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Questions and Answers
What is one of the operating system's primary goals?
What is one of the operating system's primary goals?
What is a system call?
What is a system call?
What is the purpose of a graphical user interface (GUI)?
What is the purpose of a graphical user interface (GUI)?
Which of the following is NOT a primary responsibility of an operating system?
Which of the following is NOT a primary responsibility of an operating system?
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When was the Windows Vista operating system completed?
When was the Windows Vista operating system completed?
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How does an operating system help in executing a program?
How does an operating system help in executing a program?
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What does the CPU, memory, and I/O devices constitute in the computer system?
What does the CPU, memory, and I/O devices constitute in the computer system?
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In the example of executing MS Word, what happens after the CPU executes the "CreateProcess()" system call?
In the example of executing MS Word, what happens after the CPU executes the "CreateProcess()" system call?
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What is the primary benefit of an operating system managing memory?
What is the primary benefit of an operating system managing memory?
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Which of these is NOT a component of a computer system?
Which of these is NOT a component of a computer system?
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What does the Operating System control and coordinate in the computer system?
What does the Operating System control and coordinate in the computer system?
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What is the role of an operating system in protecting a computer system from unauthorized access?
What is the role of an operating system in protecting a computer system from unauthorized access?
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Which of the following is NOT an example of an application program?
Which of the following is NOT an example of an application program?
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What is the role of system programs in a computer system?
What is the role of system programs in a computer system?
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What is the name of the operating system released on August 24, 2001?
What is the name of the operating system released on August 24, 2001?
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Why is Windows Vista's codename relevant to this discussion?
Why is Windows Vista's codename relevant to this discussion?
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What is the role of the operating system in starting a program like MS Word?
What is the role of the operating system in starting a program like MS Word?
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Before the advent of operating systems, what was the primary way to change a computer's program?
Before the advent of operating systems, what was the primary way to change a computer's program?
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What is the main function of a device controller in a computer system?
What is the main function of a device controller in a computer system?
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ENIAC, the first computer with an operating system, was designed for what primary purpose?
ENIAC, the first computer with an operating system, was designed for what primary purpose?
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How does a device controller inform the CPU that an I/O operation has been completed?
How does a device controller inform the CPU that an I/O operation has been completed?
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What is the purpose of saving the CPU's state when an interrupt occurs?
What is the purpose of saving the CPU's state when an interrupt occurs?
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What is the core function of an operating system, as explained in the content?
What is the core function of an operating system, as explained in the content?
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How were programs executed before the evolution of modern operating systems?
How were programs executed before the evolution of modern operating systems?
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Why are incoming interrupts disabled while another interrupt is being processed?
Why are incoming interrupts disabled while another interrupt is being processed?
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Which of the following is NOT a common function of interrupts?
Which of the following is NOT a common function of interrupts?
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What was the main limitation faced when running programs without an operating system?
What was the main limitation faced when running programs without an operating system?
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What is a trap in the context of computer system operations?
What is a trap in the context of computer system operations?
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What operating system is considered a landmark for its multi-tasking and multi-user capabilities?
What operating system is considered a landmark for its multi-tasking and multi-user capabilities?
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How does a trap differ from a typical interrupt?
How does a trap differ from a typical interrupt?
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What is the main difference between early operating systems, such as MS-DOS, and modern operating systems?
What is the main difference between early operating systems, such as MS-DOS, and modern operating systems?
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Which of the following is a characteristic of an operating system?
Which of the following is a characteristic of an operating system?
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What is a key advantage of using a distributed operating system?
What is a key advantage of using a distributed operating system?
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What is a characteristic of a network operating system?
What is a characteristic of a network operating system?
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How are distributed operating systems sometimes referred to, due to their independent systems?
How are distributed operating systems sometimes referred to, due to their independent systems?
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Which of the following is a benefit of employing a distributed operating system?
Which of the following is a benefit of employing a distributed operating system?
