Chapter 6 Operating Systems Key Terms Flashcards
file system
A general term for how an operating system stores various types of
files
(FAT32)
The Windows file system introduced in 1995 that has a 32-bit file allocation table, which allows for 268,435,456 entries (232) per drive.
(exFAT)
Also known as FAT64, a file system designed to enable mobile personal
storage media to be used seamlessly on mobile and desktop computers
open source
Software that can be freely accessed, used, changed, and shared (in modified or unmodified form) by anyone.
closed source
An operating system or other software that cannot be modified
without express permission and licensing.
smartphone
A phone that has a CPU and RAM, that can run apps, and that can
support Android or iOS or Windows Mobile OS.
Android
An open source operating system based on the Linux kernel and used mostly on smartphones and tablet computers. Android is developed by the Open
Handset Alliance, a group directed by Google.
iOS
Apple’s closed source mobile OS, used by iPod Touch, iPad, and iPhone devices.
Chrome
Google’s open source mobile operating system, which is chiefly designed
to run on web-based applications and is installed on Chromebooks, which are an inexpensive laptop option.
Netboot
The process of booting to a network OS image
in-place upgrade
A type of upgrade that involves updating an installation to the new version with the existing configuration. Another name for a repair installation
in Windows
repair installatioin
A Windows installation option in which the OS is installed over the same version to fix problems with the previous installation. Also known as an in-place upgrade.
image deployment
The process of installing Microsoft Windows from an image. Also known as disk cloning.
primary partition
A disk partition that can be bootable and that is created with Disk Management in Windows, with DISKPART, or during OS installation
extend (partition)
A disk management option to increase the size of a disk volume into unallocated space.
GUID partition table (GPT)
a table used for hard drives over 2.1TB in size
basic (disk type)
A disk in Windows that is bootable and can contain one or more primary partitions.
dynamic (disk type)
A disk in Windows that is more versatile than a basic disk because it can span two physical drives into a single logical drive, create striped or
mirrored arrays, and adjust the size of a partition.
Compact Disc File System (CDFS)
a file system used for CD media.
New Technology File System (NTFS)
the native secure file
system of Windows 7/8/8.1/10
Encrypting File System (EFS)
A feature used to protect sensitive data files and
temporary files through encryption that can be applied to individual files or folders
factory recovery partition
A disk partition that contains a special recovery image of a Windows installation.
(DIR)
A Windows command that displays list of a folder’s files and subfolders
CD (CHDIR)
A Windows command used to change the working directory
IPCONFIG
A Windows command that displays TCP/IP network information on a device.
PING
A Windows command that sends IP packets to check network connectivity.
TRACERT
A Windows command that is similar to ping but returns path information to an IP address destination. traceroute is a similar command used in macOS
and Linux.
NETSTAT
A Windows command that displays a list of active TCP connections on a local network
NSLOOKUP
A Windows command that gathers a network’s Domain Name System (DNS) information.
SHUTDOWN
A Windows command that shuts down a computer
Deployment Image Servicing Management (DISM)
a Windows command that services images.
SFC
A Windows command that scans system files and replaces damaged or missing files
CHKDSK
A Windows command that scans a specified drive for errors and repairs them
DISKPART
A Windows command that creates, removes, and manages disk partitions
TASKKILL
A Windows command that stops specified task(s) on a local or remote computer
GPUPDATE
A Windows command that refreshes group policy on local or Active Directory systems.
GPRESULT
A Windows command that displays the resultant set of policy for the specified computer and user
FORMAT
A Windows command that creates or re-creates the specified file system on recordable or rewritable storage (magnetic, flash, or optical). In the process,
the contents of the drive are overwritten
COPY
A Windows command that copies one or more files to another folder or drive.
XCOPY
A Windows command that copies one or more files and folders to another folder or drive.
ROBOCOPY
A Windows command that is used as a highly configurable file/
folder copy and move app. Can be configured via various optional GUIs.
NET USE
A Windows command that connects to shared folders; similar to mapping a network drive.
NET USER
A Windows command used to manage user accounts (adding, removing, changing)
[Command]/?
A Windows command that displays help for the specified command
standard format
A type of format that clears the root folder (directory) of a drive. However, data can still be recovered from the drive.
low-level format
The format process used to prepare a hard disk drive or solid-state drive (SSD) at the factory. Although a true low-level format cannot be performed in the field, overwriting the drive’s surface with randomized data prevents existing information from being recovered
Microsoft Management Console (MMC)
a blank console that uses various snap-in
console windows. MMC saves the consoles you snap in and remembers the last place you were working, which makes it a valuable and time-saving tool
Local Security Policy
A security policy configured on an individual computer
using the Local Security Policy MMC snap-in.
Performance Monitor
A Windows Computer Management node that enables customized logging of system performance factors, including processor performance, memory transfers, and network performance.
System Configuration
The MSConfig utility in Windows, which configures
startup, boot settings, services, and startup apps and provides access to tools
Task Scheduler
A Windows utility used to run a task on a specified schedule
Component Services
A Microsoft Management Console plug-in for managing COM+, DCOM Config, and Distributed Transaction Coordinator components
Print Management
A Windows tool used to manage network printers and print servers
Windows Memory Diagnostics
A Windows utility used to test onboard RAM
before loading the desktop. Offers a variety of test options and can be run repeatedly as desired
Windows Firewall
A security application developed by Microsoft to block unwanted traffic into or out of the computer. Windows Firewall is included in the Windows OS and has improved with each OS version. In Windows 10, it is called
Windows Defender Firewall.
Event Viewer
A Windows tool that allows an administrator to track all the logs of events logins, security actions, crashes, and so on, that have happened in the computer.
