Flashcards

Question 1

Describe the role of the Object manager in Windows

Answer 1

The Object manager creates, manages, and deletes Windows objects representing resources like processes, threads, and synchronization objects.

Question 2

What is the function of the Windowing and graphing system in Windows?

Answer 2

The Windowing and graphing system implements the graphical user interface (GUI) controls and illustrations.

Question 3

How does the Plug-and-play manager contribute to Windows operation?

Answer 3

The Plug-and-play manager determines and loads the drivers required to support specific devices.

Question 4

Define the responsibility of the Power manager in Windows

Answer 4

The Power manager coordinates power consumption among devices and can reduce power usage by shutting down idle devices or setting the processor to sleep.

Question 5

Describe the role of the Security reference monitor in Windows

Answer 5

The Security reference monitor enforces access validation and audit rules for protected objects like files, processes, and I/O devices.

Question 6

What is the function of the Virtual memory manager in Windows?

Answer 6

The Virtual memory manager manages virtual addresses, physical memory, and paging files on disk.

Question 7

How does the Configuration manager contribute to Windows operation?

Answer 7

The Configuration manager implements and manages the system registry, storing system-wide and per-user settings.

Question 8

Define the purpose of the Advanced local procedure call (ALPC) facility in Windows

Answer 8

The ALPC facility implements an efficient cross-process call mechanism for communication between local processes and subsystems.

Question 9

Describe the Windows Kernel in the context of the OS

Answer 9

The Windows Kernel is considered the core software of the operating system.

Question 10

Describe the role of the Kernel in an operating system.

Answer 10

The Kernel controls the execution of processors, manages thread scheduling, process switching, exception and interrupt handling, and multiprocessor synchronization.

Question 11

What is the Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) responsible for in an operating system?

Answer 11

The HAL isolates the OS from platform-specific hardware variances, making each computer’s system bus, DMA controller, interrupt manager, system timers, and memory controller appear the same.

Question 12

Define User-mode Processes in an operating system.

Answer 12

User-mode Processes include special system processes, service processes, device drivers, and environment subsystems that provide different operating system environments.

Question 13

How do Device drivers contribute to an operating system?

Answer 13

Device drivers are dynamic libraries that extend the functionality of the Windows Executive by including hardware device drivers that translate user I/O function calls into specific hardware device I/O requests.

Question 14

Describe the role of Environment subsystems in an operating system.

Answer 14

Environment subsystems provide different operating system environments and support POSIX and Win32 subsystems by containing processes shared among all applications.

Question 15

What are User applications in an operating system?

Answer 15

User applications include executable programs (EXE) and dynamic link libraries (DLLs) that provide the functionality a user needs to make use of the system.

Question 16

Explain the function of the Shell in a classic UNIX system.

Answer 16

The Shell supports system calls from applications, other interface software, and components of the C compiler, allowing interaction with hardware.

Question 17

Describe the development history of the classic UNIX system.

Answer 17

The classic UNIX system was developed at Bell Labs, partly written in assembly language, and later converted into C language.

Question 18

Describe the original name of UNIX and its meaning.

Answer 18

UNIX was initially called Uniplexed Information and Computing Service (UNICS).

Question 19

Define the three levels of the architecture of classic UNIX.

Answer 19

The three levels are User level, Hardware level, and System kernel.

Question 20

How does a classic UNIX system handle concurrent access to data structures by multiple processors?

Answer 20

Classic UNIX lacks the ability to protect its data structures from concurrent access by multiple processors.

Question 21

Do modern UNIX systems have a modular architecture?

Answer 21

Yes, modern UNIX systems have a modular architecture.

Question 22

Describe the role of the Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) in the development of UNIX.

Answer 22

BSD played an important role in the development of UNIX design theory and in releasing commercial UNIX products.

Question 23

Define the components of a modern UNIX system kernel.

Answer 23

Components include process control, memory management, device drivers, and hardware control.

Question 24

How are common facilities in a modern UNIX system implemented?

Answer 24

Common facilities are implemented as loadable modules that can be automatically loaded and unloaded.

Question 25

Describe the structure of the Linux operating system.

Answer 25

The Linux operating system is composed of independent loadable modules that provide various functions and services.

Question 26

Describe the characteristics of Linux loadable modules.

Answer 26

Dynamic linking allows modules to be loaded and linked into the kernel while it is executing, and stackable modules are arranged hierarchically.

Question 27

What is the significance of System V Release 4 (SVR4)?

Answer 27

It was a joint development by AT&T and Sun Microsystems to provide a uniform platform for commercial UNIX deployment.

Question 28

Define loadable module in the context of operating systems.

Answer 28

A loadable module is an object file whose code can be linked and unlinked from the kernel at runtime, implementing specific functions.

Question 29

How did Linux operating system originate?

Answer 29

It started as a UNIX variant for the IBM PC architecture, created by Linus Torvalds and released on the Internet in 1991.

Question 30

Do Linux loadable modules run in kernel mode?

Answer 30

Yes, they are executed in kernel mode on behalf of the current process.

Question 31

Describe the collaborative development process of Linux.

Answer 31

Numerous programmers and developers have collaborated over the Internet to enhance the Linux operating system.

Question 32

What are some components of the Linux kernel?

Answer 32

Components include signals, character device drivers, system calls, block device drivers, processes and scheduler, network device drivers, virtual memory, file systems, physical memory, network protocols, interrupts.

Question 33

How is Linux described in terms of its modularity and configurability?

Answer 33

It is highly modular, easy to configure, and runs on various hardware platforms, providing optimal performance.

Question 34

Explain the concept of stackable modules in Linux.

Answer 34

Modules act as libraries when referenced by higher modules and as clients when referencing lower modules in a hierarchical order.

Question 35

Describe the Android operating system.

Answer 35

The Android operating system is a Linux-based system originally designed for mobile phones, consisting of a software stack that includes a modified version of the Linux kernel, middleware, and key applications.

Question 36

What is the role of the Linux kernel in an Android operating system?

Answer 36

The Linux kernel in an Android operating system is responsible for core system functions, scheduling, security, memory management, process management, network stack, and driver model.

Question 37

How does the Android operating system utilize the Linux-based kernel?

Answer 37

The Android operating system relies on the Linux-based kernel for essential system functions and services, while excluding drivers that are unsuitable for mobile environments to keep the system smaller.

Question 38

Define AOSP in the context of Android development.

Answer 38

AOSP stands for Android Open-Source Project, which is a source code that developers and enthusiasts use to create and distribute their own modified versions of the Android operating system.

Question 39

Do you know the history behind the development of the Android operating system?

Answer 39

Android, Inc. initiated the development of the Android operating system and was later acquired by Google in 2005.

Question 40

Describe the community involved in Android development.

Answer 40

Android development has an active community of developers and enthusiasts who contribute to the Android Open-Source Project (AOSP) to create and share their customized versions of the operating system.