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What is a key difference between distributed operating systems and network operating systems?
What is a key difference between distributed operating systems and network operating systems?
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What is the primary purpose of the Direct Memory Access (DMA) structure?
What is the primary purpose of the Direct Memory Access (DMA) structure?
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Which of these correctly describes Synchronous I/O?
Which of these correctly describes Synchronous I/O?
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What does the term 'volatility' refer to in the context of storage systems?
What does the term 'volatility' refer to in the context of storage systems?
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What is the key difference between main memory and secondary storage?
What is the key difference between main memory and secondary storage?
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Which of the following is NOT a benefit of using a multiprocessor system?
Which of the following is NOT a benefit of using a multiprocessor system?
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What is the primary function of a cache in a computer system?
What is the primary function of a cache in a computer system?
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Which of the following describes the 'wait loop' in the context of Synchronous I/O?
Which of the following describes the 'wait loop' in the context of Synchronous I/O?
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Why is cache management considered an important design problem?
Why is cache management considered an important design problem?
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Which of the following is NOT a factor considered when organizing storage systems in a hierarchy?
Which of the following is NOT a factor considered when organizing storage systems in a hierarchy?
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In the context of a computer system, what is the primary purpose of a device-status table?
In the context of a computer system, what is the primary purpose of a device-status table?
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Flashcards
Operating System
Operating System
A program that acts as an intermediary between a user and computer hardware.
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
An interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices using graphical elements.
Process Management
Process Management
An operating system function that handles the creation, scheduling, and termination of processes.
Memory Management
Memory Management
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System Call
System Call
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CreateProcess()
CreateProcess()
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CPU
CPU
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Hard Disk Communication
Hard Disk Communication
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Windows XP Release Date
Windows XP Release Date
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Windows Vista Release Date
Windows Vista Release Date
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Windows 7 Release Date
Windows 7 Release Date
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Operating System Definition
Operating System Definition
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Components of Computer System
Components of Computer System
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System Programs
System Programs
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Kernel's Role
Kernel's Role
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Application Programs
Application Programs
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Computer System Components
Computer System Components
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Concurrent Execution
Concurrent Execution
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Device Controller
Device Controller
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Local Buffer
Local Buffer
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I/O Operations
I/O Operations
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Interrupt in Computing
Interrupt in Computing
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Trap
Trap
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Interrupt Handling Process
Interrupt Handling Process
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OS as Intermediary
OS as Intermediary
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ENIAC
ENIAC
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Operating System (OS)
Operating System (OS)
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Punch Cards
Punch Cards
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Multi-tasking OS
Multi-tasking OS
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Microsoft MS-DOS
Microsoft MS-DOS
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UNIX
UNIX
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First OS Task
First OS Task
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Distributed Operating System
Distributed Operating System
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Loosely Coupled Systems
Loosely Coupled Systems
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Remote Access
Remote Access
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Scalability in Systems
Scalability in Systems
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Tightly Coupled Systems
Tightly Coupled Systems
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Synchronous I/O
Synchronous I/O
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Asynchronous I/O
Asynchronous I/O
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Device-status table
Device-status table
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Direct Memory Access (DMA)
Direct Memory Access (DMA)
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Storage Structure
Storage Structure
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Caching
Caching
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Cache Management
Cache Management
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Storage Hierarchy
Storage Hierarchy
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Secondary Storage
Secondary Storage
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Multiprocessor Systems
Multiprocessor Systems
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Study Notes
Introduction to Operating Systems
- Operating systems act as intermediaries between computer users and hardware
- Operating system goals include:
- Executing user programs efficiently
- Easily solving user problems
- Making computer systems convenient (via GUI)
- Efficiently managing computer hardware
- A user interacts with an application, which communicates through the operating system to ask the hardware for actions (e.g. execute a program)
- A diagram shows the flow from GUI to operating system to RAM to execute an application like MS Word, finally the CPU runs the application, then the application is loaded from the disk to RAM.
