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TM129: Operating systems > Topic 7 – Structure of an operating system > Flashcards

Topic 7 – Structure of an operating system Flashcards

1
Q

the processor is awre of this by storing a mode bit in the status register

A

how does the processor know which mode it is running in

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2
Q

how do linux desktop environments make use of the X11 window system

A

these build on top of the X11 window system (use it as a framework) so that:

the desktop environment will interact with its window manager and the window manager will interact with the X11 window system which then interacts with the mouse, keyboard and screen

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3
Q

what is a

micro kernel

A

this is an operating system that has as few kernel modules as possible, and most modules will run in user mode

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4
Q

describe the widget toolkit of a linux desktop environment

A

this provides tools that applications can use so that they follow the look and feel of the desktop environment. The toolkit in geneal will be comprised of buttons and controls and dialogue boxes

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5
Q

this is used to view currently active kernel modules

A

what is the linux command

lsmod

used for

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6
Q

these are modules that can be later added into the operating systems kernel.

these are important since an operating system kernel cannot include alll the funcionality it will ever need such as kernel-mode drivers

A

what a

dynamic modules

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7
Q

what type of kernel does linux use

A

this uses a monolithic kernel

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8
Q

this uses a monolithic kernel

A

what type of kernel does linux use

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9
Q

how do the modules of a micro kernel speak with each other since they run in both user and kernel mode

A

communication between these modules happens through a

interprocess communication mechanism (IPC)

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10
Q

this is an operating system that has as few kernel modules as possible, and most modules will run in user mode

A

what is a

micro kernel

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11
Q

what is the linux command

Update alternatives

used for

A

This is a debian command that allows storage and interchangeability between different software that may have the same functionality such as a word processor or a desktop environment

The choice of software chosen is declared by the priority when software is being chosen automatically although a user can select software manually

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12
Q

advantages of this are:

  • multitasking is acheivable by allowing the operating system to handle and distribute resources such as hardware
  • hardware indenpendence is achievable by allowing the OS to provide standard functions to applications regardless of the hardware in use
  • individual applications cannot hog hardware
  • individual applications cannot overwrite the data of another application
A

name 4 benefits of

separating applications from hardware via the operating system

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13
Q

this provides the benefit that an operating system can be used with many platforms and architectures such as:

  • amd vs intel
  • 32 bit vs 64 bit

it is simply a case of switching out this layer for the appropriate hardware

A

what benefts does the

hardware abstraction layer

provide

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14
Q

This is a debian command that allows storage and interchangeability between different software that may have the same functionality such as a word processor or a desktop environment

The choice of software chosen is declared by the priority when software is being chosen automatically although a user can select software manually

A

what is the linux command

Update alternatives

used for

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15
Q

these carry out specific tasks and provide a software interface that applications can use in order to interact with these

A

what are

modules of an operating system

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16
Q

these include:

  • monolithic kernel
  • micro kernel
A

since modules within an operating system cannot be self contained

what are two ways that operating systems are deployed

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17
Q

what is the

X window system

A

this is a window system that provides management of moving and displaying the windows on screen as well providing the input from the keyboard and mouse it will also output any graphics commands. In essence it manges communication between input devices and the display

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18
Q

what type of kernel does windows and macs use

A

these are a hybrid micro kernels they support IPC but much of the os still runs in kernel mode

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19
Q

in this case the processor mode is switched to kernel mode and control is handed to the operating system.

the operating system can then run any privileged commands on behalf of the application

upon completion a SYSCALL return instruction is executed and control is handed back to the application

A

what happpens when a system call is made

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20
Q

what is the linux command

modprobe

used for

A

this command is used to load and unload kernel modules

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21
Q

in linux how are modules added to the operating sytem kernel

A

this is achieved with the use of files with the .ko extension

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22
Q

what is a

system call

A

this is a machine instruction that any application running in user mode will use so that it can carry out tasks such as accessing hardware

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23
Q

the steps for this include:

