Module 2: Operating System Platform - Flashcards

A set of Question-and-Answer style flashcards covering OS concepts, bootstrap, types, history, notable OS families, and basic file system knowledge.

Operating System (OS)

A collection of programs that manage and coordinate a computer's activities, acting as an intermediary between the user, applications, and hardware.

Bootstrap process in an OS

Initializes the OS when a computer is powered on, involving POST, loading the boot loader, kernel initialization, and system configuration.

POST: meaning and purpose

Power-On Self-Test; a diagnostic phase where hardware is checked for functionality.

Component that loads the boot loader

BIOS or UEFI firmware loads the boot loader from a designated location.

Kernel initialization process

The boot loader loads the OS kernel into memory, beginning the OS startup sequence.

System configuration during boot

The OS initializes system services, loads drivers, and prepares the system for user interaction.

List three core tasks of an operating system.

Start the computer; provide a user interface; manage memory and programs; schedule jobs; configure devices; establish network connections; monitor performance; provide file management and security.

Single-User, Single-Task OS and example

An OS designed for one user to do one thing at a time; example: Palm OS.

Multi-User, Multi-Task OS and examples

An OS that allows many users to share computer resources simultaneously; examples: Unix, VMS, MVS.

Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) and examples

An OS used to control machinery and industrial systems; examples: Air Traffic Control systems, Command and Control systems.

Single-User, Multi-Tasking OS

An OS that allows a single user to run two or more programs concurrently; foreground is the active program, background are the others.

Multiprocessing OS

An OS that uses two or more CPUs, each with a copy of the OS, to coordinate and execute tasks in parallel.

Parallel processing in computing

Processing that uses multiple processors or cores to work on a task concurrently to speed up computation.

Embedded Operating System

A specialized OS designed to perform a specific task for a non-computer device; often less resource-intensive.

Give examples of devices that use embedded OSes.

Microwaves, washing machines, cameras, game consoles, traffic control systems, etc.

Characteristics of First Generation (1945–1955) computers

Vacuum tubes and plugboards; programming in machine language and wiring hardware manually.

Characteristics of Second Generation (1955–1965) computers

Transistors and batch systems; punched cards for input, line printers for output, tape drives for storage.

Characteristics of Third Generation (1965–1980) computers

ICs, multiprogramming, timesharing; several jobs in memory with shared resources; resources allocated when available.

Characteristics of Fourth Generation (1980–present) computers

Personal computers and LSIs; introduction of DOS; single-user operating systems.

Characteristics of Fifth Generation (1980–2000) computers

Networked computing and GUIs; prominence of Windows, macOS, Linux; server and distributed OS concepts.

Characteristics of Sixth Generation (2000–present) computers

Mobile and cloud computing; Android and iOS; cloud-based servers and services (e.g., Azure).

Characteristics of Seventh Generation (Present–Future) computers

IoT and edge computing; real-time processing at the edge and interconnected devices.

DOS in the context of OS history

Disk Operating System; a disk-based, single-user, single-task OS; MS-DOS for IBM PC–compatible computers.

UNIX and its advantages

UNIX was an early OS known for multitasking, multi-user capability, and security; historically powerful but more complex.

Linux: definition and origin

A kernel created by Linus Torvalds in 1991, combined with GNU software to form GNU/Linux; free, open-source, modular, secure.

Linux distribution

A complete operating system built on the Linux kernel plus GNU software and other components.

Mac OS

Proprietary operating system by Apple, based on Unix, known for its graphical user interface.

Chrome OS

A cloud-based operating system designed around the Chrome browser; emphasizes web/app access and is preinstalled on Chrome devices.

Name some major mobile operating systems.

Android and iOS; (historically Windows Phone, Windows RT, Windows Embedded).

Codenames for Windows XP, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10

XP – Whistler; 7 – Vienna; 8 – 8; 8.1 – Blue; 10 – Redstone.

Main parts of an operating system

Kernel; User Interface; Device Drivers; System Utilities; File System.

File System

The component that manages data storage, organization, and retrieval on disk drives, including tracking file metadata.

File

A collection of related information stored on secondary storage with metadata such as name, size, and location.

Common file attributes

File name, ID, size, type, date/time, user identification, location, protection, and flags.

List common file operations.

Create, Open, Close, Delete, Rename, Copy, Get Attributes, Set Attributes, List, Read, Modify/Write, Append.

Major categories of OS components

Kernel; User Interface; Device Drivers; System Utilities; File System.