Device Manager
A Microsoft Windows utility that displays detailed information about the computer hardware in a system, including status and driver information.
Task Manager
A utility that provides a useful real-time look into the inner workings of Windows and the programs that are running
Disk Management
A snap-in of the Computer Management Console that is a
GUI-based application for analyzing and configuring hard drives
Drive Status
A feature in Windows Disk Management that displays the condition and partition type of a drive
mounted drive
A drive accessed through an empty NTFS folder
initialize (drive)
The process of preparing a hard drive for use with Windows Disk Management
split (partition)
To turn a single volume/partition into two or more. Requires that the volume/partition be shrunk and a new volume (partition) created in the unallocated space.
shrink (partition)
To reduce a volume in size to make room for another operating system. Can be performed using Windows Disk Management or the command line DISKPART tool. In macOS, use Disk Utility. In Linux, use the GParted partition editor or other tools.
Spanned (array)
An array with the capacity of all disks added together. Equivalent to just a bunch of disks (JBOD) hardware array. Requires at least two disks
REGEDIT
The Windows Registry Editor
CMD
A command line utility that opens the command prompt.
SERVICES.MSC
A Windows MMC snap-in for viewing and managing services.
Microsoft Management Console (MMC)
a blank console that uses various snap-in console windows. MMC saves the consoles you snap in and remembers the last place you were working, which makes it a valuable and time-saving tool.
MSTSC
The Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection app
NOTEPAD
A Windows app for plain-text viewing and editing
EXPLORER
A command that starts Windows Explorer in 7 or File Explorer in 8/8.1/10 from a command prompt
MSINFO32
The Microsoft System Information utility, which displays information about Windows, the computer, peripherals, and installed applications.
DirectX Diagnostics (DxDiag)
a Windows utility for identifying the DirectX version in use and testing the computer’s DirectX features.
Disk Defragmenter
A Windows command line utility for defragmenting a drive
System Restore
A Windows feature that enables a system to be returned to a previous condition using restore points.
paging file (virtual memory)
A file (also known as a swap file) stored on a hard drive that is used by the paging process as virtual memory. In Windows it is a file called pagefile.sys
power plan
A Windows power management setting.
Sleep/Suspend
Low-power settings that turn off most operations in a computer.
workgroup
A network that does not use a domain controller. Each computer can
share or not share folders or printers with others. Unless password-protected sharing is disabled, anyone wanting to use a different computer’s resources must have an account on that system
domain setup
During Windows installation, the process of providing domain information so the computer can be added to the domain immediately.
network share
A folder share available to users on a network
printer sharing
The process of enabling a local printer to be used by other network clients
network printer mapping
The process of connecting to a printer that has its own
IP address
proxy settings
Specific settings for the types of content using a proxy server and its IP address and port numbers.
Remote Assistance
A Windows feature that allows one user to invite another user to temporarily view the screen and control the first user’s computer. Designed for troubleshooting and training
alternative IP address
An IP address used if the DHCP server used to assign IP addresses can’t be contacted.
half duplex/full duplex/auto
Settings for NIC connection speed. With half duplex, the port sends but must wait until sending is over to receive and vice versa. With full duplex (preferred), the port sends and receives simultaneously, doubling
the effective throughput. With auto, the NIC selects the mode according to the network defaults.
Wake-on-LAN
A network option, abbreviated WoL, in which a system in sleep mode is awakened by receiving a “magic packet” from the network
Time Machine
The macOS backup app
image recovery
The process of re-creating a working OS from an image backup.
shell/terminal
A macOS or Linux command line environment
Screen Sharing
A macOS feature used for remote control of another computer.
Force Quit
A Linux and macOS option to shut down an unresponsive app/
program.
Mission Control
A macOS app window manager and app switcher.
Spotlight
A macOS search tool.
iCloud
The iOS cloud backup service.
keychain
A macOS password management system
gestures
Finger movements made across a macOS trackpad or Magic Mouse surface or across a touchscreen on another OS to perform specific tasks
Remote Disc
A feature that enables a macOS computer that lacks an optical disc drive to use another computer’s optical disc drive
Dock
A macOS feature for launching and switching applications that displays app icons across the bottom of the desktop
Boot Camp
A macOS dual-boot feature that enables Windows to be installed on a macOS system
ls
The macOS and Linux equivalent to the Windows command dir. Use ls -l to list
the contents of a directory (folder) that includes permissions and other information.
grep
A Linux command used to perform text searches
cd
A Linux command used to change directories (folders)
shutdown
A Windows command that shuts down a computer.
pwd
A Linux command used to display the name of the current/working directory.
passwd
A Linux command used to start the password change process.
mv
A Linux command used to move files to a specified location.
cp
A Linux command used to copy files to a specified location
rm
A Linux command used to remove (delete) files from a system.
chmod
A Linux command used to change permissions on files and directories
chown
A Linux command used to change file ownership.
iwconfig
A Linux command used to display wireless network connections.
ifconfig
A Linux command used to display wired network connections. In macOS,
this command also displays wireless network settings
ps
A Linux command used to list current processes
sudo
A Linux command used to run a command as another user
su
A Linux command used to switch between accounts
apt-get
A Linux command used to install or manage APT (Advanced Packaging
Tool) software packages. Common in Debian-based distributions such as Ubuntu
vi
A Linux command used to start the vi text editor.
dd
A Linux command used to perform block file copy and to convert between
formats.
kill
A Linux command similar to Force Quit in macOS that kills an app in process.
homegroup
A Microsoft secure home and SOHO networking technology for Windows 7/8/8.1 and some versions of 10. (The use of homegroups was removed in Windows 10 as of version 1803.)
