Device Drivers

Question 1

What are device drivers?

Answer 1

• OS is expected to communicate with a wide variety of devices, each with different models and manufacturers
• it is computer programs provided by OS, and allow OS to interact with the hardware
• without them it would be impossible for creators of OS’s to program operating systems to handle all existing and future devices.
• piece of software, usually supplied with a peripheral device, that contains instructions to enable the peripheral and OS to communicate and configure hardware

Question 2

How does a Device Driver work? Give an example

Answer 2

example keyboard:
when a piece of hardware is used, the device driver communicates this request to the OS which produces relevant output such as a letter on the screen

Question 3

What are Device Drivers specific to?

Answer 3

computers architecture - so different drivers must be used for different device types e.g. smartphones, game consoles and desktop PC’s

operating system - drivers interact with OS, so they’re specific to OS installed on the device

Question 4

Give an advantage of device drivers

Answer 4

compact programs that provides/allows communication between a computer and hardware

Question 5

Give a disadvantage of device drivers

Answer 5

compatibility issues when device driver isnt compatible with OS system, hardware or other devices

can lead to malfunctions or errors

security challenges when device driver is vunerabke to malware, exploits or backdoors