SOMAIYA

VIDYAVIHAR
K J Somaiya Institute of Technology
An Autonomous Institute Permanently Affiliated to the University of Mumbai

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Academic Year (2024-2025) Even SEM

Subject: Operating System (OS) Class: SY_ IT

SEM: IV

Sample Questions for Term Test I

Chapter 1
Fundamentals of Operating System
1. Describe characteristics of Modern Operating System.

Ans: A modern operating system (OS) is designed to efficiently manage hardware resources, provide a
user-friendly interface, and support various applications. It incorporates advanced features to enhance
performance, security, and usability. Below are the key characteristics:

1. Multi-User Capability

 Supports multiple users simultaneously.

 Uses authentication mechanisms to manage user access.
 Example: UNIX, Linux, and Windows Server OS allow multiple users to log in remotely.

2. Multitasking

 Allows multiple processes to run at the same time.

 Uses CPU scheduling techniques like Round Robin and Priority Scheduling.
 Example: Playing music while browsing the internet.

3. Multiprocessing

 Supports multiple CPUs (or cores) for parallel execution.

 Increases system performance and responsiveness.
 Example: Modern OS like Windows, Linux, and macOS utilize multi-core processors.
4. Thread Management (Multithreading)

 Supports multiple threads within a single process.

 Improves performance by allowing tasks to execute concurrently.
 Example: A web browser handling multiple tabs simultaneously.

5. Memory Management

 Efficiently manages RAM using paging, segmentation, and virtual memory.

 Prevents memory leaks and ensures process isolation.
 Example: Windows uses a paging mechanism to swap inactive processes to disk.

6. Device and File Management

 Controls and manages input/output devices using device drivers.

 Organizes files using file systems like NTFS, ext4, and FAT32.
 Example: USB plug-and-play devices are managed automatically by the OS.

2. Explain objectives and functions of Operating System.

Ans:

Functions of Operating System:

 3. What are the major functions carried out by an Operating System?
Ans: Same as above
4. What is System Call? Explain any four System Calls.

Ans: A System Call is a mechanism that allows user-level processes to request services from the
operating system (OS), particularly from the kernel. It acts as an interface between user applications and
the OS to perform privileged operations like file management, process control, and communication.
5. Differentiate between Multiprogramming and Multiprocessing system?
Ans:

6. Discuss the Difference between Monolithic and Micro kernel.

Ans:
7. What are System Programs? Explain in brief various categories in which it is divided.
Ans:
8. The services and functions provided by an operating system can be divided into two main
categories. Briefly describe the two categories and discuss how they differ?
Ans:
 9. What are major activities of an Operating System with regard to File Management and Memory
Management?
Ans: The Operating System (OS) plays a crucial role in managing both files and memory to ensure
smooth and efficient system operation. Below are the major activities related to File Management
and Memory Management.

1. File Management
The OS is responsible for handling files stored on storage devices. The major activities include:

a. File Creation and Deletion

 The OS allows users and applications to create and delete files.

 It ensures that files are stored properly without conflicts.

b. Directory Management

 Provides a structured way to store, organize, and access files using directories and subdirectories.
 Supports operations like creating, renaming, and deleting directories.

c. File Access Control and Security

 Implements user authentication and permissions (Read, Write, Execute) to protect files from
unauthorized access.
 Supports encryption and backup mechanisms.

d. File Read and Write Operations

 Controls reading and writing of data in files.

 Uses buffering and caching to improve file access speed.

e. File Allocation and Space Management

 Manages disk space allocation using techniques like contiguous, linked, and indexed allocation.
 Tracks free space and ensures efficient storage utilization.

f. File System Management

 Supports different file systems like NTFS, FAT32, ext4 for efficient file organization.
 Handles mounting and unmounting of file systems.

2. Memory Management
Memory management ensures optimal use of RAM by allocating and deallocating memory to processes.
The major activities include:

a. Memory Allocation and Deallocation

 Allocates memory dynamically to processes when they need it.

 Frees memory when processes terminate, preventing memory leaks.

b. Process Address Space Management

 Manages logical and physical addresses used by processes.

 Ensures process isolation to prevent unauthorized memory access.

c. Paging and Segmentation

 Uses paging to divide memory into fixed-size blocks, reducing fragmentation.

 Uses segmentation to divide memory based on logical sections like code, data, and stack.

d. Virtual Memory Management

 Implements virtual memory using disk space as an extension of RAM.

 Uses swapping to move inactive processes to disk, allowing more processes to run.

e. Memory Protection and Security

 Ensures one process does not access another process’s memory.

 Uses techniques like bound registers and hardware support (MMU - Memory Management Unit).

10. Briefly explain the different kernel architectures.

Ans: A kernel is the core component of an operating system (OS) that manages hardware and software
interactions. Different kernel architectures define how the kernel handles system functions like memory
management, process control, and device communication. The main types of kernel architectures are:

1. Monolithic Kernel
Description:

 The entire OS runs as a single large process in kernel mode.

 All essential services (memory management, file system, device drivers) are integrated into the kernel.
Advantages:

✔ High performance due to direct function calls.

✔ Faster execution as there is no context switching.

Disadvantages:

✖ A bug in one component can crash the entire system.

✖ Difficult to modify or update.

Examples:

Linux, UNIX, MS-DOS, older Windows versions.