  1. the application program uses an API provided by the OS that can write to memory
  2. a library subroutine is then called
  3. the library subroutine makes a SYSCALL
  4. the processor mode is switched to kernel mode
  5. the operating system memory management system sends an instruction to the processor
  6. new data is then written to RAM
A

using the diagram below describe how an application program would write new data to RAM

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24
Q

what is the linux command

lsmod

used for

A

this is used to view currently active kernel modules

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25
Q

what are

modules of an operating system

A

these carry out specific tasks and provide a software interface that applications can use in order to interact with these

How well did you know this?
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2
3
4
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26
Q

how does the processor know which mode it is running in

A

the processor is awre of this by storing a mode bit in the status register

How well did you know this?
1
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2
3
4
5
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27
Q

when this occurs the processor halts its current execution and switches to kernel mode

a special interrupt routine is then ran so that data from hardware can be dealt with

upon completion a return instruction is executed and the previous mode bit restored

A

what happens when a processor receives an interrupt from hardware

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28
Q

this is a window system that provides management of moving and displaying the windows on screen as well providing the input from the keyboard and mouse it will also output any graphics commands. In essence it manges communication between input devices and the display

A

what is the

X window system

29
Q

since modules within an operating system cannot be self contained

what are two ways that operating systems are deployed

A

these include:

  • monolithic kernel
  • micro kernel
30
Q
A

describe the steps of an application making a system call

31
Q

this provides tools that applications can use so that they follow the look and feel of the desktop environment. The toolkit in geneal will be comprised of buttons and controls and dialogue boxes

A

describe the widget toolkit of a linux desktop environment

32
Q

using the diagram below describe how an application program would write new data to RAM

A

the steps for this include:

  1. the application program uses an API provided by the OS that can write to memory
  2. a library subroutine is then called
  3. the library subroutine makes a SYSCALL
  4. the processor mode is switched to kernel mode
  5. the operating system memory management system sends an instruction to the processor
  6. new data is then written to RAM
33
Q

no these are not self contained

there will be times when parts of the operating system kernel will need the services of other parts of the operating system kernel

A

are modules within the operating system kernel self contained

34
Q

this command is used to load and unload kernel modules

A

what is the linux command

modprobe

used for

35
Q

this is a type of kernel where all of the operating system modules can freely talk with each other

this is seen as an efficient way to create a kernel since the processor does not need to switch between user mode and kernel mode when other modules are needed

A

what is a

monolithic kernel and its advantages

36
Q

these build on top of the X11 window system (use it as a framework) so that:

the desktop environment will interact with its window manager and the window manager will interact with the X11 window system which then interacts with the mouse, keyboard and screen

A

how do linux desktop environments make use of the X11 window system

37
Q

what happens when a processor receives an interrupt from hardware

A

when this occurs the processor halts its current execution and switches to kernel mode

a special interrupt routine is then ran so that data from hardware can be dealt with

upon completion a return instruction is executed and the previous mode bit restored

38
Q

this is achieved by using

dynamic link libraries (DLL)

A

in windows how are kernel mode drivers added

39
Q

this is a machine instruction that any application running in user mode will use so that it can carry out tasks such as accessing hardware

A

what is a

system call

40
Q

this is a layer that sits in between the operating system and the hardware

A

what is the

hardware abstraction layer

41
Q

what is a

software interface

A

this is a set of routines/functions

they provide a way of carrying out tasks as will have a data fromat associated with them such as input/output formats

example

getting a mouse position and returning it as a 16 bit binary value

42
Q

give 2 points for each describing

the main difference between a processors user mode and kernel mode

A

user mode

  • applications and less important components of an operating system run in this processor mode
  • provides a limited number of instruction

kernel mode

  • only used by the operating system
  • all processor instructions may be executed including ‘privileged instructions’
43
Q

are modules within the operating system kernel self contained

A

no these are not self contained

there will be times when parts of the operating system kernel will need the services of other parts of the operating system kernel

44
Q

describe the steps of an application making a system call

A
45
Q

name 4 benefits of

separating applications from hardware via the operating system

A

advantages of this are:

