Operating Systems

Question 1

Single-user systems

Answer 1

personal computer, workstation, multi-tasking, found in laptops and
desktops.
○ Manages resources (CPU, memory, hard drive, peripherals) of a computer.
○ Provides a GUI for the user to navigate.
○ Examples: Windows, Mac, Linux (GNOME, KDE)

Question 2

Mobile device systems-

Answer 2

small hand-held devices like phones, tablets, e-readers
○ Cameras, mobile phones, smartphones, and tablets contain non-magnetic storage
media.
○ Static magnetic fields near those devices cannot delete data.
○ Android 70% market share, iOS 28% market share

Question 3

Mainframe systems

Answer 3

large-scale platforms and enterprise environments

Question 4

Network server systems

Answer 4

designed for specific purpose like database or web server.
○ Uses a command line interface (CLI) of GUI to control applications and services.
○ Thin client - computers that are connected to a networked server. The computer
contains the minimum amount of hardware required for the user to interact with the
system. The server does the “hard work,” including booting, storing data, and
performing calculations.
○ Examples: Windows Server, Linux, and Unix

Question 5

Real-time systems

Answer 5

Systems that need to act in real time, ie in pacemakers, cars.

Question 6

Embedded control systems

Answer 6

designed to control single piece of equipment, i.e. thermostat.
○ Provide a light-weight kernel that runs on low-powered hardware.
○ Designed to manage the resources of a device.
■ Sensor, controller, other internet of things (IoT) devices-like a fridge or
microwave
○ Examples: FreeRTOS and VxWorks

Question 7

Distributed systems

Answer 7

A Distributed System is a group of independent computers (nodes) that work together and appear to users as a single system. These systems share processing power, memory, data, and software across a network to deliver services or execute tasks collaboratively.

Each computer (or “node”) in a distributed system:

Has its own hardware, OS, and memory

Communicates over a network

May handle part of a larger task (e.g., storing part of a database or running part of an app)

Question 8

Barebones Computer System

Answer 8

a system that can run only one program at a time with no
memory or I/O.