Operating Systems: Internals and Design Principles Overview

This set of flashcards covers key concepts and principles discussed in the lecture on operating systems, their functions, design considerations, and evolution.

What is an Operating System?

A program that controls the execution of application programs and acts as an interface between applications and hardware.

What are the main objectives of an Operating System?

Convenience, Efficiency, and Ability to evolve.

What are the main functions of an Operating System?

User/computer interface and resource management.

What are the stages in the evolution of Operating Systems?

Serial Processing, Simple Batch Systems, Multiprogrammed Batch Systems, Time Sharing Systems.

What is the function of the Resident Monitor?

Controls the sequence of events in a Simple Batch System.

What programming language was used to rewrite UNIX?

C programming language.

What is Job Control Language (JCL)?

A special type of programming language used to provide instructions to the monitor in batch processing systems.

What is the difference between User Mode and Kernel Mode?

User mode restricts access to certain areas and instructions, while Kernel mode allows execution of privileged instructions and access to protected memory.

What is Fault Tolerance?

The ability of a system or component to continue normal operation despite the presence of hardware or software faults.

Name the basic measures of Fault Tolerance as defined in the lecture.

Reliability, Availability, Mean time to failure (MTTF), and Mean time to repair (MTTR).

What is Multiprogramming?

A technique where multiple programs are loaded in memory and executed concurrently to improve CPU utilization.

What is the role of the OS in Memory Management?

The OS is responsible for process isolation, automatic allocation and management, support of modular programming, protection and access control, and long-term storage.

What is Paging in the context of Operating Systems?

A memory management scheme that eliminates the need for contiguous allocation of physical memory.

What are the main components of a process?

An executable program, associated data (variables, work space), and execution context (process state).

What are Interrupts in OS?

Signals that inform the OS that an event needs immediate attention, allowing it to control user programs.

How does the OS manage resources?

By controlling memory, CPU time, and I/O devices, and employing scheduling algorithms.

What is a Virtual Machine in OS?

An abstraction that allows multiple operating systems to run on the same physical hardware simultaneously.

What does the acronym ABI stand for?

Application Binary Interface.

What significant feature does Fault Tolerance often involve?

Redundancy within the system's design.

What is a process in the context of Operating Systems?

A program in execution, characterized by a current state and associated system resources.

What issues does Information Protection and Security address in an OS?

Availability, Confidentiality, Data integrity, and Authenticity.

What are hardware interrupts used for?

To signal the CPU that an event has occurred, prompting an immediate response.

What is a key role of the Cache Manager in Windows?

To improve the performance of file-based I/O by caching recently used data.

What does SMP stand for in OS architectures?

Symmetric Multiprocessing.

What is the difference between processes and threads?

A process is a collection of one or more threads and associated system resources, while a thread is the smallest unit of processing that can be scheduled by an OS.

What does GCD stand for in the context of multicore systems?

Grand Central Dispatch.

What is the main purpose of a Kernel in an Operating System?

To manage system resources and ensure process scheduling and execution.

What does the term 'mean time to failure' (MTTF) refer to?

The average time until a system experiences a fault.

What is the purpose of a Service Control Manager in Windows?

To manage Windows services and their execution.

What is Android primarily based on?

Linux.

What does the term 'API' stand for?

Application Programming Interface.

Describe 'Time-sharing systems.'

Operating systems designed to handle multiple interactive jobs by sharing processor time among users.

What are the key responsibilities of an Operating System?

Managing resources, providing user interfaces, managing files and I/O devices.

How does the OS ensure process isolation?

By keeping separate memory spaces for different processes.

What is a dynamic link library (DLL)?

A collection of code and data that can be used by multiple programs simultaneously.

What is the primary goal of resource allocation policies in an OS?

To ensure fairness and efficiency in resource usage.

What is a critical requirement for a correctly designed Operating System?

Proper synchronization among processes.

What is a cached file system?

A system that temporarily holds file data in memory for faster access.

What does CPU scheduling involve?

Deciding which process runs at a given time.

What does 'Kernel mode' allow executing processes to do?

Execute privileged instructions and gain access to all system resources.

What is the role of the Power Manager in Windows?

To coordinate power management among devices.

What purpose does the Object Manager serve in an Operating System?

Creates and manages operating system objects representative of system resources.

Define 'Multithreading.'

A technique where a process is divided into multiple threads that can run concurrently.

What is UNIX at its core?

A powerful, multiuser, multitasking operating system.

What is the newest version of Android mentioned in the lectures?

Android 7.0 (Nougat).

What hardware aspect does the HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) address?

It isolates the OS from hardware-specific details.

Apart from Windows, name four widely used UNIX variants.

FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and Linux.

What is one major benefit of the modular kernel structure of Linux?

It allows parts of the kernel to be loaded and unloaded dynamically.

What does the acronym 'RTOS' stand for?

Real-Time Operating System.

What is the focus of Virtual Memory management?

To allow multiple user jobs to reside in main memory concurrently, regardless of physical memory limitations.

What primary function does the I/O Manager serve in an OS?

To provide a framework for accessing I/O devices.

What is a 'Semaphore' in interprocess communication?

A variable used to control access to a common resource in concurrent programming.

What does the abbreviation 'DLL' mean?

Dynamic Link Library.

What are some examples of system calls in Linux?

open, read, write, execve, and close.

What is the role of the Alarm Manager in Android?

To trigger alarms even if the system is in sleep mode.

What are the main components of an operating system as discussed in the lecture?

Process management, Memory management, I/O management, File system management, Security, and Networking.

Describe 'Service Processes' in Windows.

User-mode services needed to manage the system, like the printer spooler.

What is a 'View System' in Android?

Provides user interface primitives and UI events.

What does the 'Process Control Manager' do in Windows?

Creates, manages, and deletes process and thread objects.

What defines a Deadlock situation in an Operating System?

When two or more programs are each waiting for the other to release resources.

What is a primary goal of resource management in an OS?

To allocate resources efficiently and fairly among processes.

What protocol does the Client/Server model use for process communication?

Remote Procedure Calls (RPC).

What is the purpose of using a Fault Resilient System?

To ensure a system can still function despite faults or errors.

What does the term 'object-oriented design' emphasize in Operating Systems?

The use of modular extensions for system customization and integrity.

What is an advantage of multithreading in operating systems?

Greater control over application modularity and timing of events.