection of processors with local memory and clock, communicating through networks
- Processors are connected through a communication network, requiring message routing and connection strategies
- Distributed systems collect separate systems into a single coherent system, providing user access to resources
Command-Line Interpreter (Shells)
- The interface between user and operating system
- Reads user commands and executes them
- Can be part of the kernel or a separate program (e.g., UNIX, Linux, DOS)
Operating System Services
Secondary Storage Management
- Manage secondary storage devices
- Allocate and deallocate disk space
- Ensure no file overwriting and schedule disk requests
Primary Storage Management
- Allocate and deallocate memory space for programs
- Ensure process memory integrity and minimize unused space
- Allow execution of large programs in limited memory
Process Management
- Manage multiple cooperating processes
- Synchronize access to shared data and communication
- Prevent deadlocks and ensure data integrity
File and Directory Management
- Allow user management of files and directories
- Provide user-view of directory structure and file protection mechanism
Micro Kernels
- Structured operating system with minimal kernel and user-level programs
- Provides minimal process and memory management with communication facility
- Easier to extend, port, and provide security and reliability (e.g., Mach, MacOS X Server, QNX, OS/2, Windows NT)
Virtual Machines
- Conceptually, a layered system with hardware, kernel, system programs, and application programs
- System programs can use system calls or hardware instructions
- Application programs can call system programs
This quiz covers the role of an operating system in managing files and directories, including creating and deleting files, supporting primitives, and mapping files to storage.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
