BCS1333 OS: Chapter 1 Exercises

PART A




PART B


1.2 The issue of resource utilization shows up in different forms in different
types of operating systems. List what resources must be managed
carefully in the following settings:
a. Mainframe or minicomputer systems
b. Workstations connected to servers
c. Handheld computers

1.3 Under what circumstances would a user be better off using a timesharing
system rather than a PC or single-user workstation?

1.5 Describe the differences between symmetric and asymmetric multiprocessing.
What are three advantages and one disadvantage of multiprocessor
systems?

1.6 How do clustered systems differ from multiprocessor systems? What is
required for two machines belonging to a cluster to cooperate to provide
a highly available service?

1.9 How are network computers different from traditional personal computers?
Describe some usage scenarios in which it is advantageous to
use network computers.

1.10 What is the purpose of interrupts? What are the differences between a
trap and an interrupt? Can traps be generated intentionally by a user
program? If so, for what purpose?

1.11 Direct memory access is used for high-speed I/O devices in order to
avoid increasing the CPU´s execution load.
a. How does the CPU interface with the device to coordinate the
transfer?
b. How does the CPU know when the memory operations are complete?
c. The CPU is allowed to execute other programs while the DMA
controller is transferring data. Does this process interfere with
the execution of the user programs? If so, describe what forms of
interference are caused.

1.13 Give two reasons why caches are useful.What problems do they solve?
What problems do they cause? If a cache can be made as large as the
device for which it is caching (for instance, a cache as large as a disk),
why not make it that large and eliminate the device?