Operating System Services and System Calls
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Which of the following operating systems is known for its 'Aqua' GUI interface built on top of a Unix kernel and shells?

  • Microsoft Windows
  • Linux
  • Solaris
  • Apple Mac OS (correct)

    • What is the primary purpose of system calls?

  • To manage the hardware resources of the computer system.
  • To provide a programming interface for applications to access operating system services. (correct)
  • To handle all input and output operations in a computer system.
  • To provide a user-friendly interface for interacting with the operating system.

    • Which of the following is NOT a common method for passing parameters to the operating system through system calls?

  • Using a specialized hardware register designated specifically for system call parameters. (correct)
  • Passing parameters directly in registers.
  • Placing parameters on the stack for the operating system retrieve.
  • Storing parameters in a memory block and passing the block's address.

    • What is the purpose of a crash dump file?

    <p>To capture the state data of the kernel when the OS fails. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a system program that falls under the category of 'Status Information'?

    <p>A program that displays the current date and time. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the SYSGEN program in operating system generation?

    <p>To configure and generate the OS for a specific machine. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary advantage of using a GUI interface over a CLI interface?

    <p>GUI interfaces are more user-friendly and accessible to a wider range of users. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes the primary function of a virtual machine?

    <p>To enable the sharing of resources between multiple operating systems. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary difference between a core dump file and a crash dump file?

    <p>A core dump file is used for debugging application failures while a crash dump file is used for debugging OS failures. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a common input device used with a GUI interface?

    <p>Command Line (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main difference between a system program that manages files and a system program that provides status information?

    <p>File management programs focus on manipulating and organizing data, while status information programs provide information about the system. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the bootstrap program?

    <p>To load the kernel into memory and start executing it. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a key advantage of using a system call API in application programming?

    <p>It allows applications to access hardware resources directly without relying on the operating system. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of information does SYSGEN collect?

    <p>CPU speed, memory size, and device interfaces. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the boot block in a two-step boot process?

    <p>To load the bootstrap loader into memory. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a typical use case for virtual machines?

    <p>Creating a backup image of a physical system for disaster recovery. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the most common way for virtual machines to communicate with each other or with physical systems?

    <p>By establishing a virtual network connection within the hypervisor. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes para virtualization from traditional virtualization?

    <p>Para virtualization requires the guest OS to be modified. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements is true regarding the execution of virtualization?

    <p>Virtualization runs in user mode and creates virtual user mode. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a major disadvantage of implementing an operating system in a high-level programming language?

    <p>It causes slower execution. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT an advantage of developing an OS in a high-level language?

    <p>Highly dependent on specific hardware. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is virtualization challenging to implement?

    <p>It must provide a duplicate of the hardware. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary advantage of using APIs instead of direct system calls?

    <p>APIs improve program portability. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a goal of the Operating System?

    <p>Maximizing resource consumption (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of a debugger in the context of programming language support?

    <p>To identify and fix errors in the code (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component determines how an operating system will perform tasks?

    <p>Policy (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of loader is responsible for loading programs that can be moved in memory?

    <p>Relocatable loader (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following APIs is primarily used for Windows systems?

    <p>Win32 API (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the separation of policy and mechanism benefit operating system design?

    <p>It enhances flexibility and maintainability. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a mechanism for loading programs into memory?

    <p>Compiler (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which service of the operating system is responsible for allowing the user to interact with the system through text or graphical elements?

    <p>User Interface (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is NOT a function provided by the operating system for user support?

    <p>Resource Allocation (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes a command-line interface (CLI)?

    <p>A system allowing direct command entry (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary responsibility of the operating system regarding error detection?

    <p>To ensure correct computing by identifying and managing errors (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In terms of resource allocation, what kind of resources does the operating system manage?

    <p>CPU cycles, file storage, main memory (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which service involves processes exchanging information and could be implemented via shared memory or message passing?

    <p>Communications (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of operating system services focuses on protecting user data from unauthorized access?

    <p>Protection and Security (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a function involved in file system manipulation provided by the operating system?

    <p>Executing program commands (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary idea behind microkernel structure?

    <p>Keep the kernel minimal and move services to the user space (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the modularity of a traditional Unix OS?

    <p>Limited modularity with all services within the kernel (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant disadvantage of layered OS structure?

    <p>Scalability issues (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do virtual machines create the illusion for processes?

