What Is Firmware

1. What is firmware?
Why do some systems store the operating

system in firmware, while others store it on disk?
Ans:- Firmware is a form of microcode or program embedded into hardware
devices to help them operate effectively. Hardware like cameras, mobile phones,
network cards, optical drives, printers, routers, scanners, and television remotes
rely on firmware built into their memory to function smoothly.
2. What is the main advantage of the microkemel approach to

system design? How do user programs and system services
interact in microkernel architecture? What are the
disadvantages of using the Microkernel approach?
Ans:- A microkernel is a type of operating system kernel that is designed to provide
only the most basic services required for an operating system to function, such as
memory management and process scheduling. Other services, such as device drivers
and file systems, are implemented as user-level processes that communicate with the
microkernel via message passing. The main advantage of a microkernel architecture is

that it provides a more secure and stable operating system. Since only the most
essential services run in kernel space, the attack surface of the operating system is
reduced, making it more difficult for an attacker to exploit vulnerabilities.
Disadvantages of a microkernel architecture:
1. Slower message passing between user-level processes can affect performance,

especially in high-performance applications
2. Increased complexity due to the modular design can make it more difficult to
develop and maintain the operating system
3. Limited performance optimization due to separation of kernel and user-level
processes
4. Higher memory usage compared to a monolithic kernel
3. Discuss the concept of multiprogramming & multitasking.

Ans:- Multi programming:-
Multi-programming increases CPU utilisation by organising jobs (code and
data) so that the CPU always has one to execute. The idea is to keep multiple
jobs in main memory. If one job gets occupied with IO, CPU can be assigned
to other job.
Multi-tasking:-
Multi-tasking is a logical extension of multiprogramming. Multitasking is the
ability of an OS to execute more than one task simultaneously on a
CPU machine. These multiple tasks share common resources (like CPU and
memory). In multi-tasking systems, the CPU executes multiple jobs by
switching among them typically using a small time quantum, and the switches
occur so quickly that the users feel like interact with each executing task at the
same time.
4.Discuss the Classification of the kernel with respect to
Operating system.
Ans:- Kernel is central component of an operating system that manages
operations of computer and hardware. It basically manages operations of
memory and CPU time. It is core component of an operating system. Kernel
acts as a bridge between applications and data processing performed at
hardware level using inter-process communication and system calls.
Objectives of Kernel :
 To establish communication between user level application and

hardware.
 To decide state of incoming processes.
 To control disk management.
 To control memory management.
 To control task management.
 Types of Kernel :
 1. Monolithic Kernel –
 It is one of types of kernel where all operating system services operate
in kernel space. It has dependencies between systems components. It has
huge lines of code which is complex.
 Example:
 Unix, Linux, Open VMS, XTS-400 etc.
2. Micro Kernel –
It is kernel types which has minimalist approach. It has virtual memory and
thread scheduling. It is more stable with less services in kernel space. It puts
rest in user space.
It is use in small os.
Example :
Mach, L4, AmigaOS, Minix, K42 etc.

3. Hybrid Kernel –
It is the combination of both monolithic kernel and microkernel. It has speed
and design of monolithic kernel and modularity and stability of microkernel.
Example :
Windows NT, Netware, BeOS etc.

4. Exo Kernel –
It is the type of kernel which follows end-to-end principle. It has fewest
hardware abstractions as possible. It allocates physical resources to
applications.
Example :
Nemesis, ExOS etc.

5. Nano Kernel –
It is the type of kernel that offers hardware abstraction but without system
services. Micro Kernel also does not have system services therefore the Micro
Kernel and Nano Kernel have become analogous.
Example :
EROS etc.
DeadLock:-

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1. What is firmware?

Why do some systems store the operating

2. What is the main advantage of the microkemel approach to

microkernel via message passing. The main advantage of a microkernel architecture is

1. Slower message passing between user-level processes can affect performance,

3. Discuss the concept of multiprogramming & multitasking.

 To establish communication between user level application and

Mach, L4, AmigaOS, Minix, K42 etc.

Windows NT, Netware, BeOS etc.

Nemesis, ExOS etc.

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