  • multitasking is acheivable by allowing the operating system to handle and distribute resources such as hardware
  • hardware indenpendence is achievable by allowing the OS to provide standard functions to applications regardless of the hardware in use
  • individual applications cannot hog hardware
  • individual applications cannot overwrite the data of another application
46
Q

these can be found in

/lib/modules

A

in linux where are kernel mode modules stored

47
Q

what benefts does the

hardware abstraction layer

provide

A

this provides the benefit that an operating system can be used with many platforms and architectures such as:

  • amd vs intel
  • 32 bit vs 64 bit

it is simply a case of switching out this layer for the appropriate hardware

48
Q

these are a hybrid micro kernels they support IPC but much of the os still runs in kernel mode

A

what type of kernel does windows and macs use

49
Q

this will typically provide:

  • window manager
  • widget toolkit
  • clipboard
A

what three major components will a linux desktop environment typically provide

50
Q

in windows how are kernel mode drivers added

A

this is achieved by using

dynamic link libraries (DLL)

51
Q

describe the window manager of a linux desktop environment

A

this manages the separate windows, providing the look such as close, minimize, resize. These will usually be taken from the widget toolkit as well as directing input to the appropriate window

52
Q

what would be the outcome if an application running in the processors user mode tried to execute a ‘privileged instruction’

A

if this event was to occur an error would be raised and the processor will hand control back to the operating system

53
Q

in linux where are kernel mode modules stored

A

these can be found in

/lib/modules

54
Q

what happpens when a system call is made

A

in this case the processor mode is switched to kernel mode and control is handed to the operating system.

the operating system can then run any privileged commands on behalf of the application

upon completion a SYSCALL return instruction is executed and control is handed back to the application

55
Q

this is a set of routines/functions

they provide a way of carrying out tasks as will have a data fromat associated with them such as input/output formats

example

getting a mouse position and returning it as a 16 bit binary value

A

what is a

software interface

56
Q

this is achieved with the use of files with the .ko extension

A

in linux how are modules added to the operating sytem kernel

57
Q

this manages the separate windows, providing the look such as close, minimize, resize. These will usually be taken from the widget toolkit as well as directing input to the appropriate window

A

describe the window manager of a linux desktop environment

58
Q

applications are provided this through the operating systems library of APIs

the API will then make the SYSCALL but only when necessary

A

how are SYSCALLS provided to applications

59
Q

what is the

hardware abstraction layer

A

this is a layer that sits in between the operating system and the hardware

60
Q

user mode

  • applications and less important components of an operating system run in this processor mode
  • provides a limited number of instruction

kernel mode

  • only used by the operating system
  • all processor instructions may be executed including ‘privileged instructions’
A

give 2 points for each describing

the main difference between a processors user mode and kernel mode

61
Q

what three major components will a linux desktop environment typically provide

A

this will typically provide:

  • window manager
  • widget toolkit
  • clipboard
62
Q

how are SYSCALLS provided to applications

A

applications are provided this through the operating systems library of APIs

the API will then make the SYSCALL but only when necessary

63
Q

if this event was to occur an error would be raised and the processor will hand control back to the operating system

A

what would be the outcome if an application running in the processors user mode tried to execute a ‘privileged instruction’

64
Q

from the operating system these include

A

name 4 modules you will most likely find within an opertaing system

65
Q

what a

dynamic modules

A

these are modules that can be later added into the operating systems kernel.

these are important since an operating system kernel cannot include alll the funcionality it will ever need such as kernel-mode drivers

66
Q

communication between these modules happens through a

interprocess communication mechanism (IPC)

A

how do the modules of a micro kernel speak with each other since they run in both user and kernel mode

67
Q

name 4 modules you will most likely find within an opertaing system

A

from the operating system these include

68
Q

what is a

monolithic kernel and its advantages

A

this is a type of kernel where all of the operating system modules can freely talk with each other

this is seen as an efficient way to create a kernel since the processor does not need to switch between user mode and kernel mode when other modules are needed

TM129: Operating systems (19 decks)

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