Topic 6) Resource Management

Question 1

What resources require management?

Answer 1

Primary Memory
Secondary Memory
Processor (CPU)
Bandwidth (Network Transmission Capacity)
Screen Resolution
Sound Processor
Cache
Graphics Processor
Network Connectivity

Question 2

What is the:
Role
Common Capacity
Effect of Limited…
Primary Memory

Answer 2

Stores data for currently running programs
4, 8, 16 GB
——
Fewer programs or processes can run simultaneously
Computer must rely on Virtual Memoy, which is slower

Question 3

What is the:
Role
Common Capacity
Effect of Limited…
Secondary Storage

Answer 3

Stores all data, including of the OS, program files, and multimedia data
Used as virtual memory when RAM is overloaded
HDD- 500GB, 1TB, 2TB
SSD- 256GB, 512GB
Optical- CD: 650MB, DVD: 4.7GB
Limited VM, Limited number of programs and files that can be stored and used

Question 4

What are the types of Computing Devices?

Answer 4

Mainframes
Server Farms

Question 5

What are Mainframes?

Answer 5

One computer with many multicore processors
Has vast amounts of RAM and Secondary Storage
ie. Airline Reservation Systems, Payroll Processing

Question 6

What are Server Farms?

Answer 6

Consist of many powerful computers connected and working in parallel
ie. Data Centers, Cloud Hosting, 3D Rendering

Question 7

What are the roles of Operating Systems?

Answer 7

Peripheral Management
Memory Management
Paging
Secondary Storage Management
User Interface
Time Slicing
Interrupts and Interrupt Handlers
Polling
Scheduling

Question 8

What are Peripherals?

Answer 8

Devices that can be connected to computers, but not essential

Question 9

What is Memory Management?

Answer 9

Ensuring each program has its own space of RAM, known as memory space
Also ensures that programs dont access or modify memory space of other programs
Manages the virtual memory by paging

Question 10

What is Paging?

Answer 10

Once data is placed in Secondary Storage, there is an empty space in the RAM, data will then be transferred back.
The swapping is controlled by the Memory Management Unit.

Question 11

What is Secondary Storage Management?

Answer 11

The structure for files in secondary storage is managed by this, and manages the security of the folders.

Question 12

What is User Interface?

Answer 12

The way a user can interact with computers, by giving it commands. Any inputs and outputs are translated and sent to/from the correct memory address.

Question 13

What is Time Slicing?

Answer 13

The set amount of processing time a program or user is allocated for CPU usage.
Each task “takes turns”.

Question 14

What are Interrupts and Interrupt Handling?

Answer 14

A signal to a processor is emitted by hardware/software indicating an event that needs immediate attention.
The OS then pauses its current action, saving its state, and initialising the ‘Interrupt Handler’ program in order to deal with the ‘high-priority’ event.

Question 15

What two types of interrupts are there?
- and what are some examples of them?

Answer 15

Hardware Interrupts: Printer paper jam, keyboard press by user, disk drive indicating its ready for more data
Software Interrupts: Software error/malfunction, infinite loop being halted

Question 16

What is Polling?

Answer 16

The process where one program or device repeatedly asks for the status of another, so that it can execute some action.
ie, a computer repeatedly checks a printer is connected

Question 16

What is Scheduling?

Answer 16

The act of assigning tasks to resources, handled by an OS- based process.
Allocated tasks to resources based on an alorithm

Question 17

What are some examples of dedicated operating systems?

Answer 17

Apple inc. IOS 17
Ubuntu

Question 18

What are advantages of dedicated OS’?

Answer 18

Security –> Higher levels of security
Customizability –> custom made to do specific functions, so are maximally efficient.
Modify Priorities –> Eliminates certain aspects of the OS which are not needed, reducing the size of the OS. Able to run on devices that better suit their audience/users.

Question 19

How does an operating system hide the complexity of the hardware from users and applications?

Answer 19

Abstraction leads to simplicity –> certain hardware details are hidden from users and applications
Drive letters –> Letter get assigned to physical drives or drive partitions on the computer. ie. windows C drive.
Use of virtual machines –> Software is used to emulate a computer system, used for running one OS inside another to emulate different hardware.