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Computer Science A-Level > Operating System > Flashcards

Operating System Flashcards

1
Q

Access Rights

A

controls who can and cannot access or edit a file

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2
Q

Execute Access Rights

A

controls who can access the file

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3
Q

Read Access Rights

A

controls who can read the file

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4
Q

Write Access Rights

A

controls who can write to the file

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5
Q

Application Programming Interface (API)

A

a layer of software that allows application programs to call on the services on the operating system

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6
Q

Application Software

A

programs that perform useful tasks that the user wishes to undertake, e.g. word processors, PowerPoint packages, spreadsheets

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7
Q

Batch Processor

A

where input data is collected and saved for processing as a single large batch at a later time, thus records are not processed immediately on receipt. Batch processing is usually highly repetitive, involves large quantities of data, is usually performed at off-peak times when the system is idle and usually requires little, if any, human intervention

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8
Q

Block

A

a sequence of bytes or bits, usually containing some whole number of records, having a maximum length

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9
Q

Brian Kernighan

A

developed the C programming language in order to develop operating systems without assembly language

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10
Q

Buffer

A

area of memory used in transfer of data between devices; each hardware device is assigned a buffer during system start-up

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11
Q

Burst Times

A

amount of CPU time the process requires to complete its execution

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12
Q

Cleanse Operation

A

removes background noise from a voice input file

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13
Q

CLI

A

Command Line Interface

text-based interface operated using the keyboard to type commands using key words and parameters. Key words must be typed accurately and may be followed by a series of parameters

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14
Q

Context Switch

A

the process of saving the state of a currently running process and loading the state of the next process

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15
Q

Deadlock

A

where two programs sharing the same resource prevent either from executing

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16
Q

Dennis Ritchie

A

developed the C programming language in order to develop operating teams without assembly language

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17
Q

Device Driver

A

operates and controls a device attached to the computer

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18
Q

Directory

A

the location of the file in secondary storage

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19
Q

Disk Thrashing

A

where the wrong pages are swapped out for virtual memory, causing the system to spend more time swapping pages than completing work, which results in the system becoming unresponsive

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20
Q

Distributed Processor

A

a collection of independent networked nodes which may have its own hardware associated. System management software brings all the interconnected systems together that co-ordinate individual and collective activities on different nodes and processing its speed across the network allowing many smaller machines to work on the same task

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21
Q

Embedded Processor

A

have a dedicated function within a larger device, generally have low power consumption and cost and have limited hardware resources meaning the software needs to be written in a bespoke manner

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22
Q

FAT

A

File Allocation Table

this keeps a record of every cluster on the hard disk and each record points to another record so a chain can be traversed, considered to be a map of the physical locations of files on a storage device, storing file name, time stamp, starting address and access rights

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23
Q

FCFS

A

First Come First Served

processes are executed in the order they first arrive in the ready queue

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24
Q

File

A

a data structure that is always stored on a device that is a collection of records

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25
Q

File Heirarchy

A

a system for organising files on the operating system

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26
Q

File Management

A

manages file storage

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27
Q

File System

A

structure used by the operating system to organise and manage files on a storage device, details how data is stored, accessed and organised on a storage device

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28
Q

Folder

A

something that file allocation tables have no concept of: a folder is merely an entry for a file with special purposes, some are read only, some can be executed and some act as a container for other folders

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29
Q

Force Feedback

A

uses emulated touch to communicate and affect user sensation by changing physical resistance

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30
Q

GUI

A

Graphical User Interface

graphics based interface first developed by Xerox in 1981 using WIMP. Often it is merely placed on top of CLI with the CLI acting as an intermediary between the GUI and the OS

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31
Q

Hardware

A

the physical components of the computer system

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32
Q

Hardware Drivers

A

software that operates a specific hardware device

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33
Q

Input/Output Management

A

manages input and output devices

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34
Q

Interrupt

A

a signal to the CPU indicating that CPU time is required to deal with some event, can be generated by hardware, software and users

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35
Q

Kernel

A

a part of the computer’s operating system that generally has complete control over everything in the system

