Systems Software

Question 1

Whats an operating system

Answer 1

A software which manages hardware and software resources and provides an interface for the uswr

Question 2

Whats utility system

Answer 2

Helps maintain and support the computer such as a disc cleaner, backup software, antivirus software

Question 3

Whats a kernel

Answer 3

The heart and core of an operating system which manages operations of computers and hardware

Question 4

Whats a shell

Answer 4

An environment or a special user program which provides an interface to user

Question 5

Whats the CPU?

Answer 5

The brain of the computer manages applications and software

Question 6

Whats the bootstrap loader

Answer 6

A program wich starts up the OS when a computer is turned on

Question 7

Where is the bootstrap loader found

Answer 7

In the ROM (read only memory) because its non volatile

Question 8

Whats the purpose of the RAM?

Answer 8

Holds data and instructions currently in use

Question 9

What are the peripheral devices

Answer 9

The input and output devices like a printer, keyboard, mouse

Question 10

The 5 purposes of OS

Answer 10

• provide user interface
• memory managment
• Multitasking
• peripheral managmenet
• user management

Question 11

Where can you access the operating system

Answer 11

The C drive

Question 12

Memory management in OS

Answer 12

the OS manages RAM
When you open an application
The OS will copy it onto the RAM
the OS makes sure each program has its own space so they dont overwrite each others data.

Question 13

What is peripheral management

Answer 13

The OS manages the input and output devices of the computee

Question 14

What is the user interface

Answer 14

Means coming together
Provides users with an interface so they can interact wih a computer

Question 15

Whats the 3 types of interface

Answer 15

GUI (graphical user interface)
Menu driven interface
Command line interface

Question 16

Whats the GUI?

Answer 16

Uses windows, menus and pointers to control the computer
Mid 80s
Windows and mac

Question 17

Whats the menu driven interface

Answer 17

Uses menus to control the computer
Uses icons and windows to represent applications
Mobile phones
Mp3 players (if not on menu you cant do it)

Question 18

Whats the command line interface

Answer 18

Written commands control computers
The only way back then to communicate with a computer
Only linux use it now

Question 19

How does the CPU multitasking

Answer 19

OS enables multitasking by managing the CPUs processes
Many programs can now run at the same time
OS allows each program to take turns or getting the shortest job done firet

Question 20

Whats user management

Answer 20

Ensure users data is not seen by anyone using username and password.
Give users different permissions

Question 21

What access rights might a file manager track

Answer 21

• read
• modify
• execute

Question 22

The role of file managing

Answer 22

Responsible for keeping track of where specific files are located and determining the type of file. Also determines the access rights of each file

Question 23

Responsibilities of user manager

Answer 23

• handles authentication
• making decision based on access rights
• keeping track of who is logged in

Question 24

Why do user managers need to keep track of whos logged in?

Answer 24

A line of defense against security breaches and also if someone were to forget to log out.

Question 25

Whats encryption

Answer 25

The scrambling of data to protect sensitive data

Question 26

Whats defragmentation

Answer 26

A type of utility software which reorganises data in different blocks by consolidating files on your hard drive and increases performance of computer

Question 27

Whats fragmentation

Answer 27

When a single file is stored in different places on a storage device its fragmented (also takes longer to load up)

Question 28

Why should SSD’s never be defragmented

Answer 28

• they provide random access to data
• defragmenting it will push the device towards its read/ write cycle limit which shortens its lifetime

Question 29

4 types of utility software

Answer 29

• backup
• compression
• defragmentation
• encryption

Question 30

What are two types of backup

Answer 30

• full
• incremental

Question 31

Why is memory management important

Answer 31

• allows programs to allocate memory
• makes sure programs dont overwrite each others data
• allows large programs to run

Question 32

Whats segmentation

Answer 32

Shortest job first

Question 33

Whats real time

Answer 33

The OS gives a response with a guaranteed time frame

Question 34

Whats paging

Answer 34

When memory is split up into equal sized sections aka pages.

Question 35

Whats virtual memory

Answer 35

It uses a section of the hard drive to act as RAM when the space in main memory is insufficient to store programs’ data.
The sections of programs are temporarily moved through paging which frees memory for programs in RAM.

Question 36

Pros and cons for shortest job first

Answer 36

Pro: waiting time reduced
Cons: requires processor to calculate time for each job, doesnt take into account job priority or urgency

Question 37

Advantage and disadvantage of first come first serve

Answer 37

Pro: straightforward to implement
Con: job priority, urgency not considered

Question 38

Whats round robin?

Answer 38

Each job is given a time slice- within which its allowed to execute. The process is repeated until job complete,
Pro: all jobs soon attended to
Con: longer jobs longer time
Job priority not considered

Question 39

Whats an embedded system

Answer 39

A computer system with a function built within a larger mechanical device. Its purpose is to control the device and allow a user to interact with it.