Computing Systems W8 part 1 Flashcards
What is Operating System?
A program that acts as an intermediary between a user of a computer and the computer hardware
OS goals (3)
- 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 are the components of a computer system (4) ?
Hardware
OS
Application programs
Users
hardware
provides basic computing resources
ex. CPU, Memory, I/O devices
Operating System
controls and coordinates use of hardware
Application programs
define the ways in which the system resources are used to solve the computing problems of the users
ex. word processors, compilers, web browsers, database systems, video games
users
ex. people, machines, other computers
OS main jobs
- Resource allocations: manages all resources and decides between conflicting requests for efficient and fair resource use
- Control program to prevent errors and improper use of the computer
bootstrap
the first program to run on computer power-on. loads OS into RAM to start up computer.
Stored in ROM/EPROM ( within firmware) and initializes all aspects of the system. Loads
the operating system
ROM/EEPROM
read only memory (non-volatile)
electronically erasable programmable read-only memory
device controller (4)
The device controller manages the hardware-specific details of the I/O device
-managing device registers,
-generate & send interrupts to CPU
-maintains local buffer storage
-can connect to multiple I/O devices
device driver
acts as an interface between the device controller and the operating system
provides a standardized interface for the OS to communicate with different types of devices, abstracting the hardware details.
ex. translates high-level commands and requests from the OS into low-level commands that the device controller understands
single processor systems (single processing core)
computer system with one CPU with a single processing core
-general purpose core
-special purpose core
core
component of CPU that executes instructions and registers for storing data locally
- ALU
- Control Unit
- Registers
- Cache
multiprocessor system
system with multiple CPUs
-CPU can have one or multiple cores
processors share computer bus and sometimes clock, memory, and peripheral devices
multiprocessor system advantages
increased throughput*
(more work, less time)
Economy of scale (lower cost with higher processing power)
Increased reliability (graceful degradation/fault tolerance)
multiprocessor system disadvantages
overhead incurred keeping all parts working correctly
symmetric multiprocessing architecture (SMP)
Multiple processors with its own CPU, set of registers, and local cache that share main memory over the system bus
each peer CPU performs all tasks including OS functions and user processes
SMP advantages
- N processes can run if there are N CPUs without performance deterioration
SMP disadvantages
- Separate CPUs may lead to one to sit idle while the other is overloaded leading to inefficiencies
multicore systems
multiple computing cores on a single ship
- more efficient than multichip systems with single cores (on-chip communication is faster than between-chip communication) & uses less power
Computer-system organization
One or more CPUs, device controllers connect through common bus providing access to shared memory. Concurrent execution of CPUs and devices compete from memory cycles
local buffer
Local storage within each device controller
I/O transfer
CPU moves data from / to main memory to / from local buffers
I/O moves data from the device to local buffer within the device controller.
Interrupt pathway
User or software-generated interrupt is triggered
interrupt transfers control to ISR (Interrupt service routine) via interrupt vector
Address of interrupt instruction is then saved
CPU is then stopped to process interrupt (transfers execution to address of interrupt instructions)