- The OS manages the process execution.
- The OS manages process creation.
- The OS is an intermediary between the GUI and the hard disk.
- Early computers did not have operating systems, requiring direct wire manipulation to change operations.
- ENIAC (1946) was an early computer without an operating system, used switches and cables for input, and punch cards for output.
- OS/360 was a significant operating system for IBM mainframes.
- Later computers utilized punch cards or magnetic tape for input instructions.
- The OS manages the process execution, by determining where the code/instructions are moved from/to (system memory, disk, etc.).
History of Operating Systems
- Modern operating systems like UNIX were written in assembly language developed at Bell Labs in 1971, and are multi-tasking, multi-user operating systems.
- Starting from fourth generation, UNIX was written in C.
- Microsoft MS-DOS was an early operating system for personal computers (PCs), released in August 1981, requiring text-based commands rather than a graphical user interface.
- Later operating systems, like Windows 1.0 (released November 20, 1985), offered graphical user interfaces.
- Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on December 15, 1999.
- Windows XP was released to manufacturing in August 2001.
- Windows Vista, codenamed, released in November 2006.
- Windows 7 was released in July 2009.
- Windows 8 was introduced in August 2012.
- Windows 10 (September 2014).
- Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) created operating systems for its 16-bit PDP-11 computers.
- The RSX-11 family was a set of real-time operating systems.
- Small computers became popular in the mid-1970s.
Computer System Structure
- Computer systems have four basic components: hardware, operating system, application programs, and users.
- Hardware provides basic computing resources (like CPU, memory, I/O devices).
- Operating systems control and coordinate the use of hardware among various applications and users.
- Application programs define the ways in which the system resources are used to solve computing problems of the users.
- Users include people (operators) or other machines.
- A diagram illustrates how these four components interact.
- System programs, such as compilers and editors, serve as an environment for application programs (a bridge between users and system calls).
Operating System Definition
- The operating system is a resource allocator.
- It manages all the resources of the computer.
- It decides the use of resources.
- Example of resource allocation conflict includes 2 applications attempting to use the same printer.
- The OS is a control program, which regulates program execution.
- Example activities of the OS include:
- Creating and deleting processes
- Suspending/resuming processes
- Process synchronization
- Inter-process communication
- Deadlock handling
Computer Startup
- A bootstrap program initializes components of the system, loads the OS kernel, starts execution, typically stored in ROM/EPROM—often called firmware.
Computer System Organization
- Computer systems typically use a common bus to connect CPUs and device controllers, giving access to shared memory.
- Devices might be concurrent with the CPUs (more than one device performing operations at a time).
I/O Structure
- CPU and I/O devices can execute concurrently.
- Device controllers have local buffers that temporarily store data as required by the CPU, or store data moved from the device to memory.
- Each device controller informs the CPU its operation is finished via cause of an interrupt.
Common Functions of Interrupts
- OS interactions (like software error or trap) are transmitted to service routines through interrupt vectors.
- Incoming interrupts are temporarily disabled to prevent conflict
- Traps are another type of software-generated interrupts.
- OS interactions are generally interrupt driven.
Interrupt Handling
- OS interactions (like software error or trap) are transmitted to service routines through interrupt vectors, which contain addresses of all service routines.
- The OS preserves (stores) the state of the CPU by saving the registers and the program counter, so execution can continue later.
- Specific service routines determine appropriate actions for various types of interrupts.
Interrupt Timeline
- A timeline shows how the CPU executes a user process, encounters and handles I/O operation request, the transferring of data from an I/O device (e.g., disk).
- These are possible concurrent operations.
Storage Structure
- Main memory is the only large storage that the CPU can directly access.
- Secondary storage provides large nonvolatile storage capacity.
- Magnetic disks have tracks that are divided into sectors.
- Disk controllers are responsible for the logical interaction between the disk device and the computer.
Storage Hierarchy
- Systems organize storage in different levels, which can either be explicit or implicit.
