Operating System Interrupts Quiz

Operating System Overview

• An operating system manages computer hardware and provides an environment for application programs to run.

Interrupts

• Interrupts are a key way for hardware to interact with the operating system.
• A hardware device triggers an interrupt by sending a signal to the CPU to alert it to an event requiring attention.
• Interrupts are managed by the interrupt handler.

Memory Management

• Main memory is a volatile storage device that loses its contents when power is turned off or lost.
• Nonvolatile storage is an extension of main memory, capable of holding large quantities of data permanently.
• Examples of nonvolatile storage devices include hard disks, which can store both programs and data.

Storage Systems

• Storage systems can be organized in a hierarchy according to speed and cost.
• The higher levels of the hierarchy are expensive but fast, while the cost per bit decreases and access time increases as you move down the hierarchy.

Computer Architecture

• Modern computer architectures are multiprocessor systems, with each CPU containing several computing cores.
• Multiprogramming allows several jobs to be in memory at the same time, ensuring the CPU always has a job to execute.
• Multitasking is an extension of multiprogramming, where CPU scheduling algorithms rapidly switch between processes, providing users with a fast response time.

Process Management

• A process is the fundamental unit of work in an operating system.
• Process management includes creating and deleting processes, and providing mechanisms for processes to communicate and synchronize with each other.

System Security

• The system hardware has two modes: user mode and kernel mode.
• Various instructions are privileged and can only be executed in kernel mode, such as switching to kernel mode, I/O control, timer management, and interrupt management.
• Operating systems provide mechanisms for protecting and securing the operating system and users.

File Systems

• Operating systems manage storage space by providing file systems for representing files and directories.
• They also manage space on mass-storage devices.

Virtualization and Data Structures

• Virtualization involves abstracting a computer's hardware into several different execution environments.
• Data structures used in an operating system include lists, stacks, queues, trees, and maps.

Computing Environments

• Computing takes place in various environments, including traditional computing, mobile computing, client–server systems, peer-to-peer systems, cloud computing, and real-time embedded systems.

Open-Source Operating Systems

• Free and open-source operating systems are available in source-code format.
• Free software is licensed to allow no-cost use, redistribution, and modification.
• Examples of popular open-source systems include GNU/Linux, FreeBSD, and Solaris.