Operating Systems

Question 1

What is Bootstrapping?

Answer 1

The process of loading the initial instructions into the computer to start the OS

Question 2

What does BIOS do during the start-up process?

Answer 2

Performs POST to check hardware
Initializes memory and hardware components
Provides low-level routines for hardware interfacing
Locates and loads the bootloader from a bootable device

Question 3

What is the role of a OS?

Answer 3

Interfaces between hardware and software
Manages system resources
Ensures fair access to CPU and hardware for multiple programs
Handles user inputs and outputs

Question 4

True or False: A process is the running instance of a program which includes its code, memory and resources

Answer 4

True

Question 5

What is the purpose of I/O buffering?

Answer 5

To handle speed and size mismatches between devices and the CPU while maintaining data integrity

Question 6

What are the three types of buffering?

Answer 6

Single buffering, Double buffering and then Circular buffering

Question 7

How does the OS interact with I/O devices

Answer 7

Using device drivers

Question 8

What happens when an interrupt is triggered?

Answer 8

Save program counter and processor state
Execute the interrupt handler
Transfer data
Clear the interrupt
Resume the interrupted process

Question 9

What is the main role of memory management in an OS?

Answer 9

Handles relocation, allocation, protection, sharing, logical organization and physical organization of memory

Question 10

List the three types of Address Binding in Memory Management

Answer 10

Compile-time, load-time and run-time

Question 11

What does the Memory Management Unit (MMU) do?

Answer 11

The MMU maps logical memory addresses to physical memory addresses with the relocation register holding the base address of a process

Question 12

List the three common dynamic partitioning algorithms and their main issue

Answer 12

First fit
Best fit
Worst fit
They all suffer from fragmentation

Question 13

Define a ‘page fault’

Answer 13

A page fault is an exception raised when a process cannot map to a memory page

Question 14

List 3 advantages of Virtual Memory

Answer 14

Efficiency, convenience and portability

Question 15

What is the stack used for in memory management?

Answer 15

The stack is faster, Last-in-First-Out (LIFO) structure for temporary data created by the OS

Question 16

What is the heap used for in memory management?

Answer 16

The heap is a slower, dynamic structure managed by the OS, allowing random access

Question 17

What is a file?

Answer 17

A file is a basic unit of non-volatile storage containing metadata and data, organized by a file system

Question 18

What does a hierarchical file system consist of?

Answer 18

Directories and files

Question 19

True or False, Linux is a clone of UNIX?

Answer 19

True

Question 20

Name one pro and con of Linux?

Answer 20

Pro:
Open Source
Secure
Portable
Typically fast or faster

Con:
Steep Learning Curve
Some hardware is not supported

Question 21

List the 4 approaches to Directory Namespace?

Answer 21

1 - Single Level

#2 - Two Level
#3 - Hierarchy
#4 - Directed acyclic graph