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36
Q

Latency

A

average amount of time taken for the other end of that link to respond

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37
Q

Logical Address

A

the address at which an item appears to reside from the perspective of an executing application program

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38
Q

New

A

process starts and the operating system allocates necessary resources

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39
Q

Running

A

the process has its timeslice and runs

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40
Q

Wait Queue

A

where the process is placed if it does not finish an operation within the timeslice

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41
Q

Ready Queue

A

where the process is placed if it is unfinished within the timeslice

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42
Q

Finished

A

when the process completes and the operating system can deallocated resources

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43
Q

Memory Addressing

A

memory can be considered as a series of sixed size locations with each location storing one bit of data; knowing the start address and length of the data allows it to be retrieved from memory when required

44
Q

Memory Management

A

optimises memory usage and insures applications have enough memory to run by allocating and deallocating memory for each process, sharing memory between multiple running processes and managing memory protection

45
Q

Memory Protection

A

a way to control memory access rights to a computer, where RAM is set up so that, by default, it cannot access various pieces of data without causing a memory error so that two programs cannot use the same memory location

46
Q

Menu Interface

A

a text-based interface accessed either by keyboard, mouse or speech to navigate a series of screens

47
Q

MLFQ

A

Multi-Level Feedback Queue

multiple queues are used, each with different priority levels and time slices; processes can move between queues based on their behaviour and CPU burst times

48
Q

Multi-Tasking

A

where multiple numbers of users can access different resources of a computer at the same time

49
Q

Multi-Task Processor

A

can run many different tasks simultaneously and are the standard for modern computer systems; in this system, each process is assigned time-slices by the systems scheduler, allowing thousands of tasks to be carried out simultaneously

50
Q

Multi-User

A

where multiple numbers of users can access different resources of a computer at the same time

51
Q

Multi-User Processor

A

allows different users to take advantage of the computer’s resources simultaneously. The system assigns time-slices to each user’s tasks by the scheduler. Thus each user has the appearance that they control the whole system, however they are sharing all their resources with other users. This makes security imperative, for example, when a user opens a file, the system makes the file read-only to other users

52
Q

Natural Language Interface

A

allows users to interact with the computer in a conversational manner either through text or speech using natural language processing

53
Q

Natural Language Process

A

determines semantics of a voice input file using a pre-made dictionary

54
Q

Network Management

A

the process of administering and managing computer networks, including performance management, fault analysis, provisioning of networks and maintain the quality of the device

55
Q

Non-Preemptive Scheduling

A

once a process is given the CPU, it runs until it is finished or enters a waiting state

56
Q

Operating System

A

manages the computer’s resources

57
Q

Page-File

A

a file swapped onto the hard drive which stores the files used to free up the RAM for virtual memory

58
Q

Pages

A

equally sized units that data can be assigned to

59
Q

Page Table

A

translates logical addresses for pages into physical addresses which indicated where data is stored

60
Q

Paging

A

memory is divided into fixed size units called pages, which are each assigned a unique page number. Data is assigned a given page and will be offset from the start of each page, using a logical address for each piece of data. This is managed by a page table and means any piece of data can be stored anywhere in memory. Each process will view memory as a continuous block of addresses, even though data may not be stored in adjacent memory locations. Can be used in conjunction with segmentation

61
Q

Platter

A

a circular, rigid disk coated with a magnetic material where data is stored. The platter spins at high speeds, and an actuator arm with read/write heads accesses and modifies the data as needed

62
Q

Poling

A

where the CPU checks each device in turn to see if it needs attention, an incredibly inefficient system

63
Q

Pre-Emptive Scheduling

A

the CPU can be taken away from a running process if a higher-priority process becomes ready

64
Q

Priority Switching

A

each process is assigned a priority and the highest priorities are selected first

65
Q

Print Spooling

A

manages print jobs sent from a computer to the printer

66
Q

Process

A

represents the basic unit of work to be implemented in the system

67
Q

Process Management

A

involves various tasks like creation, termination and scheduling of processing, allowing multi-tasking

68
Q

Program Control Block

A

a dedicated data structure that represents each process being managed by the operating system

69
Q

Real-Time Processor

A

processes each data input individually, as soon as it arrives, meaning the systems seem to react immediate

