Operating System

Question 1

What are the roles of an operating system?

Answer 1

• Manage the processor
• Memory Management
• Handling external peripherals
• Utility programs
• Networking
• Security
• Providing a user interface

Question 2

What are the hardware resources the OS has to manage?

Answer 2

• Processors
• Storage
• Input / Output devices
• Data

Question 3

What is a driver?

Answer 3

A software program that provides an interface for the OS to interact with a device

Question 4

What is a device driver?

Answer 4

Software which translates the OS’s instructions into a series of instructions that a specific piece of hardware will understand

Question 5

What is multi-tasking?

Answer 5

The OS can only manage one task at a time.
Memory management allows it to appear like more than one process is being executed

Question 6

Real Time OS

Answer 6

All input data must be processed within a guaranteed timeframe

Question 7

Example of a Real Time OS

Answer 7

Aircraft autopilot systems

Question 8

Multi Tasking OS

Answer 8

Runs multiple programs at the same time

Question 9

Example of a Multi Tasking OS

Answer 9

Smartphones

Question 10

Multi User OS

Answer 10

Allows multiple users at the same time

Question 11

Example of a Multi User OS

Answer 11

School or work computers

Question 12

Distributed OS

Answer 12

Allows multiple computers to work together on a single task

Question 13

Example of a Distributed OS

Answer 13

Online shopping

Question 14

Embedded OS

Answer 14

Has a dedicated function that is read-only

Question 15

Example of an Embedded OS

Answer 15

Washing machines

Question 16

What is BIOS?

Answer 16

Basic Input Output System is the first program that runs when a computer system is switched on

• Non volatile and read only

Question 17

What does BIOS do?

Answer 17

Checks hardware is working (the Power On Self Test) and then hands over control to the OS (the Bootstrap program)