CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE
FACULTY OF COMMERCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
BACHELOR OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(HONOURS) DEGREE
YEAR TWO: SECOND SEMESTER EXAMINATION
OPERATING SYSTEMS – IT105
DATE: APRIL 2024 TIME: 3 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
1. This paper carries 5 (FIVE) questions.
2. Answer any 4 (four) questions
3. Each question carries 25 Marks
4. The marks for each question are indicated in square [] brackets.
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QUESTION 1
(a) You are employed as a System Administrator of a bank. The bank is about to acquire a
new Operating System. Give advice to management on the desirable qualities of an
Operating System. [15]
(b) Discuss the mechanisms that can be used to implement security policies in a computer
system. [10]
QUESTION 2
(a) Describe the following Scheduling algorithms:
i. First Come First Serve (FCFS) [2]
ii. Round Robin (RR) [2]
iii. Shortest Job First (SJF) [2]
(b) Given the following processes and burst times:
Process Burst Time
P1 10
P2 6
P3 23
P4 9
P5 31
P6 3
P7 19
i. Draw the Gant charts illustrating the execution of these processes using the FCFS,
RR, and SJF Scheduling algorithms. Assume a quantum of 8 is being used. [5]
ii. Calculate the average waiting time for each algorithm. [6]
iii. Calculate the average turnaround time for each algorithm. [6]
iv. Which scheduling algorithm, as an operating system designer, would you
impement and why? [2]
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QUESTION 3
(a) Using examples, compare and contrast preemptive and non-preemptive scheduling as
used in process management. [5]
(b) Explain the main differences between a short-term and long-term scheduler [5]
(c) Explain the following:
(i) Deadlock in Operating Systems. [2]
(ii) Conditions that are necessary for a Deadlock to occur. [4]
(iii) Ways to recover from a Deadlock Situation [4]
QUESTION 4
(a) List and explain the five functions that an Operating System should accomplish [5]
(b) the difference between a process and a thread. [5]
(c) Explain the purpose of Interprocess Communication (IPC). [5]
(d) Define Semaphores in Operating systems and the wait and signal operations in
semaphores [5]
(e) The process control block (PCB) is a data structure containing certain important
information about the process. Identify the information contained in the PCB. [5]
QUESTION 5
(a) One of the major functions of an Operating System is File Management. Explain the
techniques that can be used for the protection of user files. [8]
(b) Describe virtual memory and explain its advantages in operating systems. [5]
(c) Distinguish between internal and external fragmentation [4]
(d) Explain what is meant by Swapping in memory management [2]
(e) Briefly explain:
a. Single-partition system [3]
b. Multiple-partition system [3]
………………………..…END OF EXAMINATION………………………………….
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