Operating System Purposes Quiz

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What are the advantages of using open-source software according to the text?

Potential for inconsistent updates and varying support levels

Customization and community support (correct)

Higher costs and lower customization

Guaranteed vendor support and streamlined updates

Why might relying on community support be considered a disadvantage of using open-source software?

Potential for security vulnerabilities (correct)

Streamlined updates

Lower costs

Increased security

What is the primary purpose of system calls as mentioned in the text?

Provide a user interface in the operating system

Allow user-level processes to request services of the operating system (correct)

Facilitate network communications between different operating systems

Manage internal operations exclusively

What is the main role of a command interpreter based on the text?

Read commands from the user and execute them Signup and view all the answers

Which system calls are necessary for starting a new process on a UNIX system according to the text?

fork() and exec() Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of system programs as mentioned in the text?

To serve as extensions of the operating system kernel Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of an operating system?

To manage hardware resources and supervise program execution Signup and view all the answers

When is it considered acceptable for an operating system to 'waste' resources?

When enhancing the user experience through a graphical user interface Signup and view all the answers

What is the main challenge in developing an operating system for real-time environments?

Meeting fixed time constraints for task execution Signup and view all the answers

Should an operating system include applications like web browsers and email clients?

The decision depends on weighing the benefits and drawbacks Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the distinction between kernel mode and user mode in an operating system?

To separate critical system tasks from user applications Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for an operating system to allocate resources fairly?

To ensure equal access for all users and processes Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following lists the memory hierarchy from fastest to slowest access time?

Registers, cache, main memory, nonvolatile memory, hard-disk drives, optical disk, magnetic tapes Signup and view all the answers

What is the most effective mechanism for enforcing memory protection to prevent unauthorized memory access?

Utilizing hardware features like segmentation and paging to control access Signup and view all the answers

Which network configuration is typically used for a campus student union?

A local area network (LAN) Signup and view all the answers

What is one advantage of peer-to-peer systems over client-server systems?

They eliminate the need for a centralized server, reducing potential bottlenecks and single points of failure Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an advantage of open-source operating systems?

Wide community support Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a disadvantage of open-source operating systems?

Limited customization Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of synchronous communication?

It ensures data integrity Signup and view all the answers

Which type of communication is more complex for programmers?

Asynchronous communication Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential disadvantage of asynchronous communication?

It can lead to data inconsistency Signup and view all the answers

Which type of communication is more efficient in terms of system throughput?

Asynchronous communication Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential benefit of synchronous communication?

It improves real-time response Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between client-server and peer-to-peer models of distributed systems?

The way services are provided and roles are assigned Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes the difference between clustered and multiprocessor systems?

Clustered systems consist of interconnected computers, while multiprocessor systems have multiple CPUs in a single system Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of interrupts in computer systems?

To signal the completion of I/O operations Signup and view all the answers

How do interrupts differ from traps in computer systems?

Interrupts signal I/O operations, while traps signal software exceptions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about cloud storage is true?

It provides a cost-effective storage solution Signup and view all the answers

What is a key advantage of cloud storage over traditional storage solutions?

Lower initial investment costs Signup and view all the answers