1.7 Systems Software Flashcards
Define OS
Complex piece of software which provides a platform for different applications to run.
What does the OS do?
1) Manages the computer’s memory and processes, as well as all of its software and hardware.
2) Provide an interface between the user and the hardware.
What is the command line interface?
A text based interface where the user types commands to complete tasks.
What are the advantages of CLI?
1) Wider range of commands.
2) Needs very little computer power.
3) Directly communicates with the computer.
4) It can be quicker if user know commands.
What are the disadvantages of CLI?
1) Must remember complex commands.
2) Lots of typing needed for quite simple tasks.
3) Higher chance of errors when typing in commands.
What is a graphical user interface?
A visual, interactive and intuitive interface that uses:
Windows, Icons, Menus, Pointers (WIMP).
What are the advantages of GUI?
1) Quicker to enter commands.
2) Easier to enter commands.
3) Less chance of users making errors.
What are the disadvantages of GUI?
1) Smaller range of commands can be used.
2) Requires more computer power.
3) Needs significantly more RAM.
What does the peripheral manager do?
1) Controls all the computer inputs and outputs.
2) Communicates with the hardware by using drivers.
Define driver
Software component for the hardware device.
Translates the instructions sent by the device manager into one that the device understands.
What does the memory manager do?
1) Stores data and instructions from programs (it’s in charge of the RAM).
2) Checks that all requests from programs for memory space are valid and allocates accordingly.
3) De-allocates space and swaps out data depending on the programs in use.
What does the process manager do?
1) Allows computer to “multi-task” (multiple programs run simultaneously).
2) All these programs require access to the CPU to process their data.
3) Priorities the tasks and allocates to each process.
4) OS helps the CPU carry out multiple tasks by managing the memory and CPU processing time.
What does the file manager do?
1) Controls all files and permissions such as a user’s ability to see or open a file, write to a file or delete a file.
2) Organises and controls files so that they are as easy to use as possible for the user.
What does utility software do?
Keeps the computer running smoothly:
1) Performs specific tasks related to the computer functions, resources, files and security.
2) Helps to configure the system, analyse how it is working and optimization of computing.
What are some examples of utility programs?
File Compression.
Disk Defragmentation.
Anti - virus.
What does an anti - virus do?
Scans and removes malicious files.
What does a firewall do?
Prevents unwanted access to a computer over a network, e.g. a local network.
What does encryption do?
Text –> cyphertext:
Uses an algorithm to scramble the file according to the key used which is needed to decrypt the file.
What does system clean up tools (clean disk) do?
Cleans up the files on your machine, this can be old copies windows, temporary files , recycle bin.
What does disk defragmentation do?
Moves all the files into a similar space within hard drive.
What does file compression do?
Makes the file smaller but attempts to keep the quality:
Lossy and loseless.
What does spyware detection do?
Blocks and removes programs designed to collect personal info and transmit it to others.
Define defragmentation
1) Process of moving parts of the file that are split across the hard drive together.
2) They’re located near each other: needle on a mechanical hard drive will move a smaller distance to load the file.
3) Computer can load them up at higher speeds.
4) Improves computer performance and efficiency.
What is the process of defragmentation?
1) Gaps are left when files are deleted.
2) When new files are saved, the files fill the gaps and become fragmented.
3) Defragmentation software groups fragment the files back together.
4) Takes more time.
What does the counter measure backup do?
Ensures that if computers are stolen or damaged in for e.g. a fire or a natural disaster that data can be restored and a company do not lose much money.
What is an incremental backup?
1) A full backup is made initially.
2) Each night only changed files since the last incremental back-up are copied.
3) Much faster to complete that full back-ups.
4) Takes much longer at restoring than a Full Backup (Full Backup would need restoring first and then every incremental back-up since the last full back up).
What is a full backup?
1) A copy of all data and software on the hard disk drive / server is copied to a backup medium.
2) Uses more storage space and faster to back up from.
3) Take a long time to complete (usually overnight).
4) Recovery takes a long time as it restores all data and programs; it’s faster than incremental.
What does systems software do?
Runs and maintains the computer system and manages user interactions with it
Systems software compromises the operating system and _______ ________
utility software
What is utility software on a computer?
A set of tools that can be used to analyse and optimise efficiency
True/False: The operating system of a computer manages users’ interactions through the user interface
True
True/False: The operating system of a computer manages peripheral devices
True
True/False: The operating system of a computer can’t control computing processes
False, it does
True/False: The operating system of a computer is unable to allocate CPU and memory resources
False, it does this
What is application software?
An end-user program that performs user-identified tasks
Application software is also called…
apps or applications
Give an example of something that an end-user program (app) can do.
