CamTech Flashcards Operating Systems

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What is resource management in an operating system?

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The OS decides when different processes are given access to resources, such as the CPU or network connection, and controls access to shared resources like printers using spooling.

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What is a User Interface (UI) in an operating system?

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The display that allows users to interact with the system, which can be a Graphical User Interface (GUI), Command Line Interface (CLI), or Menu-driven Interface (MDI).

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How do user profiles function in an operating system?

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User profiles allow different users to have separate logins, access shared and personal files, and can assign administrative privileges to certain users.

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What role does an operating system play in memory access?

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The OS finds and labels memory locations for the CPU, marking unused locations as 'free' to prevent overwriting necessary data.

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How does an operating system manage peripheral devices?

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The OS installs and manages drivers that allow the computer to communicate with and use new peripherals as they are added.

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What security features does an operating system provide?

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The OS provides passwords, antivirus software, and firewalls to protect against unauthorized access, malware, and control network traffic.

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What is multitasking in an operating system?

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Multitasking allows an operating system to run multiple applications simultaneously by managing CPU time and resources efficiently.

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How does an operating system handle file management?

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The OS organizes, stores, retrieves, and manages data on storage devices, providing a file system structure for easy access and manipulation.

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What is virtual memory in an operating system?

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Virtual memory is a memory management capability that provides an "idealized abstraction of the storage resources" that are actually available on a given machine, creating the illusion to users of a very large (main) memory.

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What is process scheduling in an operating system?

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Process scheduling is the method by which an OS decides which process runs at a given time, optimizing CPU usage and ensuring efficient process management.