diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'doc')
| -rw-r--r-- | doc/assignment1.md | 28 |
1 files changed, 28 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/doc/assignment1.md b/doc/assignment1.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..856dfac --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/assignment1.md @@ -0,0 +1,28 @@ +# Assignment 1 + +This assignment should be submitted after you have finished Unit 1. It is worth 10% of your final grade. + +## Part 1: Concepts and Principles (60 marks; 5 marks each) + +Instructions: Please answer the following questions in complete sentences. Your answer for each question should be about 150 words. + +1. Define the concepts interrupt and trap, and explain the purpose of an interrupt vector. +1. How does a computer system with von Neumann architecture execute an instruction? +1. What role do device controllers and device drivers play in a computer system? +1. Why do clustered systems provide what is considered high-availability service? +1. Describe an operating system’s two modes of operation. +1. Define cache, and explain cache coherency. +1. Describe why direct memory access (DMA) is considered an efficient mechanism for performing I/O. +1. Describe why multicore processing is more efficient than placing each processor on its own chip. +1. Describe the relationship between an API, the system-call interface, and the operating system. +1. Describe some requirements and goals to consider when designing an operating system. +1. Explain why a modular kernel may be the best of the current operating system design techniques. +1. Distinguish between virtualization and simulation. + +## Part 2: Design Considerations (40 marks) + +Instructions: Please answer the following questions in about 1-2 pages each. + +1. Draw a typical computer organization figure that includes the main components of von Neumann architecture. Identify each component, and explain its function and interaction relative to other components. (15 marks) +1. Define system call, and list the main types of system calls. Elaborate on how a system call interacts with a standard C library and hardware under a dual-mode operating system environment. (10 marks) +1. Describe the overall structure of virtual machines, and compare VMware and JVM. (15 marks) |