Chapter 1 - Intro to Operating Systems Flashcards
What is an Operating System?
A program that acts as an intermediary between a user of a computer and the computer hardware
What are the goals of the operating system?
- execute user programs and make solving user problems easier
- make the computer system convenient to use
- use the computer hardware in an efficient manner
What does an Operating system do?
- resource allocator: ensures multiple programs can run without conflicts and fairly allocate resources to them
- Control Program: controls and manages the execution of user programs, preventing errors and improper use of the system.
Users of dedicated systems such as workstations have dedicated resources but frequently use ______ resources from servers
shared
Mobile devices like smartphones and tablets are ______, optimized for usability and battery life
resource poor
Some computers have ____ user interface, such as embedded computers in devices and automobiles
little or no
** run primarily without user intervention
What are the four components an operating system is divided?
user <-> application programs <-> operating system <-> computer hardware
What connects CPUs and device controllers in a computer system?
A common bus provides access to shared memory
How do CPUs and devices interact in a computer system?
They execute concurrently and compete for memory cycles
What is the role of a device controller?
Each device controller manages a specific device type
Where do device controllers store data temporarily?
Each device controller has a local buffer
How does the operating system manage device controllers?
Each device controller type has a device driver in the OS
How does the CPU transfer data btwn devices and memory?
The CPU moves data btwn main memory and local buffers of controllers
How does I/O transfer occur in a computer system?
I/O transfers data from the device to the local buffer of its controller
How does a device controller inform CPU that it has finished its operation?
By causing an interrupt
How is control transferred to the interrupt service routine?
Through the interrupt vector, which contains addresses of all service routines.
What must the interrupt architecture save during an interrupt?
The address of the interrupted instruction
What is a trap or exception?
A software-generated interrupt caused by an error or user request
What drives an operating system’s execution?
An operating system is interrupt-driven
