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Questions To Practice For Cse323 Quiz 1

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QUESTIONS TO PRACTICE FOR CSE323 QUIZ-1

1. What are the three main purposes of an operating system?


➢ Operating system is program which acts as an intermediary between the user of a
computer and computer hardware. It has three main purposes.
1. Execute user programs and make user problem solving easier.
2. Make the computer system more convenient to use.
3. Use the computer hardware in an efficient manner.

2. Distinguish between the client–server and peer-to-peer models of


distributed systems.
➢ In client server computing, dumb terminals are supplanted by smart PCs. Many
systems now servers, respond to requests generated by clients. There is computer
service system which provides an interface to client request services (i.e., database).
There is file server system which provides an interface for clients to store and
retrieve files.

P2P models does not distinguish between clients and servers. Instead, all nodes are
considered as peers. Each node may act as client or server or both. The node must
join P2P network to:
Register its service with central lookup service on network, or
Broadcast request for service and respond to requests for service via discovery
protocol.

3. How do clustered systems differ from multiprocessor systems? What is


required for two machines belonging to a cluster to cooperate to provide
a highly available service?
➢ Multiprocessor systems use multiple processors within a single system. The
multiprocessors are connected to a single, shared memory.

Clustered systems are similar to multiprocessor system, however there are multiple
systems working together. They usually share storage via storage-area network
(SAN). Clustered systems can provide highly avail services which survives failures
in two ways.
Asymmetric Clustering- This clustering has one machine in hot-standby mode.
Symmetric Clustering- This clustering has multiple nodes running applications,
monitoring each other.
4. Describe the differences between symmetric and asymmetric
multiprocessing. What are three advantages and one disadvantage of
multiprocessor systems?
➢ In asymmetric multiprocessing, each processor is assigned a specific task. A boss
processor controls the system; the other processors either look to the boss for
instruction or have predefined tasks. This scheme defines a boss–worker relationship.
The boss processor schedules and allocates work to the worker processors.

In symmetric multiprocessing, each processor performs all tasks. There is no boss-


worker relationship in symmetric multiprocessing.

The three advantages of multiprocessor systems are:


1. Increased throughput.
2. Economy of scale.
3. Increased reliability – graceful degradation or fault tolerance.

One disadvantage is:


1. Multiprocessing is expensive, since it involves special hardware and considerable
hardware duplication.

5. What are the process management activities?


➢ Creating and deleting both user and system processes
Suspending and resuming processes
Providing mechanisms for process synchronization
Providing mechanisms for process communication
Providing mechanisms for deadlock handling

6. What are the memory management activities?


➢ Keeping track of which parts of memory are currently being used and by whom.
Deciding which processes (or parts thereof) and data to move into and out of
memory.
Allocating and deallocating memory space as needed.
7. Describe three general methods for passing parameters to the operating
system.
➢ The three general methods for passing parameters to the operating system are:
1. The simplest method: Pass the parameters into registers. In some cases, there may
be more parameters than registers.
2. Parameters stored in a block, or table, in memory and the address of the block is
passed as parameter in the register. This approach is taken by Linux and Solaris.
3. Parameters placed, or pushed, onto the stack by the program and popped off the
stack by the operating system.

Block and stack methods do not limit the number or length of parameters being
passed

8. What is the main advantage of the microkernel approach to system


design? How do user programs and system services interact in a
microkernel architecture? What are the disadvantages of using the
microkernel approach?
➢ The advantages of the microkernel approach are:
1. It is easier to extend a microkernel.
2. It is easier to port the operating system into new architecture.
3. It is more reliable. (Less code running in kernel mode).
4. It is more secure.
User programs and system services interact via message passing.
The disadvantage of microkernel approach is:
1. Performance overhead of user space to kernel space communication.

9. What are loadable kernel modules?


➢ Many modern operating systems implement loadable kernel modules
Uses object-oriented approach
Each core component is separate
Each talk to the others over known interfaces
Each is loadable as needed within the kernel
10. Similarities and differences between modular and layered kernel
approach
➢ The operating system is divided into a number of layers (levels), each built on top of
lower layers. The bottom layer (layer 0), is the hardware; the highest (layer N) is the
user interface. With modularity, layers are selected such that each uses functions
(operations) and services of only lower-level layers

Many modern operating systems implement loadable kernel modules


Uses object-oriented approach
Each core component is separate
Each talk to the others over known interfaces
Each is loadable as needed within the kernel

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