Modern Operating Systems

Question 1

What is the historical significance of operating systems?

Answer 1

Operating systems have existed almost as long as computers themselves and originally encapsulated recurring interaction tasks through system software by abstracting hardware.

Question 2

What are some fundamental concepts introduced by operating systems?

Answer 2

Processes,memory management,and file systems.

Question 3

Do the core roles of modern operating systems change over time?

Answer 3

No, the core roles of operating systems like Microsoft Windows, Linux, and macOS do not change.

Question 4

What are the main differences among various operating systems?

Answer 4

Differences lie in the system’s structure,individual characteristics,and application areas.

Question 5

What is Windows and who developed it?

Answer 5

Windows is a family of operating systems developed by Microsoft Corporation commonly seen running on personal computers (PCs).

Question 6

What older operating system is Windows rooted in?

Answer 6

Windows is heavily rooted in MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System).

Question 7

How did the first versions of Windows differentiate themselves from Microsoft DOS?

Answer 7

The first versions of Windows were extensions of Microsoft Desk Operating System that introduced a graphical user interface.

Question 8

How can the development of Windows be divided?

Answer 8

The development of Windows can be divided into three eras: Systems based on MS-DOS;Systems based on the New Technology (NT) kernel;Modern NT-based systems starting with Windows 8

Question 9

What was the official operating system of the original IBM PC?

Answer 9

The official operating system of the original IBM PC was MS-DOS

Question 10

What was a major limitation of MS-DOS?

Answer 10

MS-DOS was a simple,single-user operating system with no multitasking functionality.

Question 11

What were the first versions of Windows based on and what did they require?

Answer 11

The first versions of Windows were based on MS-DOS and required MS-DOS to interface with hardware.

Question 12

What is the NT kernel and how does it differ from MS-DOS?

Answer 12

The NT kernel is a completely new project independent of MS-DOS, offering better CPU capabilities, memory protection, and the NTFS file system.

Question 13

What significant innovations did NT provide compared to MS-DOS?

Answer 13

Innovations included better memory protection and the introduction of the NTFS file system.

Question 14

What significant change did Windows 8 introduce?

Answer 14

Windows 8 introduced a new interface called Modern UI,designed for a new generation of computing devices.

Question 15

What was the user response to the Modern UI interface?

Answer 15

There was strong user resistance to the changes,leading to the reinstatement of familiar concepts alongside the Modern UI features.

Question 16

What are the two main functions of the central layers in privileged kernel mode?

Answer 16

They handle interruption and hardware-related CPU management and provide services for process/thread management,virtual memory management,and input/output management.

Question 17

What is the Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL)?

Answer 17

The HAL offers abstract machine oriented interfaces to the interrupt controller;memory management unit (MMU);and device controllers.

Question 18

What is the Win32 API?

Answer 18

The Win32 API is a programming interface that provides standardized access to a comprehensive system library and abstracts system calls in the Windows kernel.

Question 19

What was the major innovation of Windows NT regarding file systems?

Answer 19

The introduction of the New Technology File System (NTFS) as the default file system across all modern versions of Windows.

Question 20

What is a significant limitation of the FAT file system?

Answer 20

The FAT32 variant has a file size limitation of 4GB;which is insufficient for storing larger files like uncompressed DVD images.

Question 21

What advantages does NTFS offer over FAT?

Answer 21

NTFS solves the file size limitation issue and is a journaling file system;ensuring data structures are always consistent;which protects against data corruption during power outages or crashes.

Question 22

Are Unix and Linux synonymous?

Answer 22

No..although Unix and Linux are often used synonymously in common speech due to their similarities;they have different code bases and development histories.

Question 23

What term is used to refer to both Unix and Linux operating systems?

Answer 23

Both Unix and Linux operating systems are often referred to as “Unix-like.”

Question 24

When and where did Unix development begin?

Answer 24

Unix development began in 1969 at the AT&T-founded Bell Telephone Laboratories.

Question 25

Who were the pioneers involved in the development of Unix?

Answer 25

Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie were key figures in the development of Unix.

Question 26

What programming language was developed for implementing Unix?

Answer 26

The C programming language was developed by Dennis Ritchie for implementing Unix.

Question 27

What was the status of Unix in terms of openness until 1980?

Answer 27

Unix was a completely open-source operating system until 1980.

Question 28

What are some common early and modern derivatives of Unix?

Answer 28

Common derivatives include Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD);Unix System V;SunOS/Solaris;FreeBSD;OpenBSD;NetBSD;and macOS.

Question 29

What operating system did Andrew S. Tanenbaum develop in 1987?

Answer 29

Andrew S. Tanenbaum developed the open-source MINIX teaching operating system in 1987.

Question 30

Who developed the Linux kernel and when was it released?

Answer 30

Linus Torvalds developed the Linux kernel and released it in 1991.

Question 31

Under what license was Linux released and what is its significance?

Answer 31

Linux was released under the GNU General Public License, which offers developers protection against commercial projects that could harm the open-source spirit.

Question 32

What role does Linus Torvalds play in the development of Linux?

Answer 32

Linus Torvalds has the final say on the development of Linux;overseeing contributions from various programmers (maintainers) in the open-source community.

Question 33

How are Unix-like operating systems structured?

Answer 33

Unix-like operating systems are structured based on typical software layers;which can have standardized interfaces;allowing for the easy replacement of one layer with another.

Question 34

What are two popular desktop environments used in Linux-based systems?

Answer 34

Two popular desktop environments are GNOME and KDE.

Question 35

What is POSIX?

