OS Chapter 2: Execution Context and Process Management Quiz

Study Flashcards Play Quiz

Questions and Answers

What is the primary responsibility of an operating system?

Managing computer resources

Which key interface defines how an application's code should interact with the operating system?

Application Programming Interface (API)

In the context of early computers with no operating system, how did programmers interact with the computer hardware?

Directly with display lights and toggle switches

What was the main issue faced by users of early computers due to serial processing?

Users had to wait in series to access the computer Signup and view all the answers

Which stage in the evolution of operating systems introduced the concept of allowing multiple users to access the system simultaneously?

Time Sharing Signup and view all the answers

What contributes to the evolution of major operating systems over time?

Hardware upgrades, new services, and fixes Signup and view all the answers

What are the three components contained in a process?

Executable program, data needed by the program, execution context Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the execution context in a process?

To supervise and control the process Signup and view all the answers

How many principal storage management responsibilities does the OS have?

Five Signup and view all the answers

Which responsibility involves allowing programs to address memory from a logical point of view?

Process isolation Signup and view all the answers

What aspect can be enhanced in an operating system by expanding the process context?

Support for new features Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the functions of the contents of process registers in the execution context?

Indicating the priority of the process Signup and view all the answers

What does virtual memory allow processes to be comprised of?

Fixed-size blocks called pages Signup and view all the answers

In the context of operating systems, what are some key issues that must be addressed?

Availability, confidentiality, authenticity, data integrity Signup and view all the answers

What is a common characteristic of the Microkernel architecture in operating systems?

Assigning kernel only a few essential functions to the address spaces Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary responsibility of an Operating System in terms of resource management?

Implementing resource allocation policies for performance optimization Signup and view all the answers

How does a virtual address reference a word within a program?

Through a page number and an offset within the page Signup and view all the answers

What differentiates the Symmetric multiprocessing approach in operating systems?

Allowing all processors equal access to memory and I/O devices Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of early batch systems?

To maximize processor utilization by batching jobs together Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the monitor in a batch system?

It controls the sequence of events and manages job execution Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a Job Control Language (JCL)?

To provide instructions to the monitor on how to execute jobs Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the statement "control is passed to a job"?

The processor is executing instructions from the user program Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of memory protection in a batch system?

To prevent user programs from altering the monitor's memory area Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the timer in a batch system?

To prevent a single job from monopolizing the system Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of using a multiprogrammed batch system?

It allows for more efficient utilization of the processor during I/O operations. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements accurately describes the difference between user mode and kernel mode?

User mode restricts access to certain areas of memory and instructions, while kernel mode does not. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements accurately describes the overhead associated with a simple batch system?

It requires both additional memory for the monitor and processor time for executing the monitor. Signup and view all the answers

In a multiprogrammed batch system, what is the primary reason for switching between user programs?

To improve processor utilization by executing a different program while one program is waiting for I/O. Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the concept of having multiple programs in memory and switching between them?

Both multiprogramming and multitasking are used to describe this concept. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements accurately describes the purpose of interrupts in an operating system?

Interrupts provide the operating system with more flexibility in controlling user programs. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Operating System Overview

An operating system (OS) is responsible for managing a computer's resources, including program development, program execution, access to I/O devices, controlled access to files, system access, error detection and response, and accounting.
An OS is a program or suite of programs executed by the processor, frequently relinquishing control and depending on the processor to regain control.

Key Interfaces

Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)
Application Binary Interface (ABI)
Application Programming Interface (API)

Evolution of Operating Systems

OS evolves over time due to hardware upgrades, new types of hardware, new services, and fixes.
Stages of evolution include:
- Time Sharing
- Multiprogrammed Systems
- Batch Systems

Batch Systems

Early computers had no OS; programmers interacted directly with hardware.
Users accessed computers in series, scheduling was a major problem.
Simple Batch Systems used a monitor to control the sequence of events.

Process Management

A process contains three components:
- Executable program
- Associated data
- Execution context (or "process state")
The execution context is essential, including the contents of process registers, priority, and I/O events.

Virtual Memory

A facility that allows programs to address memory logically, without regard to physical memory available.
Conceived to meet the requirement of having multiple user jobs reside in main memory concurrently.
Virtual memory consists of a page number and an offset within the page.

Security

Main issues: availability, confidentiality, authenticity, and data integrity.
Controlling access to computer systems and stored information is a major concern.

Scheduling and Resource Management

Key OS responsibility is managing resources, considering efficiency, fairness, and differential responsiveness.

Different Architectural Approaches

Microkernel architecture: assigns only essential functions to the kernel, simplifying implementation and providing flexibility.
Multithreading
Symmetric multiprocessing

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Operating Systems Chapter 2 Quiz