IB Computer Science HL - Operating System Features

Question-answer style flashcards on the topic of Operating System Features

Do all systems require an operating system?

No, some systems can function without a full operating system, using built-in firmware instead.

What example illustrates a system that did not have a modern OS?

The Commodore 64 used built-in software but did not have a modern OS.

What are embedded systems?

Embedded systems, such as ATMs, microwaves, and digital cameras, often operate without a traditional operating system, relying on firmware instead.

What is the role of an operating system in primary memory management?

The operating system allocates memory to active processes, handles paging and virtual memory, and protects memory allocated to a process.

How do operating systems manage secondary storage?

Operating systems organize files into a file system, manage file permissions, and prevent accidental file deletion.

What does CPU management by the operating system involve?

The OS handles multitasking, schedules processes, uses scheduling algorithms, and supports multithreading and multiprocessing.

How does the operating system manage network bandwidth?

It prioritizes critical processes over background downloads to ensure smooth performance.

What is the purpose of the “Screen resolution & display settings” option?

It configures display properties like resolution and refresh rate, and provides drivers to allow sending commands to the graphics hardware without the developers having to prepare for different manufacturers and models.

What is the role of the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) management?

The GPU management optimizes the performance of graphics rendering tasks by allocating resources, managing memory, and ensuring efficient communication between the CPU and GPU for visual output.

How does the Operating System manage sound?

The operating system manages audio input/output through drivers and APIs that facilitate communication between applications and sound hardware, ensuring proper playback and recording of audio.

Does the Operating System manage CPU cache?

No, the CPU cache is handled by the processor, however, disk caching is managed by the operating system to enhance data access speeds and improve overall system performance.

What does Network Connectivity Management in the OS involve?

Network Connectivity Management in the OS involves overseeing network interfaces, managing connections to networks, and facilitating data communication between devices and applications, ensuring reliable and secure network access. It also assigns unique addresses (IP/MAC) to devices for network communication.

What is the purpose of the 'Safely Remove Hardware' option?

It ensures that all cached data is written to the device before removing a USB stick.

What are the two main types of user interfaces provided by the operating system?

Graphical User Interface (GUI) and Command-Line Interface (CLI).

What are GUI elements managed by the operating system?

Toolbars, menus, dialogue boxes, preview window, buttons, multiple tabs, context menu (right-click menu), radio buttons, and checkboxes.

Toolbars

Provide quick access to common functions

Menus

Lists of options or commands that users can choose from to perform various actions.

Dialogue boxes

Pop-up windows for user input, e.g., open file, print

Preview window

Shows content before applying changes

Buttons

Clickable elements for actions, for example, Ok, Cancel, that enable users to execute commands or make selections.

Context menu

The right-click menu provides relevant options based on user interaction.

What is the difference between radio buttons and checkboxes?

Radio buttons are usually round buttons where only one option can be selected. On the other hand, checkboxes are square boxes where multiple options can be selected

How does the operating system enhance device management?

The OS uses device drivers to allow hardware to communicate with it and integrates a Plug-and-Play feature for automatic device detection.

What security measures does an operating system implement?

User authentication (passwords, biometrics, PIN codes), file permissions (restricting read/write access), encryption, and firewall & antivirus management.

What is virtual memory management?

It uses paging and swapping to extend RAM by utilizing part of the hard drive to prevent system crashes due to RAM shortages.

What is thrashing?

Thrashing is a situation in virtual memory management where excessive paging occurs, leading to a significant decrease in system performance as the operating system spends more time swapping data in and out of memory than executing processes.

How does an operating system handle power management?

It manages power consumption using sleep mode, hibernation, and controlling CPU usage to extend battery life.

What is the function of error detection and handling in an operating system?

It detects hardware and software errors, prevents system failures, provides error messages and crash reports (e.g. Blue Screen of Death in Windows), and logs issues for troubleshooting.

Name some application software supported by operating systems.

Word processors, spreadsheets, database management systems, email clients, web browsers, and graphics software.

Summarize the key features of an operating system.

Memory management, processor management, storage management, device management, security features, power management, error handling, and user interface.