- The storage hierarchy has different levels ordered by speed, cost, and volatility. Levels include:
- registers
- cache
- main memory
- disk storage
Caching
- Information is temporarily copied from slower to faster storage, this provides a performance enhancement.
- Usually, faster storage is first checked first for data. If retrieved, the data is retrieved from faster storage.
- If data is not retrieved from faster storage, then the data is copied to faster storage, then used there.
- Smaller cache sizes are typical in comparison to the storage being used.
Computer-System Architecture
- Most computers use one general-purpose processor.
- Most systems also have some special-purpose processors.
- Multiprocessors are also called parallel systems or tightly coupled systems.
- Increased throughput
- Increased reliability (graceful degradation)
- Economy of scale
How a Modern Computer Works
- Simple diagram illustrating the interaction between CPU, I/O, interrupt. DMA-operations.
Symmetric Multiprocessing Architecture
- CPUs share the cache, memory.
A Dual-Core Design
- A conceptual design of two CPU cores sharing the same RAM/Memory space.
Clustered Systems
- A set of multiple computers interconnected to provide a high-availability service that can continue to exist even if individual computers fail.
- It is usually through some type of SAN/storage area network.
- It can be either asymmetric or symmetric.
- Common use is for High Performance Computing (HPC), where processing is highly parallelized.
Operating System Structure
- Multiprogramming is necessary for efficiency since a single user cannot keep both the CPU and I/O devices busy.
- Multiprogramming schedules jobs and provides efficient CPU/I/O resource use.
- Timesharing (or multitasking) provides increased interactive computing.
- Response time should ideally be less than 1 second.
- Processes can be moved in and out of memory (swapping).
- Virtual memory allows use of larger programs than physical memory size.
Memory Layout for Multiprogrammed Systems
- A diagram depicting how the memory is divided within a multiprogrammed system with OS as well as multiple job regions.
Operating-System Operations
- The OS runs in kernel mode (to protect itself/other system components) to provide protection and security.
- Users/processes are run in user mode.
- Processes can request service via system calls to the OS which transitions to kernel mode.
- Other types of handling by the OS includes:
- hardware exception (division by zero).
- software error (infinite loops).
Transition from User to Kernel Mode
- A timer is used to prevent processes from hogging resources or infinite loops.
- The timer sends an interrupt, and the OS switches to deallocate resources from the current process and allocate to another.
Types of Operating Systems: Batch Operating Systems
- A batch OS doesn't interact directly with users. Instead an operator collects jobs, and groups jobs with similar needs.
- Benefits include: less guesswork for the time required for a job, multiple users can use the system concurrently, and easy management of similar tasks.
- Drawbacks include needing experienced operators, difficulty in debugging, and potentially longer job completion times for users needing a job quickly.
Types of Operating Systems: Time-Sharing Operating Systems
- Tasks are given small time intervals to be executed, and the CPU rapidly switches between jobs.
- Improves user interaction.
- Each task (and/or job) is given time intervals by the OS.
- Advantages of time-sharing include:
- Equal opportunity for all tasks.
- Less possibility of duplicated software
- Reduced CPU response-time.
- Disadvantages include:
- Reliability may be an issue.
- Security/integrity of user programs and data is an operational concern.
- Data communications could be an operational concern.
Types of Operating Systems: Distributed Operating Systems
- A network of autonomous computers working together
- They have their own independent memory and CPU, but share a communication network
- Remote access is possible amongst interconnected networked devices within the network.
- Data communication speed is enhanced because of shared resources
- Host computer load is reduced
Types of Operating Systems: Network Operating Systems
- Runs on a server, acting to manage resources such as files, printers, and security.
- Functions through a Private Local Area Network (LAN).
- All users understand the configurations/settings/connections of other users in the LAN; thus they are sometimes known as tightly coupled.
- Server costs might be involved in maintaining the OS, and maintaining the server itself (maintenance and updates).
