Ch01 08essay Answers
Chapter 1 – 8 Essay Question Review
1.
Explain why an operating system can be viewed as a resource allocator.
Ans: A computer system has many resources that may be required to solve a problem: CPU time, memory space, file-storage space, I/O devices, and so on. The operating system acts as the manager of these resources.
Facing numerous and possibly conflicting requests for resources, the operating system must decide how to allocate them to specific programs and users so that it can operate the computer system efficiently and fairly. Feedback: 1.1.2
2.
Explain the purpose of an interrupt vector.
Ans: The interrupt vector is merely a table of pointers to specific interrupt-handling routines. Because there are a fixed number of interrupts, this table allows for more efficient handling of the interrupts than with a general-purpose, interrupt-processing routine.
Feedback: 1.2.1
3.
What is a bootstrap program, and where is it stored?
Ans: A bootstrap program is the initial program that the computer runs when it is powered up or rebooted. It initializes all aspects of the system, from CPU registers to device controllers to memory contents.
Typically, it is stored in read-only memory (ROM) or electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), known by the general term firmware, within the computer hardware.
Feedback: 1.2.1
4.
What role do device controllers and device drivers play in a computer system?
Ans: A general-purpose computer system consists of CPUs and multiple device controllers that are connected through a common bus. Each device controller is in charge of a specific type of device. The device controller is responsible for moving the data between the peripheral devices that it controls and its local buffer storage. Typically, operating systems have a device driver for each device controller. This device driver understands the device controller and presents a uniform interface for the device to the rest of the operating system.
Feedback: 1.2.1
1.
Explain why an operating system can be viewed as a resource allocator.
Ans: A computer system has many resources that may be required to solve a problem: CPU time, memory space, file-storage space, I/O devices, and so on. The operating system acts as the manager of these resources.
Facing numerous and possibly conflicting requests for resources, the operating system must decide how to allocate them to specific programs and users so that it can operate the computer system efficiently and fairly. Feedback: 1.1.2
2.
Explain the purpose of an interrupt vector.
Ans: The interrupt vector is merely a table of pointers to specific interrupt-handling routines. Because there are a fixed number of interrupts, this table allows for more efficient handling of the interrupts than with a general-purpose, interrupt-processing routine.
Feedback: 1.2.1
3.
What is a bootstrap program, and where is it stored?
Ans: A bootstrap program is the initial program that the computer runs when it is powered up or rebooted. It initializes all aspects of the system, from CPU registers to device controllers to memory contents.
Typically, it is stored in read-only memory (ROM) or electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), known by the general term firmware, within the computer hardware.
Feedback: 1.2.1
4.
What role do device controllers and device drivers play in a computer system?
Ans: A general-purpose computer system consists of CPUs and multiple device controllers that are connected through a common bus. Each device controller is in charge of a specific type of device. The device controller is responsible for moving the data between the peripheral devices that it controls and its local buffer storage. Typically, operating systems have a device driver for each device controller. This device driver understands the device controller and presents a uniform interface for the device to the rest of the operating system.
Feedback: 1.2.1