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unit 1 Flashcards

1
Q

What are the basic computing resources provided by hardware?

A

CPU, memory, I/O devices

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2
Q

What is the role of an operating system?

A

Controls and coordinates use of hardware among various applications and users

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3
Q

What do application programs do?

A

Define the ways in which the system resources are used to solve the computing problems of the users

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4
Q

Who are considered users in a computing context?

A

People, machines, other computers

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5
Q

What is an Operating System?

A

A program that acts as an intermediary between a user of a computer and the computer hardware

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6
Q

What are the goals of an operating system?

A
  • Execute user programs and make solving user problems easier
  • Make the computer system convenient to use
  • Use the computer hardware in an efficient manner
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7
Q

What is the definition of an Operating System?

A

OS is a resource allocator and control program

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8
Q

What does an operating system manage?

A

All resources and decides between conflicting requests for efficient and fair resource use

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9
Q

What is the kernel in operating systems?

A

The one program running at all times on the computer

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10
Q

What are some design issues for operating systems?

A
  • Efficiency
  • Robustness
  • Flexibility
  • Portability
  • Security
  • Compatibility
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11
Q

How is operating system efficiency characterized?

A

By the amount of useful work accomplished by the system compared to the time and resources used

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12
Q

What does robustness in software refer to?

A

An operating system or program that performs well under ordinary and unusual conditions

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13
Q

What is flexibility in operating systems?

A

The ability to tailor or change the system to the requirements of specific applications

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14
Q

What is portability?

A

The ability of an application to run properly in a different platform with little or no modification

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15
Q

What does security in operating systems entail?

A

Ensuring resources are used and accessed as intended under all circumstances

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16
Q

What is compatibility in terms of operating systems?

A

The capacity for two systems to work together without alteration

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17
Q

What is the main memory in a computer system?

A

The only large storage media that the CPU can access directly

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18
Q

What is secondary storage?

A

An extension of main memory that provides large nonvolatile storage capacity

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19
Q

What is caching in storage systems?

A

Copying information into faster storage systems

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20
Q

What is the purpose of a device driver?

A

To manage I/O and provide a uniform interface between the controller and kernel

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21
Q

What characterizes a uniprocessor system?

A

A system with one main CPU capable of executing a general-purpose instruction set

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22
Q

What defines a multiprocessor system?

A

Two or more processors in close communication sharing resources

23
Q

What are the benefits of multiprocessor systems?

A
  • Increased throughput
  • Economy of scale
  • Increased reliability
24
Q

What does graceful degradation refer to in fault-tolerant systems?

A

The ability to continue providing service proportional to the level of surviving hardware

25
What is the purpose of system calls in operating systems?
Programming interface to the services provided by the OS
26
What types of system calls are there?
* Process control * File management * Device management * Information maintenance * Communications * Protection
27
What is an application programming interface (API)?
Code that allows two software programs to communicate with each other
28
What are common APIs for operating systems?
* Win32 API for Windows * POSIX API for POSIX-based systems * Java API for the Java virtual machine
29
What are system programs?
Programs that provide a convenient environment for program development and execution
30
What is a simple structure in operating system design?
An OS structure like MS-DOS, which is not divided into modules
31
What is the layered approach in operating system structure?
The OS is divided into layers, each built on top of lower layers
32
What is a microkernel system structure?
Moves as much from the kernel into user space, with communication via message passing
33
What is a hybrid system in operating systems?
Combines multiple approaches to address performance, security, and usability needs
34
What is the structure of Mac OS X based on?
Partly based on the Mach microkernel
35
What is the main structure of Android OS?
Based on a modified Linux kernel
36
What is performance tuning in operating systems?
Seeks to improve performance by removing processing bottlenecks
37
What is the primary operating system that Android is based on?
Linux kernel but modified
38
What type of management does Android provide?
Process, memory, device-driver management
39
What runtime environment does Android include?
Core set of libraries and Dalvik virtual machine
40
In which programming language are Android apps developed?
Java plus Android API
41
What are Java class files compiled to before running in Dalvik VM?
Java bytecode
42
What frameworks are part of the Android libraries?
* Web browser (webkit) * Database (SQLite) * Multimedia * Smaller libc
43
What is the goal of performance tuning?
To improve performance by removing processing bottlenecks
44
What must the OS do to identify bottlenecks?
Monitor system performance
45
How does the OS often produce measures of system behavior?
By producing trace listings of system behavior
46
What do trace listings log?
Interesting events with their time and important parameters
47
What can be done with the log file produced from trace listings?
Analyze it to determine system performance and identify bottlenecks
48
What is one use of traces in system performance?
To simulate a suggested improved system
49
What do traces help find in OS behavior?
Errors
50
What type of tools can be used for performance tuning?
Single-purpose, interactive tools
51
What UNIX command is used to display resources used on the system?
top
52
What information does the Windows Task Manager include?
* Current applications * Processes * CPU and memory usage * Networking statistics
53
What is a leading example of a dynamic tracing facility?
Solaris 10 DTrace
54
True or False: Performance tuning is solely about optimizing hardware.
False

operating system (3 decks)

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