Things such as word processing, photo editing, video games, viewing videos, etc
In a computer system, many programs will be running at the same time. This is called ____________
multitasking
Although programs appear to run concurrently, the operating system is sharing out processor time between them so that…
in turn, they can have their program instructions processed
What are processes?
The activities that programs are performing
True/False: All processes are visible to the user as application software
False, many are not seen by the user
True/False: There are usually programs and processes that the user cannot see running in the background
True
All processes require the use of CPU and memory. What does the operating system do to make this manageable?
Prioritises the tasks and allocates time to each process
After the operating system prioritises tasks and allocates time to each process, it…
Checks that all requests for memory are valid and allocates it accordingly
What happens to data that needs to be stored when main memory is full?
Data is swapped out to the virtual memory
What creates a folder and file structure for data?
The operating system
Why are folders and a file structure for data useful?
It is easier for users to organise and find data in a systematic way
On networks and shared computers, file management is used to control…
file permissions
What do file permissions do?
Control who can see or open a file, write to a file or edit it, and who can delete a file
True/False: File permissions cannot control who can delete a file
False, they can
What asks for conformation when a person tries to delete a file?
The operating system
What do operating systems control?
The way in which users interact with a computer
How does the operating system control the ways in which users can interact with a computer?
Through the user interface and control peripheral devices
What does the user interface allow?
Allows the user to communicate with the computer
What does GUI stand for?
Graphical User Interface
True/False: Only a few operating systems provide a Graphical User Interface (GUI)
False, may do
What does WIMP stand for?
Windows, Icons, drop-down Menus and Pointers
Many operating systems provide a GUI with ____
WIMP
Give 2 examples of common GUIs
Windows, iOS, Android, etc
What are interfaces that just allow the user to type in commands called?
Command line interfaces
What is a command line interface?
An interface which just allows a user to type in commands
When does an operating system manage users?
On networks and shared computers
… are used to allocate permissions for access to files and folders
Login names and passwords
User management is often use in organisations to…
prevent individual users making changes to computer software or making inappropriate use of the computer
Most computer systems use __________ _______ for input and output of data
Peripheral devices
Give 3 examples of input devices
Any 3 from keyboard, mouse, microphone, webcam, scanner, etc
Give 2 examples of output deices
Any 2 from printer, loudspeaker, external/internal monitor, headphones, etc
True/False: External hard drives and network storage devices are not peripherals
False, they are
What are all peripherals controlled by?
The operating system using programs called drivers
What do drivers do?
Carry out the necessary translations to allow the CPU and the devices to communicate correctly
True/False: Utility software is a collection of tools which all do the same job in a different way
False, they all do a specific job
What does utility system software help do?
Configure the system, analyse how it is working and optimise to improve its efficiency
What is encryption?
The scrambling of data into a form that cannot be understood by unauthorised users
What is encryption used for?
To protect data from unauthorised users of a computer
Encrypted data must be _________ back to its original form
decrypted
Encryption/decryption is carried out using a…
cipher or key
True/False: Data is saved to different areas of the disc where there is free space
True
If a file being saved is larger than the free space in one part of the disc, then part of the file is saved…
in that space and some more in another area
When parts of a file are saved in different places. what is this called?
Fragmentation
How does fragmentation reduce efficiency?
More disc accesses are needed to read the complete file
What does defragmentation software do?
Reorganises files by putting pieces of related data back together, so fewer disc accesses are needed to read the data
Why is defragmentation software useful?
It improves performance and can free up more space on the hard disc
What does data compression software do?
Reduces the size of files
What does data compression software use to reduce the size of files?
Algorithms
Data compression means that more/less storage space is required
less
Data compression makes it easier/harder to transmit files by email or to upload and download them using cloud services
easier
True/False: Data compression is rarely used for audio and video files
False, it is commonly used
What does lossless compression do?
Reduces the size without deleting any of the data
What does lossy compression do?
Reduces the size by deleting some of the data
True/False: Lossy compression is suitable for text files
False, it is not suitable for text files because lossy compression involves deleting data
Which type of compression is suitable for text files?
Lossless
What does a backup involve?
Copying files to a second medium such as a disc, tape or a cloud service so that they can be restored if therea re problems with the originals
A backup involves copying files to a second medium so that they can be ________ if there are problems with the originals
restored
Give an example of a second medium that a backup can be copied onto
Anything such as a disc, tape or cloud service
True/False: Backups can also compress data to take up less storage space
True
What happens with a full backup?
All of the specified data is backed up
What happens with an incremental backup?
Only new files or ones that have changed since the last backup are saved
What is the main advantage of an incremental backup?
To save time
____ backup software will copy files continuously all the time the computer is switched on. _____ software will only run at a specified time
Some, other
