DDCA IN-SEM-2 QUESTION BANK

CO-4
I. Short Answer Questions:
1. Identify and list some of the secondary storage devices.
Ans: Examples include hard disk drives (HDDs), solid-state drives (SSDs), USB
flash drives, external hard drives, optical discs (like CDs and DVDs), and
memory cards.
2. Identify and categorize different types of RAM according to their
characteristics.
Ans:
(i) DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory):
Requires refreshing, slower, used as main memory.
(ii) SRAM (Static Random Access Memory):
Faster, doesn't require refreshing, used for cache memory.
3. Draw the memory hierarchy diagram with increasing distance from CPU.
Ans: (i) CPU Registers
(ii) Cache Memory
(iii) Main Memory (RAM)
(iv) Secondary Storage (Hard Drives, SSDs, etc.)
4. Specify the role of memory cell in the context of memory organization.
Ans: Memory cells store binary data (0s and 1s) and are organized into memory
units like bytes or words to store and retrieve information for processing.
5. Formulate cache performance and its purpose.
Ans: Cache improves CPU performance by storing frequently accessed data
closer to the CPU, reducing the time needed to access that data from slower
memory.
6. Highlight various policies of cache data replacement.
Ans: (i) LRU (Least Recently Used)
(ii) FIFO (First In, First Out)
(iii) Random Replacement
7. Represent the use of virtual memory in computer system.
Ans: Virtual memory allows the computer to use a portion of the hard drive as
if it were additional RAM, providing more memory for running programs than
physically available RAM.
8. List various external storage devices.
Ans: Examples include external hard drives, USB flash drives, memory cards,
optical discs (CDs/DVDs/Blu-rays), and network-attached storage (NAS).
9. Summarize various Asynchronous Data Transfer methods.
Ans: Polling, Interrupts
10. List potential reasons for buffering in I/O operations.
Ans:
(i) Mismatched speeds between devices
(ii) Temporarily storing data during slow transfer rates
(iii) Managing data flow between fast and slow devices
11. List the various data transfer methods in IO communication.
Ans: (i) Programmed I/O
(ii) Interrupt-driven I/O
(iii) Direct Memory Access (DMA)
II. Long Answer Questions:
1. Evaluate the types and functionality of primary memory devices exploring
their role in data storage.
Ans:
(i) Primary memory (RAM) stores data temporarily for the CPU.
(ii) Includes DRAM (Dynamic RAM) and SRAM (Static RAM).
(iii) DRAM is cheaper but slower, requires refreshing.
(iv) SRAM is faster, more expensive, and doesn't need refreshing.
(v) Crucial for storing data actively used by the CPU.

2. Investigate the hierarchical organization of memory in computing systems

with examples.
Ans:
(i) CPU registers are fastest and closest to the CPU.
(ii) Cache memory is faster than RAM and sits between registers and RAM.
(iii) RAM (Main Memory) stores data that the CPU needs to access quickly.
(iv) Secondary storage devices like HDDs and SSDs provide long-term storage
but are slower.

3. Evaluate the types and functionality of secondary memory devices

exploring their role in data storage.
Ans:
(i) Secondary memory devices store data permanently.
(ii) Examples include HDDs, SSDs, optical discs, and flash drives.
(iii) Larger storage capacities compared to primary memory.
(iv) Essential for long-term storage of programs and data.
4. Differentiate between Volatile and Non-volatile memory types.
Ans:

5. Differentiate between the concepts of temporal and spatial locality in

memory access patterns.
Ans:
6. Describe the importance of temporal and spatial locality with respect to
memory.
Ans:
(i) Temporal locality: Reduces time spent accessing the same data repeatedly,
enhancing performance by reusing recently accessed data.
(ii) Spatial locality: Improves efficiency by fetching adjacent data along with the
requested data, as programs often access data near each other in memory.
(iii) Both localities optimize memory access patterns, reducing latency and
improving overall system performance.
7. Describe the concept of memory addressing & Memory access request in
memory organization.
Ans:
(i) Memory addressing: Involves assigning unique addresses to each memory
location for identification.
(ii) Memory access request: CPU sends requests to the memory controller
specifying the memory address it wants to read from or write to. The memory
controller manages these requests and retrieves or stores data accordingly.
8. Dissect the purpose, functionality and advantages of cache memory,
utilizing a diagram for illustration.
Ans:
Purpose: To store frequently accessed data closer to the CPU for faster access,
reducing the time spent waiting for data from slower memory.
Functionality: Cache memory sits between the CPU and main memory, storing
copies of frequently used data.
Advantages:
(i) Speeds up data access by providing fast access to frequently used data.
(ii) Reduces the latency of memory access.
(iii) Helps balance the speed disparity between the CPU and main memory.
(iv) Improves overall system performance.
9. Elaborate various mapping procedures of cache memory with an example.
Ans:
(i) Direct Mapping: Each main memory block maps to exactly one cache block.
(ii) Associative Mapping: Any main memory block can map to any cache block.
(iii) Set-Associative Mapping: A compromise between direct and associative
mapping, where each main memory block can map to a set of cache blocks.
(iv) Example: In direct mapping, if main memory has 8 blocks and cache has 4
blocks, each main memory block maps to a specific cache block based on a
predetermined rule.