Answer 35

POSIX (Portable Operating System Interface) is a standard for Unix-like operating systems that defines a programming interface for system calls;including the names and parameters in C.

Question 36

What does POSIX allow in terms of program execution?

Answer 36

POSIX allows POSIX-compatible C programs and shell scripts to be executed portably across many Unix-like operating systems without modification;as long as the operating systems are POSIX-compliant.

Question 37

What does the “everything is a file” paradigm refer to in Unix-like systems?

Answer 37

The "everything is a file" paradigm refers to the concept that all hardware resources in a Unix/Linux system are presented to users as files.

Question 38

What is the significance of the directory tree in Unix-like operating systems?

Answer 38

Unix-like systems have a single directory tree that contains both normal files and special files (like device files);which can be accessed in the same way as regular files.

Question 39

How are storage devices accessed in Unix-like systems?

Answer 39

Storage devices are accessed by being mounted into the global directory tree

Question 40

What command can be used to mount storage devices in Unix-like systems?

Answer 40

The mount command can be used to mount storage devices.

Question 41

What are some well-known file systems used in Linux?

Answer 41

Common file systems for Linux include the Extended Filesystem (ext2/ext3);and in macOS (a Unix derivative);the Hierarchical File System Plus (HFS+) and Apple File System (APFS) are used.

Question 42

What file system is commonly used for memory sticks and portable devices?

Answer 42

The FAT32 file system is commonly used for memory sticks and portable devices due to its support across various operating systems.

Question 43

What are mobile operating systems designed for?

Answer 43

Mobile operating systems are designed for use on mobile devices;such as smartphones.

Question 44

Are mobile operating systems special developments or derived from existing kernels?

Answer 44

They are usually derived from generic kernels that are also used in desktop and server systems.

Question 45

What modifications are made to generic kernels for mobile use?

Answer 45

The kernels are streamlined for improved memory and energy consumption,special layers,drivers,and modules are added for mobile-specific features.

Question 46

What kernel is Android based on?

Answer 46

Android is based on the Linux kernel.

Question 47

What is the major difference between Android and other Linux distributions?

Answer 47

The major difference lies in the layers above the kernel,which are specific to Android and largely written in Java or C++.

Question 48

What runtime environment does Android use for its Java-based code?

Answer 48

Android uses the Android Runtime (ART) for executing its Java-based code.

Question 49

How do Android apps access hardware resources?

Answer 49

Android apps access hardware resources via system libraries that encapsulate the actual system calls in the kernel.

Question 50

What framework makes system functions available to Android applications?

Answer 50

The Android Application Framework makes system functions available to applications.

Question 51

Where can Android apps be downloaded and installed from?

Answer 51

Android apps can be downloaded and installed from Google Play,which is Google's marketplace.

Question 52

What is the containment model for Android apps?

Answer 52

Each app runs in its own virtual machine and is encapsulated in its own operating system process,belonging to its own (virtual) user.

Question 53

How does Android manage access permissions for apps?

Answer 53

Android employs a granular approach to managing access permissions concerning private data,system functions,and special hardware resources.

Question 54

How are processes for running Android apps initiated?

Answer 54

Processes can be initiated by the user,the system,or other applications.

Question 55

What is an Android activity?

Answer 55

An Android activity represents a single user interface screen for an app that allows user interaction.

Question 56

How can the starting activity of a mobile app vary?

Answer 56

The starting activity can vary based on the usage scenario,for instance,it may present different dialogs when launched from a navigation app compared to the start screen.

Question 57

What feature of Android allows for flexible user interactions with apps?

Answer 57

The ability to combine different activities from different apps based on the context of the usage scenario makes the system flexible.

Question 58

What are crucial elements of Android's security concept?

Answer 58

Android's security concept includes granular access permissions for private data,system functions,and hardware resources,protecting user privacy and device integrity.

Question 59

What are the basic concepts shared by modern operating systems across all platforms?

Answer 59

Modern operating systems share basic concepts such as processes,virtual memory,and file systems.

Question 60

How does the role of operating systems like Windows,Linux and Unix remain consistent?

Answer 60

The role of these operating systems remains the same across different platforms (servers or smartphones),only their structure and characteristics may vary.

Question 61

What does the similarity in operating system concepts imply for their functionality?

Answer 61

It implies that the fundamental functionality and roles of operating systems are consistent,allowing for common usage patterns and behaviors.

Question 62

What unique adaptations are made to operating systems for mobile devices?

Answer 62

Mobile operating systems undergo special configurations,streamlining and/or extensions to make generic kernels more suitable for mobile use.

Question 63

Why is it important for operating systems to be adapted for mobile use?

Answer 63

Adaptations are important for improving performance in terms of memory and energy consumption,and for enabling mobile-specific features.

Question 64

How do the adaptations for mobile operating systems differ from traditional operating systems?

Answer 64

Mobile operating systems prioritize efficiency and responsiveness in a limited resource environment,while traditional operating systems may focus on broader functionality for powerful hardware.

Question 65

What do abstraction concepts in modern operating systems enable?

Answer 65

Abstraction concepts allow operating systems to manage hardware resources more efficiently and provide a consistent interface for applications.

Question 66

Can the concepts of processes and virtual memory be found in all operating systems?

Answer 66

Yes..these concepts are foundational and present in all current operating systems and their families.

Question 67

In what way do mobile operating systems illustrate the need for specific adaptations?

Answer 67

Mobile operating systems demonstrate the need for specific adaptations by highlighting how generic kernels can be modified to suit the unique constraints and requirements of mobile devices.