[Semester 2] Operating System

Question 1

What is the operating system’s purpose?

Answer 1

Handling lower level languages

Question 2

Basic Input/Output System (BIOS)

Answer 2

Loads the OS into main memory and stores configuration info for peripherals (e.g. keyboards)

Question 3

Processes

Answer 3

Programs being executed

Question 4

True or false: Processes are run in secondary storage

Answer 4

False! Processes are allocated locations (usually address spaces) in main memory.

Question 5

Multi-programming

Answer 5

The OS quickly switches from process to process. This usually happens when the OS boots.

Question 6

Scheduling

Answer 6

Allocates time and space to processes

Question 7

How can a process start?

Answer 7

System initialisation
Process-creation system call by a running process
User request to create a new process
Batch job

Question 8

How can a process be terminated?

Answer 8

Normal exit
Error exit (e.g. invalid input)
Fatal error (e.g. bug)
Killed by another process

Question 9

Running

Answer 9

The process is currently being used by the CPU

Question 10

Ready

Answer 10

The process has been temporarily stopped to let another process run

Question 11

Blocked

Answer 11

The process can’t run until something happens

Question 12

Threads

Answer 12

Performing different activities related to a process rather than running the process itself

Question 13

True or false: Threads take up less space than processes

Answer 13

True! Threads aren’t bound to the CPU like processes, meaning they can make more use of the system.

Question 14

True or false: Threads can only be used once

Answer 14

False! Threads can be used multiple times.

Question 15

Inter-process Communication (IPC)

Answer 15

Allows processes to share information

Question 16

Kernel

Answer 16

Controls the OS and can access all instructions and I/O devices

Question 17

True or false: The kernel can be accessed by the user

Answer 17

False!

Question 18

System call

Answer 18

Requesting services from the kernel

Question 19

Process management (forking)

Answer 19

Duplicates a process by creating a child. The child has the same properties as the parent, but any further changes aren’t linked.

Question 20

File management

Answer 20

Creating/moving/deleting/etc. files and directories

Question 21

True or false: UNIX files have a table of nodes

Answer 21

True! This table describes every aspect of the file.

Question 22

True or false: The kernel decides which files can be accessed by the user

Answer 22

True! This is to prevent them from accessing sensitive files.

Question 23

Kernel panic

Answer 23

Rebooting the system and sending debugging processes

Question 24

True or false: The kernel always reboots the system during kernel panic

Answer 24

False! Sometimes the kernel waits for the system to reboot itself.

Question 25

Virtual machine

Answer 25

Emulates software such as operating systems

Question 26

Dual booting

Answer 26

Switching between operating systems while using a virtual machine

Question 27

Container

Answer 27

Packages code and dependencies, which can then be deployed to other users

Question 28

Bootloader

Answer 28

Manages the machine’s boot process

Question 29

Daemons

Answer 29

Background processes that start once the system is booted

Question 30

True or false: The graphical server deals with displaying the GUI

Answer 30

False! The graphical server loads pixels on the monitor.

Question 31

Master Boot Record (MBR)

Answer 31

Holds information on file systems

Question 32

Grand Unified Bootloader (GRUB)

Answer 32

Loads and transfers control to the kernel

Question 33

Client server model

Answer 33

The client requests information from the server until it gets what it wants

Question 34

Processes are given ___ per element

Answer 34

1 byte

Question 35

True or false: A process’ stack and heap can’t change

Answer 35

False! They can grow and shrink during execution.

Question 36

True or false: The maximum number of addresses the heap can store depends on the size of the disk

Answer 36

True! The heap is usually located in virtual memory, meaning it can use disk space.

Question 37

Stack

Answer 37

Current procedure calls, parameters and local variables

Question 38

Heap

Answer 38

Dynamically allocates memory during runtime

Question 39

User mode

Answer 39

Prohibits user from accessing sensitive files and instructions