10. Investigate the significance and impact of "Hit" and "Miss" events in
cache memory, detailing how these occurrences influence system
performance.
Ans:
(i) Hit: Occurs when requested data is found in the cache, resulting in faster
access time.
(ii) Miss: Occurs when requested data is not found in the cache, requiring data
to be fetched from slower main memory.
(iii) Impact: Hits improve system performance by providing fast access to data,
while misses result in longer access times due to the need to retrieve data from
main memory. The frequency of hits and misses significantly influences cache
efficiency and overall system performance.
11. Describe the virtual memory system, focusing on the role of page tables.
Ans:
(i) Virtual memory allows a computer to use a portion of the hard drive as if it
were additional RAM.
(ii) Page tables are data structures used by the operating system to manage the
mapping between virtual memory addresses used by programs and physical
memory addresses in RAM.
(iii) When a program accesses virtual memory, the CPU translates the virtual
address into a physical address using the page table.
(iv) Page tables help in managing memory efficiently by allowing the operating
system to swap data between RAM and disk as needed, ensuring that programs
have access to the memory they require.

12. Analyze the role and significance of external storage solutions in

computing systems.
Ans:
(i) External storage solutions, such as external hard drives, USB flash drives, and
cloud storage, provide additional storage capacity for computing systems.
(ii) They are crucial for storing large amounts of data that cannot fit into the
computer's internal storage.
(iii) External storage solutions also enable data backup, data sharing, and
portability of data between different devices.
(iv) They play a significant role in data management, security, and disaster
recovery strategies.
13. Elaborate role and architecture of I/O buses and interface modules with
diagram.
Ans:
(i) I/O buses facilitate communication between the CPU and external devices,
allowing data transfer to and from the computer system.
(ii) Interface modules act as intermediaries between the CPU and external
devices, translating the signals and protocols used by the CPU into those
compatible with the external devices.
(iii) Diagram:

14. Analyze buffering with its types in the context of I/O operations.
Ans:
(i) Buffering involves temporarily storing data during input or output operations
to match the speeds of different devices.
(ii) Types of buffering include input buffering, where data is stored temporarily
before being processed by the CPU, and output buffering, where data is stored
temporarily before being sent to an output device.
(iii) Buffering helps smooth out the flow of data between devices with
mismatched speeds, improving overall system performance and efficiency.
15. Analyze handshaking with its types in the context of I/O communication.
Ans:
(i) Handshaking refers to the process of establishing communication between
two devices by exchanging predefined signals or messages.
(ii) Types of handshaking include synchronous handshaking, where data
transfer occurs in sync with a clock signal, and asynchronous handshaking,
where devices use predefined control signals to coordinate data transfer
without a shared clock signal.
(iii) Handshaking ensures that data is transferred accurately and reliably
between devices, preventing data loss or corruption during communication.
16. Examine the process of Programmed IO through the use of a block
diagram and workflow.
Ans:
Block Diagram:

Workflow:
(i) CPU sends an I/O request to the I/O device.
(ii) I/O device performs the requested operation.
(iii) I/O device signals the CPU upon completion.
(iv) CPU checks the status of the operation.
(v) If the operation is complete, CPU proceeds with the next instruction.
17. Evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of Programmed I/O versus Interrupt-
driven I/O.
Ans:
(i) Programmed I/O:
Benefits:
(i) Simple and straightforward implementation.
(ii) Suitable for devices with low data transfer rates or when CPU intervention is
necessary for each I/O operation.
Drawbacks:
(i) Inefficient as CPU is tied up while waiting for I/O operation to complete.
(ii) Wastes CPU cycles and reduces overall system performance.
(ii) Interrupt-driven I/O:
Benefits:
(i) Frees up CPU to perform other tasks while waiting for I/O operation to
complete.
(ii) Improves system performance and efficiency by allowing CPU to handle
other tasks in the meantime.
Drawbacks:
(i) More complex to implement compared to programmed I/O.
(ii) Requires additional hardware support for interrupt handling.
18. Examine the process of interrupt driven IO through the use of a block
diagram and workflow.
Ans:
Block Diagram:

Workflow:
(i) CPU sends an I/O request to the I/O device.
(ii) CPU continues executing other instructions.
(iii) I/O device performs the requested operation independently.
(iv) Upon completion, I/O device sends an interrupt signal to the CPU.
(v) CPU suspends its current operation and handles the interrupt.
(vi) CPU services the I/O request.
(vii) CPU resumes its previous operation.