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Operating System Theory and Structures

Information Technology10 CardsCreated 1 day ago

This deck covers key concepts of operating systems, including their functions, structures, services, and design methodologies. It explores the components, system calls, and different architectural approaches to OS design.

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What is the primary role of an operating system?

An operating system provides an environment for executing programs and offers services to users and programs.
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Key Terms

Term
Definition
What is the primary role of an operating system?
An operating system provides an environment for executing programs and offers services to users and programs.
Name three types of user interfaces provided by operating systems.
Command-line interfaces (CLI), graphical user interfaces (GUI), and touch-screen interfaces.
What are system calls?
System calls provide an interface to the services made available by an operating system.
List the six main categories of system calls.
Process control, file management, device management, information maintenance, communications, and protection.
What is the purpose of an API in the context of operating systems?
An API specifies a set of functions available to an application programmer, allowing interaction with the OS without dealing with system call details.
Describe the monolithic structure of an operating system.
A monolithic OS has all functionalities in a single static binary file that runs in one address space, offering high performance but limited modularit...
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Operating System Theory and Structures
TermDefinition
What is the primary role of an operating system?
An operating system provides an environment for executing programs and offers services to users and programs.
Name three types of user interfaces provided by operating systems.
Command-line interfaces (CLI), graphical user interfaces (GUI), and touch-screen interfaces.
What are system calls?
System calls provide an interface to the services made available by an operating system.
List the six main categories of system calls.
Process control, file management, device management, information maintenance, communications, and protection.
What is the purpose of an API in the context of operating systems?
An API specifies a set of functions available to an application programmer, allowing interaction with the OS without dealing with system call details.
Describe the monolithic structure of an operating system.
A monolithic OS has all functionalities in a single static binary file that runs in one address space, offering high performance but limited modularity.
What is a microkernel, and how does it differ from a monolithic kernel?
A microkernel is a minimal kernel that runs most services in user space, enhancing modularity and security but potentially reducing performance.
Explain the concept of a layered operating system structure.
A layered OS is divided into multiple layers, each built on top of the lower ones, simplifying debugging but potentially impacting performance.
What are loadable kernel modules (LKM)?
LKMs are components that can be dynamically loaded and unloaded into the kernel, allowing for modular and flexible OS design.
How does a boot loader function in the OS startup process?
A boot loader loads the OS into memory, initializes hardware, and starts the OS execution.