2. Microkernel
Description:

 The kernel contains only essential functions like process management, memory management, and
inter-process communication (IPC).
 Other services (device drivers, file systems) run in user mode as separate processes.

Advantages:

✔ More stable—failures in user-mode services do not crash the kernel.

✔ More secure due to minimal code running in kernel mode.

Disadvantages:

✖ Slower due to frequent message passing between kernel and user-space services.
✖ More complex design and debugging.

Examples:

Minix, QNX, macOS, Windows NT.

3. Hybrid Kernel
Description:

 A combination of monolithic and microkernel architectures.

 Some services (like drivers and file system management) run in kernel mode, while others (like user
applications) run in user mode.
Advantages:

✔ Balances performance and modularity.

✔ Provides better security and stability than a monolithic kernel.

Disadvantages:

✖ More complex than both monolithic and microkernels.

Examples:

Windows NT, macOS (XNU Kernel).

4. Exokernel
Description:

 A lightweight and minimalistic kernel that provides direct access to hardware with minimal abstraction.
 Instead of managing system resources, it allows applications to control them directly.

Advantages:

✔ Extremely fast and efficient due to minimal OS intervention.

✔ Provides flexibility for custom resource management.

Disadvantages:

✖ Requires applications to manage resources, increasing complexity.

✖ Not widely adopted due to its complexity.

Examples:

ExOS (MIT research project).

5. Nanokernel
Description:

 A further stripped-down version of a microkernel with only basic hardware abstraction.

 Other OS components, including process management, run in user space.

Advantages:
✔ Extremely small and lightweight, useful for embedded systems.

Disadvantages:

✖ Limited functionality.

Examples:

Some real-time operating systems (RTOS).

11. What is Context-Switch? Describe the actions taken by a kernel to context switch between
processes?
Ans:

12. What is kernel? Discuss briefly the approaches of designing kernel?

Ans:

Chapter 2
Process Management
13. Explain various states of process with the help of State Transition diagram.
14. Use following Scheduling algorithm to calculate ATAT &AWT for the following process:
a) FCFS
b) Pre-emptive and Non-Pre-emptive SJF
c) Round Robin
d) Pre-emptive Priority

Process Arrival Time Burst Time Priority

P1 0 8 3
P2 2 1 1
P3 2 3 2
 P4 3 2 3
P5 4 6 4

15. What is thread? Explain User level threads and Kernel level threads?
16. Explain the Multithreading Models in detail.
17. Write a short note on Inter Process Communication (IPC).
18. Compare Pre-emptive and Non-Pre-emptive Scheduling?
19. What is Scheduling? Give different scheduling Policies and their comparison?
20. Explain with an example, which of the following algorithms could result in starvation.
a) FCFS
b) SJF
c) Round Robin
d) Priority
21. Consider the following set of processes, with the length of CPU burst given in milliseconds.
The processes are assumed to arrive in order P1, P2, P3, P4, and P5 all at time 0.

Process Burst Time Priority

P1 10 3
P2 1 1
Draw four Gantt charts P3 2 3 illustrating the execution of these
processes using FCFS, P4 1 4 SJF, a
P5 5 2
non-pre-emptive priority (a smaller priority number implies a
higher priority), and RR (quantum=1) scheduling. Calculate the average turnaround time and
average waiting time for each process?
22. Describe the actions taken by a kernel to context-switch between processes.
23. Which characteristics are used for comparison between different scheduling algorithms?
24. Explain the differences in how much the following scheduling algorithms discriminate in favor of
short processes:
a) FCFS
b) RR
 c) Multilevel Feedback Queues
25. What resources are used when a thread is created? How do they differ from those when a process
is created?
26. Consider the following snapshot of the process to be executed. Draw the Gantt chart and
determine the average waiting time and average turnaround time for FCFS, SJF (pre-emptive), SJF
(non-Pre-emptive) and Round-Robin (quantum=2) scheduling algorithm?

Process Arrival Time Burst time

P1 0 7
P2 1 4
P3 3 3
P4 5 1
P5 7 5

27. Define Process scheduling along with type of schedulers in detail.

28. What is meant by Inter Process Communication (IPC)? Explain various models of it.
29. Describe the Process Control Block (PCB) in process management.
30. Summarize the steps in Context Switch Mechanism in operating system.
31. Distinguish between:
a) Program and Process.
b) Process and Thread.
c) User Level Thread and Kernel Level Thread.
d) Long Term, Short Term and Medium-Term Scheduler.

Chapter 3
Process Coordination

32. What is producer-consumer problem? How to solve with an example?

33. Describe how does Critical Section problem avoid race condition. What are the properties that
data item should possess to avoid critical section?
34. Show that Peterson’s algorithm satisfies the requirement of mechanisms to control access to a
critical section?
35. What do you mean by Critical Section? Using Semaphores, write a solution to reader-writer
problem that gives priority to readers?
36. Define the Critical Section. What are the requirements to solve the critical Section Problem?
37. Explain in brief the Race Condition in process synchronization.
38. Write a short note on “Semaphores”.
39. Describe in brief the Classical Problems of Synchronization. Explain any one type with the help
of one example.
40. Discuss the idea of message passing in process coordination.
 Subject Incharge

Ms. Priyanka Deshmukh