Types of Operating Systems: Real-Time Operating Systems
- Real-time systems must meet strict time constraints.
- Examples include missile systems, air traffic control, robotic systems.
- Hard real-time systems – must respond immediately; e.g. air bags, or parachutes.
- No Virtual memory, instead instant response is needed.
- Soft real-time systems - time constraints, but not as strict as hard real-time.
- Examples include video games or multimedia systems where minor delays would not affect experience greatly.
Advantages/Disadvantages of Real-Time OS
- Advantages include maximization of the resources usage, quick task shifting, and a focus on the tasks being executed (instead of others waiting in queue).
- Disadvantages of real-time operating systems include limited task execution, heavy/expensive resources, complex algorithms, and special driver support for external devices.
Process Management
- A process is a program in execution.
- A process requires resources such as CPU, memory, I/O, and data to execute.
- Several processes may be running concurrently, thus processes must be managed for efficient CPU utilization.
- Processes can be created and deleted by the OS.
- The OS can suspend and resume processes, synchronize processes, communicate between processes, and handle any deadlocks that may arise.
Memory Management
- Memory management is responsible for tracking active memory space.
- Memory management activities include:
- Keeping track of where data/instructions are located and by whom the memory is used.
- Deciding which processes and data to move into/out of memory for efficient CPU usage, also to ensure that processes do not exceed their allotted memory amount.
- Allocate and deallocate memory space
- Swapping and processes to and from secondary memory
Storage Management
- OS provides a logical/uniform view for information storage, abstracting the physical properties of storage.
- Files are organized into different directories, and the system regulates who can access what file/directory.
Mass Storage Management
- Mass storage is used for storing data that does not fit in main memory or stored for a period of time..
- OS manages free-space, storage allocation, and disk scheduling.
I/O Subsystem
- The I/O subsystem is responsible for managing interactions between the devices and the OS and users.
- The I/O subsystem handles interactions between hardware devices and users, by managing the input and output of data to and from the hardware devices or the operating system. This includes buffering, caching, and spooling data.
Protection and Security
- Protection mechanisms control the access of processes or users to resources within the system (e.g., files, CPU).
- Security defends the system against internal and external attacks
- includes issues such as denial-of-service problems, worms, identity theft, etc.
- Security mechanisms involve user identities (user IDs, security IDs), group associations, privileges, and escalation.
Cooperating Processes
- Cooperating processes are interdependent processes that can affect or be affected by another in execution
- Can work together to improve computing experience.
- Information Sharing
- Computation Speed-up
- Modularity
- Convenience
- Can work together to improve computing experience.
- Client-Server Computing is a system design technique.
Client-Server Computing
- An architecture where processes are either clients or servers.
- Servers manage network resources, such as disks and printers.
- Clients request services from servers to perform tasks. Examples include email, web browsing, file transfers.
- Advantages of client-server computing include enhanced data sharing, enhanced service integration, and more efficient operations and resource usage.
- Disadvantages of client-server computing include overloaded servers, and centralized server architectures.
Peer-to-Peer Computing
- A distributed system model where all nodes are classified as "peers," instead of being classified as servers or clients.
- Each peer can act as both a server and a client depending upon the operation or resource request
- This allows data to easily be shared across different/multiple systems because all devices are classified as both client or server.
Web-Based Computing
- Web access is now ubiquitous in many user interactions
- Operating systems are now more flexible and versatile in accommodating a greater number of devices working within the same network or operating system.
Open-Source Operating Systems
- OSs made available in source-code format, which contrasts with binary-only closed-source operating systems.
- Open-source OSs often have a GPL, and have been developed by a Free Software Foundation (FSF).
- Examples include: GNU/linux, BSD UNIX
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Test your knowledge of operating systems with this engaging quiz. Cover topics such as system calls, memory management, and the role of graphical user interfaces. Perfect for students and enthusiasts wanting to deepen their understanding of computer systems.