Lecture 3

Question 1

What is a system software?

Answer 1

Software that provides a platform to other software. provides a general programming
environment

Question 2

What does the OS do?

Answer 2

Provides functions used by the application software
Interacts directly with the hardware to provide an interface to other system software and with application

Question 3

What is resource abstraction?

Answer 3

Resource abstraction provides an abstract model of the operation of the hardware components (resources)
- Thus generalises the hardware behaviour but restricting the flexibility
-With abstraction, certain operations become easy to perform, other may become
impossible (such as specific hardware control)

Question 4

What is a utility software?

Answer 4

Utility software is system software designed to help analyse, configure, optimize or maintain a computer

Question 5

What are the two types of resource Sharing

Answer 5

• Space Multiplex Sharing
• Time Multiplex Sharing

Question 6

What is space multiplex sharing?

Answer 6

Resource can be divided in two or more distinct units of
the resource that can be used independently.
E.g.: Memory, HDD

Question 7

What is Time multiplex sharing?

Answer 7

A process is allocated exclusive control of the entire
resource for a short period of time (not spatially divisible)
E.g.: Processor Resource

Question 8

What does Multiprogramming Operating Systems do?

Answer 8

Multiprogramming: loading multiple programs into:
* “space multiplexed” memory
* while “time-multiplexing” the processor

Question 9

What are some common features of multiprogramming?

Answer 9

Multiprogramming systems common features
1. Multitasking: multiple processes sharing machine resources
2. Hardware support for memory protection and I/O devices
3. Multi-user and multi-access support (through time sharing mechanisms)
4. Optional support for real time operations (based on efficient usage of multitasking support)
5. Interactive user interface