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Basic Operating System Questions and Answers

The document provides a series of questions and answers regarding basic concepts of operating systems. Key topics include the definition and functions of an operating system, processes, multitasking, kernels, virtual memory, file systems, deadlocks, paging, and real-time operating systems. Each concept is briefly explained to give a foundational understanding of operating systems.

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74 views2 pages

Basic Operating System Questions and Answers

The document provides a series of questions and answers regarding basic concepts of operating systems. Key topics include the definition and functions of an operating system, processes, multitasking, kernels, virtual memory, file systems, deadlocks, paging, and real-time operating systems. Each concept is briefly explained to give a foundational understanding of operating systems.

Uploaded by

7rm4mcqh7f
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Basic Operating System Questions and Answers

Q1: What is an operating system?

A1: An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware, software

resources, and provides common services for computer programs. It acts as an intermediary

between users and the computer hardware.

Q2: What are the main functions of an operating system?

A2: The main functions of an OS include process management, memory management, file system

management, device management, and providing a user interface.

Q3: What is a process?

A3: A process is an instance of a program in execution. It includes the program code, current

activity, and the process control block (PCB) which contains process-specific information.

Q4: What is multitasking?

A4: Multitasking is the ability of an operating system to execute multiple tasks (processes)

simultaneously by rapidly switching between them. This provides the illusion of parallelism.

Q5: What is a kernel?

A5: The kernel is the core part of an operating system. It manages system resources, handles

low-level hardware operations, and ensures that different programs and users do not interfere with

each other.

Q6: What is virtual memory?

A6: Virtual memory is a memory management technique that creates an illusion of a large main

memory by using a combination of hardware and software to enable a computer to compensate for

physical memory shortages.

Q7: What is a file system?


A7: A file system is a method and data structure that an operating system uses to manage files on a

disk or partition. It defines how data is stored, accessed, and managed.

Q8: What is a deadlock?

A8: A deadlock is a situation in which two or more processes are unable to proceed because each is

waiting for one of the others to release a resource. It results in a standstill of operations.

Q9: What is paging?

A9: Paging is a memory management scheme that eliminates the need for contiguous allocation of

physical memory by dividing the process's memory into fixed-size blocks called pages.

Q10: What is a real-time operating system (RTOS)?

A10: A real-time operating system (RTOS) is an OS designed to serve real-time applications that

process data as it comes in, typically without buffering delays. It is used in systems requiring strict

timing constraints.

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