Systems Software

Question 1

What is an operating system?

Answer 1

Software that runs in the background of a computer system and acts as an interface between the user and important applications.

Question 2

List any 5 functions of an OS.

Answer 2

Human computer interface, memory management, multiprogramming, file management and real-time processing.

Question 3

What are kernels?

Answer 3

Kernels are the control centre of the operating system that deals with hardware operations.

Question 4

What are the types of interfaces provided by an OS?

Answer 4

Graphical User Interface, and Command line interface

Question 5

From the storage drive, where is the program copied to for execution?

Answer 5

Random Access memory (RAM)

Question 6

What is a program counter?

Answer 6

Program counter is the register that contains the location of the instruction that is to be executed next.

Question 7

What happens when a process currently in a running state is interrupted?

Answer 7

CPU switches the process to a runnable state.

Question 8

What is segmentation?

Answer 8

Splitting memory and allocating it to processes is called segmentation.

Question 9

What are pages?

Answer 9

The memory is split into equally sized blocks called pages, which can be allocated to processes.

Question 10

What is a protocol?

Answer 10

Protocol is the code that describes the way data is transferred between an external device and computer.

Question 11

What is a buffer?

Answer 11

Buffer is a temporary memory area, which holds the data for the output hardware.

Question 12

What is a scheduler?

Answer 12

Scheduler is a module in an operating system that ensures that processor time is used efficiently.

Question 13

List the different scheduling algorithms.

Answer 13

First come first served, Round Robin, shortest job first, shortest remaining time and multiple-level feedback queues.

Question 14

What type of jobs are given preference in the multiple-level feedback queues algorithm?

Answer 14

Short jobs and jobs that require interaction with I/O devices.

Question 15

What is an interrupt?

Answer 15

An interrupt is a signal sent from a device or software to the processor that makes the processor stop the current process and service the interrupt.

Question 16

List the types of operating systems.

Answer 16

Distributed OS, multi-tasking system, multi-user, multi-tasking system, embedded OS, real-time OS and OS for mobile and handheld devices.

Question 17

When is virtual memory required?

Answer 17

When a computer has too many processes running at the same time and the RAM has insufficient capacity.

Question 18

What is virtual memory?

Answer 18

A section of hard drive is allocated for storing temporary data when the RAM has insufficient capacity.

Question 19

What is swapping?

Answer 19

Swapping (or paging) is the process by which the OS transfers data between RAM and virtual memory.

Question 20

What type of data is copied to virtual memory?

Answer 20

Data that is not immediately required by a CPU is removed from RAM and is copied to the virtual memory .

Question 21

What are the two types of software?

Answer 21

System software and application software.

Question 22

What is system software?

Answer 22

Software that is responsible for running hardware and managing computer systems.

Question 23

State examples for system software.

Answer 23

Operating system, device drivers, and utility software.

Question 24

What is application software?

Answer 24

Software that enables a user to perform a specific task.

Question 25

What is a virtual machine?

Answer 25

Virtual machine is a program that simulates the hardware of a computer system.

Question 26

What is a hypervisor?

Answer 26

An emulation engine that maps the virtual hardware to the physical hardware in the host computer.

Question 27

What is a distributed operating system?

Answer 27

Distributed operating system offers a parallel processing system by sharing the load over multiple servers that are interlinked via a network.

Question 28

State a disadvantage of virtual machine.

Answer 28

The performance of the software will not be as in the original system. / Quite expensive to install virtual machine for large companies.

Question 29

Application software

Answer 29

Software that enables users to perform a specific task.

Question 30

Boot routine

Answer 30

The process of checking for new hardware and running some tests on hardware when a computer is powered on.

Question 31

Buffer

Answer 31

Temporary memory area in a computer to store data for current processes.

Question 32

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Answer 32

The brain of the computer that processes the instructions. It consists of a control unit, ALU and cache memory.

Question 33

Command Line Interface (CLI)

Answer 33

The non-interactive and text-only service used by a user to interact with the computer.

Question 34

Device Driver

Answer 34

A program that controls a device attached to the computer.

Question 35

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Answer 35

The interactive environment used by a user to interact with the computer.

Question 36

Hardware

Answer 36

The physical parts of a computer system, like hard-disk drive, CD-Drive, etc.

Question 37

Hypervisor

Answer 37

An emulation engine that maps the virtual hardware to the physical hardware in the host computer.

Question 38

Interrupt

Answer 38

An interrupt is a signal sent from a device or software to the processor, which temporarily stops the current process and initiates an interrupt service routine.

Question 39

Kernel

Answer 39

Kernels are the control centre of the operating system that deals with hardware operations.

Question 40

Malware

Answer 40

A computer program that is intentionally designed to harm the functioning of a computer.

Question 41

Memory

Answer 41

Part of the computer that stores data.

Question 42

Multitasking

Answer 42

A multitasking OS allows to user to perform more than one task at a time.

Question 43

Operating system

Answer 43

Software that runs in the background of a computer system and acts as an interface between the user and important applications.

Question 44

Pages

Answer 44

The memory is split into equally sized blocks called pages, which can be allocated to processes.

Question 45

Peripheral

Answer 45

Hardware that is connected to the computer like a keyboard, mouse, etc.

Question 46

Program counter

Answer 46

A register that contains the location of the instruction that is to be executed next.

Question 47

Process

Answer 47

A program that has begun execution.

Question 48

Protocol

Answer 48

Code that describes the way data is transferred between an external device and computer.

Question 49

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Answer 49

Memory that is frequently accessed for writing and reading data. Once the power is switched off, the contents of RAM are lost.

Question 50

Scheduler

Answer 50

A module in operating system that ensures that processor time is used efficiently.

Question 51

Segmentation

Answer 51

Splitting memory and allocating it to processes is called segmentation.

Question 52

Software

Answer 52

Programs that run on the computer.

Question 53

Swapping

Answer 53

The process by which the OS moves data between RAM and virtual memory.

Question 54

System software

Answer 54

Software that is responsible for running hardware and managing computer systems.

Question 55

Virtual machine

Answer 55

A program that simulates the hardware of a computer system.

Question 56

Virtual memory

Answer 56

A section of the hard drive is allocated for storing temporary data when a computer has too many processes running at the same time and the capacity of RAM is not enough.