Fundamentals Of Operating System Flashcards
What is an operating system?
An operating system is a set of programs that control how a computer system works, especially how memory is used and how different programs work together.
What are some common examples of operating systems?
Common examples of operating systems include Windows, Linux, and macOS.
How does Cambridge University Press (2013) define an operating system?
Cambridge University Press (2013) defines an operating system as “a set of programs that control the way a computer system works, especially how its memory is used and how different programs work together.”
What is the Cambridge University Press (2011) definition of an operating system?
Cambridge University Press (2011) defines an operating system as “a program that controls the way a computer works, and that allows applications (programs for particular purposes) to work on it.”
How does the International Organization for Standardization (2015) describe an operating system?
The International Organization for Standardization (2015) describes an operating system as “software that controls the execution of programs and that may provide services such as resource allocation, scheduling, input-output control, and data management.”
What keywords can be used to categorize the tasks of an operating system?
Keywords include supporting computer operating nodes, organizing program management, providing a user interface, managing resources, monitoring the system, and ensuring system security.
What source does the course on operating systems follow for its structure?
The course follows the standards outlined in Modern Operating Systems by Andrew S. Tanenbaum (2015).
According to Tanenbaum (2015), what are the central tasks of an operating system?
The central tasks of an operating system, according to Tanenbaum (2015), are “to provide user programs with a better, simpler, cleaner model of the computer and to handle managing hardware resources.”
What role does hardware abstraction play in the function of an operating system?
Hardware abstraction allows the operating system to provide a simplified model of the computer, making it easier for user programs to interact with the hardware without managing its complexity directly.
What is the core building block of any computer system?
The core building block of any computer system is the processor or central processing unit (CPU).
What is the von Neumann cycle?
The von Neumann cycle is the continuous process by which the CPU fetches, decodes, and executes instructions until the computer is shut down.
Who developed the concepts behind the von Neumann architecture?
The von Neumann architecture was developed by Hungarian-American scientist John von Neumann in 1945.
What are the key elements of the von Neumann architecture?
The key elements are the central processing unit (CPU), main memory, input/output components, and the communication system.
What are the two main units of the CPU in the von Neumann architecture?
The CPU consists of the control unit and the arithmetic logic unit (ALU).
What is the role of the control unit in the CPU?
The control unit is responsible for executing the program, fetching instructions from memory, decoding them, and coordinating their execution.
What does the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) do?
The ALU performs arithmetic and logical calculations within the CPU.
What is the function of registers within the CPU?
Registers are fast buffers within the CPU that store the results of calculations temporarily for quick access.
What is the defining feature of the main memory in the von Neumann architecture?
The main memory features random access memory (RAM), allowing the CPU to read and write data and instructions in any order.
What role do input/output components play in the von Neumann architecture?
Input/output components handle communication between the system and the environment, such as with users or storage devices.
How does the communication system in the von Neumann architecture work?
The communication system uses bus systems (e.g., address bus, data bus) to facilitate communication between the CPU, main memory, and other components.
What are the five steps of the von Neumann cycle?
The five steps are: Fetch instruction, Decode instruction, Fetch operand, Execute instruction, and Store result.
What happens during the fetch instruction step in the von Neumann cycle?
The CPU loads a program instruction from the main memory for processing.
What is machine language, and why is it important in the decode instruction step?
Machine language is the numerical format in which instructions are stored in memory, and it is specific to each processor family.
What happens during the execute instruction step of the von Neumann cycle?
The arithmetic logic unit (ALU) performs the actual calculation, such as adding two numbers or jumping to another address.