Bbt2103:Computer Operating Systems Question Paper
Bbt2103:Computer Operating Systems
Course:Bachelor Of Business Information Technology
Institution: Meru University Of Science And Technology question papers
Exam Year:2014
1
a. Explain the following terms: (10 Marks)
i. Computer operating system
ii. Device driver
iii. Process control block
iv. Critical resource
v. Context switch
b. There are two techniques by which a program executing in user mode can request the kernel’s services.
List these techniques. (2 Marks)
c. In your own words, list any four goals of operating systems. (4 Marks)
d. There are several conditions that might necessitate for the termination of a certain process. List any five
reasons why a process might terminate. (5 Marks)
e. Explain the following types of operating systems. (9 Marks)
i. Real-time operating system
ii. Multi-user operating system
iii. Distributed operating system
QUESTION TWO – 20 MARKS
a. Explain the concept of virtual memory and the role served by a virtual memory. (2 Marks)
b. Computers in most cases employ the concept of virtual memory. Whenever a page fault occurs and all the
page frames in primary memory have been loaded with a page from virtual memory, the memory manager
must decide which page to swap out of primary memory in order to load the requested page. Various
2
different algorithms known as replacement polices are employed to determine the best page to replace.
Discuss any three of these replacement policies. (9 Marks)
c. Explain the following three methods of storing or organizing files on a computer hard disc. (9 Marks)
i. Contiguous allocation method
ii. Indexed allocation method
iii. Linked allocation method
QUESTION THREE – 20 MARKS
a. Describe what a process is and list the four principal events that cause a process to be created. (6 Marks)
b. In your own words, discuss how a computer operating system manages files in a computer system. In your
discussion include the definition of the term file and also the tasks performed by an operating system to
manage files. (9 Marks)
c. In process management a Process Control Block (PCB) is very important. List at least five contents of a
process control block. (5 Marks)
QUESTION FOUR – 20 MARKS
a. Describe the three state process management model showing the three process states and how the transition
between these states happens. (10 Marks)
b. Describe what a deadlock in the context of process execution is. Additionally, describe the three conditions
that need to be present for a deadlock to occur. (7 Marks)
c. Discuss how multiprogramming increase efficiency in the utilization of central processing unit. (3 Marks)
QUESTION FIVE – 20 MARKS
a. Describe the following terms. (5 Marks)
i. Device independence
ii. Real-time clock management
b. Three strategies for process scheduling are first come first serve, Round Robin and shortest process next.
Explain these policies. (9 Marks)
c. Describe at least three file operations. (6 Marks)
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