1.5 - Systems Software

Question 1

Operating system

Answer 1

Software that acts as an interface between the applications and the hardware, the most important type of Systems Software

Question 2

Perphieral manager

Answer 2

Operating system function that manages input and output between the computer and attached devices

Question 3

Memory manager

Answer 3

The function of the OS that manages the computer’s memory, allocating it to processes as necessary

Question 4

Process manager

Answer 4

The OS function that manages the computer’s processors by scheduling which processes are to be executed and in which order.

Question 5

User interface

Answer 5

Function of an OS that allows users to interact with the computer, can just be a command line or could be graphical

Question 6

Multitasking

Answer 6

An operating system function that allows more than one application to run at a time by slicing up the CPU’s time and sharing it out

Question 7

File manager

Answer 7

Operating system function that saves and retrieves files on behalf of the applications. Usually provides a folder structure plus move, rename and search options

Question 8

User manager

Answer 8

OS function that allocates user accounts, provides a login process, checks passwords and manages access rights

Question 9

Window

Answer 9

Feature of a graphical user interface that displays applications within boxes which can be moved, opened and closed

Question 10

Pointer

Answer 10

An on-screen arrow that shows the current position of the mouse, sometimes called a cursor, in a graphical user interface

Question 11

Driver

Answer 11

A small piece of system software that instructs the operating system how to operate a peripheral device like a printer or scanner

Question 12

Time slice

Answer 12

The amount of time a process is given in the CPU in a multitasking operating system

Question 13

RAM

Answer 13

The OS must reserve some of this, then copy a program from secondary storage into here so that it can start running

Question 14

Virtual memory

Answer 14

The OS’s memory manager function will move processes here when primary memory (RAM) is full, it’s a reserved space on the secondary storage device (HDD or SSD)

Question 15

GUI

Answer 15

A Graphical User Interface, such as Windows, macOS, iOS or Android, it provides a user-friendly way of interacting with the computer

Question 16

CLI (command line interface)

Answer 16

The user interacts with the OS through typing commands in this, a command line interface. MS-DOS and early Unix had one. Network switches often have them

Question 17

Buffer

Answer 17

An area of memory used for holding data waiting to be moved somewhere else. A printer driver holds data in one while waiting for the printer

Question 18

Access rights

Answer 18

The permissions granted to users to run programs, change settings, open files or edit files and folders. These are managed by the User Manager feature of the OS

Question 19

Account

Answer 19

A user profile that allows someone to sign in, this is created and managed by the User Manager function of the OS

Question 20

Folders

Answer 20

All Operating Systems manage a hierarchy of these, they are where you store your files

Question 21

Software

Answer 21

Any programs which run on a computer, they come in two main types: application and system

Question 22

Applications

Answer 22

Software which allows the user to complete a specific task, such as browse the internet or write a letter

Question 23

Systems software

Answer 23

Software that runs the computer system. Includes the OS and utilities but not applications

Question 24

Utilities

Answer 24

Programs which analyse and maintain a computer system, keeping it healthy so the applications can run smoothly

Question 25

Encryption

Answer 25

A utility program might provide this service which protects the contents of files by scrambling them

Question 26

Defragmentation

Answer 26

Utility software which reorganises fragmented files and put all their segments back together to speed up the system

Question 27

Compression

Answer 27

Utility software which reduces the size of files by running an algorithm to remove or reorganise data

Question 28

Storage

Answer 28

This is where we save our data and it is limited so we might need a compression utility to make the most of it

Question 29

Fragmented

Answer 29

When files get bigger they need more space, but this might be on another part of the disk, so the files get like this. We run the “defrag” utility to fix this

Question 30

Housekeeping

Answer 30

Any utilities that keep the computer’s “house in order”: defragging, backups, cleaning up unused files. Often installed with the OS but can be downloaded or purchased separately