Operating Systems Chapter 1

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Questions and Answers

What is the smallest convenient chunk of storage on most computers?

Byte (correct)

Kilobyte

Word

Bit

Which function is NOT typically associated with an operating system?

Memory Allocation

Physical Hardware Production (correct)

User Interface Design

Resource Management

Which of the following correctly defines a kilobyte?

1,024 bits

1,000 bytes

1 million bytes

1,024 bytes (correct)

What is one purpose of an operating system in a multiprocessor computer system?

To facilitate the sharing of tasks among multiple processors Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'word' refer to in computing?

A unit consisting of one or more bytes Signup and view all the answers

What transition occurs when a user application requires kernel services?

User mode to kernel mode Signup and view all the answers

How is computer storage generally measured?

In bytes and collections of bytes Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a feature of free and open-source operating systems?

Exclusive availability to corporate entities Signup and view all the answers

Which measurement system does networking typically use?

Bits Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following components is NOT typically a focus within an operating system's architecture?

Portable software applications Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of an operating system in a computer system?

To act as an intermediary between hardware and users Signup and view all the answers

Which components are included in a typical computer system?

Hardware, operating system, application programs, and users Signup and view all the answers

What happens when a device controller completes its operation?

It informs the CPU by causing an interrupt Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of interrupts in an operating system?

To transfer control to the interrupt service routine Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the bootstrap program during computer startup?

To initialize the system and load the operating system kernel Signup and view all the answers

Which type of storage is directly accessible by the CPU?

Main memory Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes secondary storage compared to main memory?

It has a larger nonvolatile storage capacity Signup and view all the answers

In computer storage hierarchy, what does caching refer to?

Copying information into faster storage systems Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of application programs in a computer system?

To define how system resources are used to solve user problems Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'trap' or 'exception' refer to in the context of interrupts?

A type of software-generated interrupt due to an error or user request Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes volatile memory from nonvolatile memory?

Volatile memory loses its content when power is lost Signup and view all the answers

Which is typically NOT a function of the operating system?

Directly manipulating application database content Signup and view all the answers

What drives the need for different user interfaces in mobile devices?

Limited resources and focus on usability Signup and view all the answers

What does an operating system function as with respect to resource management?

Resource allocator and control program Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Chapter 1: Introduction

Operating Systems concepts are covered in the 10th Edition
Copyright is held by Silberschatz, Galvin, and Gagne (2018)
Operating systems perform various tasks, including computer-system organization, computer-system architecture, operating-system operations, resource management, security and protection, virtualization, distributed systems, kernel data structures, computing environments, and Free/Libre and Open-Source Operating Systems.
Objectives include describing the organization of a computer system, the role of interrupts, components in a multiprocessor system.
The transition from user mode to kernel mode is addressed. The diverse computing environments and examples of free and open-source systems are covered.
The meaning of an operating system is explained as filling in the blanks(e.g. car, airplane, printer).
The operating system acts as an intermediary between a user and the computer hardware. Its goals are to make user program execution easier, to create a convenient user experience, and to efficiently use computer hardware.
The computer system comprises hardware (CPU, memory, I/O devices), operating system (controls and coordinates hardware usage, applications), application programs (defining resource use and application examples like word processors, compilers, etc.), and users (people, machines, other computers).
An abstract view of computer components illustrates a layered structure of user, application programs, operating system, and computer hardware.
The perspective of the operating system depends on the user's point of view: users might care about ease-of-use and performance but not resource utilization, yet for a mainframe, the OS has to keep all users happy; the OS acts as an allocator of resources and a controller of programs, making efficient use of hardware.
Mobile devices, especially smartphones and tablets optimize usability and battery life but have lower available resources.
Embedded systems (in devices) have simple or no user interfaces.
An operating system has no one definition. "The one program running all the time on the computer" relates to the kernel, which may be a system program that exists alongside but isn't part of the kernel. There are application programs that don't relate.
Operating systems now also include middleware (software frameworks for services) assisting application developers (e.g., databases and multimedia).
The overview of storage structures, including main memory and storage devices, is outlined. Devices like hard drives and non-volatile memory (NVM) are discussed.
The hierarchical structure of storage devices is illustrated. The levels go from registers to cache, primary storage, and secondary storage with varying sizes of storage capacity, levels of volatility, and access times (from faster to slower).
Storage systems have speed and cost implications. Various storage approaches use caching where data is copied to speed things up, plus the idea of device drivers for each device controller to handle I/O.
Storage definitions and notation review includes the basic unit of storage, which is a bit, with two values (0 or 1); groups become bytes (8 bits) for useful instructions; words can be multiples of bytes depending on architecture; sizes for these are KB, MB, GB, TB, PB; and that network standards measure in bits rather than bytes.
A von Neumann architecture description is given.
The direct memory access structure is a way high-speed devices send data to main memory without processor intervention; this approach uses a block-by-block transfer rather than a byte-by-byte transfer, leading to fewer interrupts.
Bootstrap programs, stored in firmware (ROM/EPROM), load when the computer turns on or reboots. It initializes the system and loads the operating system kernel for execution.

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Description

Explore the foundational concepts of operating systems in this quiz based on Chapter 1 of the 10th Edition by Silberschatz, Galvin, and Gagne. Learn about computer-system organization, operating-system operations, and the role of interrupts in a multiprocessor system. Test your understanding of operating systems as intermediaries between users and computer hardware.