System Software and Operating Systems

Front

What is system software?

Back

System software consists of the programs that control or maintain the operations of the computer and its devices, serving as the interface between the user, application software, and computer hardware.

Front

What are the main types of system software?

Back

The main types of system software are operating systems, utility programs, and device driver programs.

Front

What is an operating system (OS)?

Back

An operating system is a set of programs that coordinates all activities among computer hardware resources.

Front

What are some common functions of an operating system?

Back

Common functions include starting a computer, providing a user interface, managing programs, managing memory, scheduling jobs, configuring devices, monitoring performance, providing file management utilities, establishing internet connections, administering security, and controlling a network.

Front

What is the difference between a cold boot and a warm boot?

Back

A cold boot is the process of starting a computer that has been powered off completely, while a warm boot is restarting a computer using the operating system.

Front

What is a user interface?

Back

A user interface is a program that controls a display for the user, allowing interaction with the operating system.

Front

What are the two main types of user interfaces?

Back

The two main types of user interfaces are command line interfaces (CLI) and graphical user interfaces (GUI).

Front

What is the purpose of memory management in an operating system?

Back

Memory management optimizes the use of random access memory (RAM) by keeping track of memory usage, allocating memory to processes, and de-allocating it when no longer needed.

Front

What is the role of device drivers?

Back

Device drivers are small programs that tell the operating system how to communicate with specific hardware devices.

Front

What is the function of a performance monitor in an operating system?

Back

A performance monitor assesses and reports information about various computer resources and devices to help identify problems.