70
Q

Response Time

A

time from process submission to the first response

71
Q

Root Directory

A

the directory at the top of the hierarchy from which all others branch off

72
Q

RR

A

Round Robin

each process gets a small unit of CPU time and after the timeslice expires, the process is moved to the back of the queue and the next process is selected

73
Q

Scheduling

A

refers to how the operating system manages processing running on the CPU by allocating time to each process effectively

74
Q

Secondary Storage Management

A

manages functions like storage allocations, free space management and disk scheduling

75
Q

Sector

A

the smallest addressable unit for data storage on disk and typically consists of 512 bytes

76
Q

Security Management

A

specified steps or measures to protect from threats

77
Q

Seek Time

A

average amount of time taken to read/write from a disk unit

78
Q

Segmentation

A

where memory is divided into variable sized segments using a segmentation table, can be used in conjunction with paging

79
Q

Segmentation Table

A

indicates the address at which each segment starts and the size

80
Q

Single Users/Single Application Operating System

A

whereby the operating system only deals with one person at a time, running one user application at a time, commonly found on a mobile phone

81
Q

SJN/SJF

A

Shortest Job Next/Shortest Job First

the process with the smallest estimated run time is executed first

82
Q

Skin

A

the appearance of a GUI

83
Q

SRT

A

Shortest Remaining Time

pre-emptive version of SJB; the process with the shortest remaining time is executed next

84
Q

Blocked Process

A

was running but performed an operating that has caused it to wait; once the request completes it will be moved to a suspended state and placed into the ready queue

85
Q

Completed Process

A

currently waiting for resources to be deallocated as it has completed successfully and been deleted from the job queue

86
Q

Ready Process

A

ready to start running when it gets its next timeslice

87
Q

Running Process

A

currently running using CPU time

88
Q

Stopped Process

A

currently waiting for resources to be deallocated as it has completed abnormally and been deleted from the job queue

89
Q

Suspended Process

A

was running using the CPU but got to the end of its timeslice so has been suspended and placed in the ready queue and the next timeslice

90
Q

Starvation

A

where a process is perpetually denied the resources to execute the program

91
Q

Systems Software

A

software that makes hardware work, e.g. operating systems and start-up software

92
Q

Thread

A

a single sequential flow of activities being executed in a process

93
Q

Throughput

A

number of processes completed in a given time period

94
Q

Time Quantum

A

the amount of time the CPU will spend on a task

95
Q

Time-Slice

A

a time frame for each process to run before another begins, allowing multi-tasking on the CPU

96
Q

Touchscreen

A

works by detecting touch in a given display area that varies in size, works by using a sensor that detects the touch, a controller which convers the input to a usable signal and a driver that runs the whole operation

97
Q

Turnaround Time

A

total time taken for a process from submission to completion

98
Q

Track

A

the circular path on a disk

99
Q

User Interface

A

allows the user to interact with the system

100
Q

User Space

A

refers to all code that runs outside the operating system’s kernel

101
Q

Utility Software

A

allows you to maintain and manage the computer, e.g. backup utilities, security software, configuration and disk defragmentation programs

102
Q

Vendor Lock-In

A

where it is difficult to swap cloud providers once you’ve found one

103
Q

Virtual Machine

A

the apparent machine that the operating system presents to the user, achieved by hiding the complexities of the hardware behind layers of operating system software

104
Q

Virtual Memory

A

when the system is running low on RAM, secondary storage is used so it seems like the program is running from RAM. A PC with limited RAM becomes slow if too many programs are running or too many large files are being loaded. Only some blocks of RAM are actively used at any given time, because the Operating system copies inactive data blocks from RAM to the hard disk and copies active data blocks from the hard disk to RAM

105
Q

VR

A

Virtual Reality

a user interface that places you inside a virtual environment by infrared LEDs on the inside of the headset creating a virtual world and sensors locating controllers allowing the person to interact with the VR

106
Q

Voice Input

A

allows data to be inputted by voice through a microphone, complimenting devices such as keyboards

107
Q

Waiting Time

A

time a process spends waiting in the queue

Computer Science A-Level (18 decks)

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