Topic 6 - Resource Management

Primary memory

Memory that can be addressed and accessed directly by the processor. (RAM and ROM)

Secondary Memory

A type of memory that allows a user to store data and programs for as long as desired, in, for example, a hard disk drive.

Mainframe computers and supercomputers

Used by large businesses, government agencies, and in science and education. They provide centralized storage and processing, and can manipulate tremendous amounts of data

Server

A computer that awaits and responds to requests for data.

Batch processing

Programs that are batched together and executed as a group in "parallel"

Multiprogramming

The technique of keeping multiple programs in main memory at the same time, competing for the CPU

Multitasking

An operating system feature that allows more than one application to run at a time.

Multithreading

Allows different parts of a single program to run concurrently with the use of threads.

Multi-access

More than one user can access files at the same time

Operating System (OS)

A collection of programs that coordinate between the hardware and user processes. It has full access to the parts of a system, including peripherals.

Memory leak

A problem where data gets created, but never deleted.

Address Binding

The tying of a virtual/logical address to a physical address.

Swapping

Processes are swapped in and out of primary memory to the disk(secondary memory)

Paging

The process of swapping data or instructions that have been placed in the swap file for later use back into active random access memory (RAM). The contents of the hard drive's swap file then become less active data or instructions.

Page

A set amount of data referenced by the processor.

Thrashing

A condition of excessive paging in which the operating system becomes sluggish.

Slice

Time allocated to each user in a multi-access system

Interrupt Mechanism

Suspends a process that is being executed and invokes a mechanism to identify the next process in the execution queue

interrupt handler

An OS service routine that processes interrupts; each interrupt handler is a separate program stored in a separate part of primary storage.

Scheduler

System software which establishes the order in which instructions are executed by the processor

device driver

A software program that provides the instructions a computer needs to communicate with a device, such as a scanner.

Polling

Periodic checking of devices by a central device to sample their status.