    <p>By giving each process its own processor and virtual memory (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a benefit of virtual machines?

    <p>Ability to run a single OS at full efficiency (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these statements about the kernel size in microkernel structure is true?

    <p>Very small kernel (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a defining feature of virtual machines regarding interface?

    <p>It provides an interface identical to the underlying bare hardware (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a major challenge with microkernel structures?

    <p>Increased complexity in managing module interactions (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Operating System Services

    • Operating systems provide an environment for program execution and services for programs and users.
    • Services beneficial to users include:
      • User interfaces (command-line, GUI, batch).
      • Program execution (loading, running, ending).
      • I/O operations (file and device access).
      • File system manipulation (reading, writing, managing directories and permissions).
      • Communications (information exchange, shared memory, message passing).
      • Error detection and handling.
      • Debugging facilities.
    • Services beneficial to the system include:
      • Resource allocation (CPU, memory, storage).
      • Accounting (tracking resource usage).
      • Protection and security (controlling access, preventing interference).

    System Calls

    • System calls are programming interfaces to OS services.
    • They are written in high-level languages (e.g., C, C++).
    • System call interactions are managed through an interface table indexed by system call numbers.
    • The caller (program) interacts with the OS via API, which in turn uses libraries for low-level execution.
    • Three common methods for parameter passing to the OS include: registers, memory blocks, and stack.

    System Programs

    • System programs provide an environment for program development and execution.
    • Categories include:
      • File management (creating, deleting, copying files).
      • Status information (system resources, user activity).
      • File modification (editing, searching files).
      • Programming language support (compilers, assemblers).
      • Program loading and execution (loaders, debuggers).
      • Communications (network interactions).

    Operating System Design and Implementation

    • Operating system design is influenced by internal structure, defined goals, and hardware specifications.
    • Design goals include user convenience, reliability, safety, and speed, as well as ease of design, implementation, maintenance, flexibility, reliability, and error-free execution.
    • System calls are typically accessed via APIs for programmer convenience.
    • API differences from system calls: API is the interface to system calls, simplifying programming.
    • Common APIs include Win32, POSIX, and Java.
    • APIs improve program portability (reliability in running on different systems supporting similar APIs).
    • Key OS principles include separating policy and mechanism for flexibility, and ease of use, abstracting system calls.

    System Call Implementation

    • Associated with each system call is a number.
    • The system call interface is a table indexed by system call numbers, invoking the intended OS kernel system call and returning a status and any return value.
    • Programs don't need to know about system call implementation details; they only interact with APIs that simplify task complexity.

    Virtual Machines

    • Virtualization creates duplicate hardware environments.
    • Virtualization implementation occurs in user mode, creating virtual user and kernel modes.
    • Challenges include providing a perfect hardware duplicate and performance timing issues.
    • Virtualization performance depends on hardware support; better support results in faster execution.
    • Virtual machines share hardware resources while providing protection and controlled file-sharing.
    • Uses include development, testing, and resource consolidation.

    Bootstrap Programs and Booting

    • Bootstrapping involves loading the OS kernel into memory and starting its execution, via ROM-resident code.
    • Boot blocks in two-stage boot processes load bootloaders.
    • OS configuration data is gathered during start-up, customizing OS for the specific hardware.
    • Booting begins with fixed-memory address execution, controlled by firmware.

    History and Benefits of Virtual Machines

    • Virtual machine concepts originated in an IBM mainframe in 1972.
    • Benefits include enabling multiple OS environments on the same hardware, protection, and controlled resource sharing for development, testing, and system consolidation.

    Debugging

    • Debugging finds and fixes errors (bugs) and optimizes performance.
    • Log files contain error information.
    • Application crashes result in core dump files (process memory).
    • OS crashes result in crash dump files (kernel memory).
    • Kernighan's Law states debugging is harder than coding; careful coding aids debugging.

    Operating System Structures

    • Operating systems may have simple (e.g., MS-DOS), monolithic (e.g., traditional Unix), layered, or microkernel structures.
    • The choice of structure influences modularity, interfaces, and kernel size.
    • Structures impact programming and maintenance complexities.
    • Modularity and well-defined interfaces enhance extensibility and maintainability.

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    Related Documents

    CH 2.pdf: Operating System Structures

    Description

    This quiz explores the various services provided by operating systems, highlighting their importance for both users and the system itself. It also covers system calls as the programming interfaces to OS services, detailing their interaction and implementation in high-level languages.

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