1.

What are the three main purposes of an operating system?

Execute programs using a specific environment with specific hardware, use of the
i/o devices and use resources to compute programs.
1.2
List the four steps that are necessary to run a program on a completely
dedicated machine.
1)
2)
3)
4)
1.3

Start machine
Fetch program into memory
Execute program
Control execution from console
What is the main advantage of multiprogramming?

It saves time and resources utilizing the maximum capabilities of the computer a
nd always giving something to the CPU to execute.
1.4 What are the main differences between operating systems for mainframe comput
ers and personal computers?
Mainframe computers require more resources (time, energy, memory, power) while p
ersonal computers require much less resources for much less complex activities.
1.5 In a multiprogramming and time-sharing environment, several users share the
system simultaneously. This situation can result in various security problems.
a. What are two such problems?
We have security problems and resource managing problems
b. Can we ensure the same degree of security in a time-shared machine as we have
in a dedicated machine? Explain your answer.
A dedicated machine is more secure than a time-shared machine, but they are both
susceptible to have security breaches.
1.6 Define the essential properties of the following types of operating systems:
a. Batch: Similar jobs grouped for faster processing from the CPU
b. Interactive: The computer requests from the user, and the user waits for the
computer
c. Time sharing: Various users interact with the computer using the terminal to
control jobs
d. Real time: Mainly used to monitor environments using sensors and providing ex
act data.
e. Network: Many computers interconnected providing communication.
f. Parallel: Several systems working at the same time using resources from the m
ain system
g. Distributed: A computer distributed among several processors, having a commun
ication line
h. Clustered: A system combining several computers into one system.
i. Handheld: A portable, small system that has basic but useful functions.
1.7 We have stressed the need for an operating system to make efficient use of t
he computing hardware. When is it appropriate for the operating system to forsak
e this principle and to waste resources? Why is such a system not really wasteful?
When the required task needs specific resources, others can be ignored to max pe
rformance. Resources are really never wasted, it depends on the job to be execut
ed.

1.8 Under what circumstances would a user be better off using a timesharing syst
em rather than a PC or single-user workstation?
When the problem to solve is a very complex and large one that requires more res
ources and enough processing power, so that many users can interact.
1.9 Describe the differences between symmetric and asymmetric multiprocessing. W
hat are three advantages and one disadvantage of multiprocessor systems?
Symmetric multiprocessing uses equally all processors, while Asymmetric has a ma
in processor and distribute jobs among the other ones.
1.10 What is the main difficulty that a programmer must overcome in writing an o
perative system for a real-time environment?
The computer must provide with accurate reading and must excel in resource manag
ement, so that the data provided is useful, the hard part for the programmer is
to make such system.
1.11 Consider the various definitions of operating system. Consider whether the
operating system should include applications such as web browsers and mail progr
ams. Argue both pro and con positions, and support your answers.
It depends of the target the OS is aiming for, for example the operating system
of a commercial PC must include web browser and mail programs, while the process
ing capability can be medium. While an industrial OS won t need the web browsing i
t must be focused on different tasks.
1.12 What are the tradeoffs inherent in handheld computers?
Handheld computers are not as powerful as PC or other computers and limit them t
o certain restrictions of software, hardware, etc. But they are useful for diffe
rent tasks for their size and portability.
1.13 Consider a computing cluster consisting of two nodes running a database. De
scribe two ways in which the cluster software can manage access to the data on t
he disk. Discuss the benefits and detriments of each.
The software can manage access for both of the nodes making them equal and makin
g easier for DBAs to interact with the database. Or the database can be managed
in one node making a client and a server environment in which the server has mor
e privileges and the client can make requests.