ASSIGNMENT-1

SUBJECT: OPERATING SYSTEM SUBJECT CODE: RCS5C003

BRANCH: CSE SEMESTER: 5TH

Short Answer Type

1. What is Process Control Block(PCB)?.

2. What is the main purpose of an operating system?
3. What is the difference between multiprogramming and multiprocessing operating system?
4. What is a time sharing operating system?
5. What is the purpose of system calls?

Long Answer Type

1. Define an operating system. Discuss the different operating system services.

2. What are the differences between Batch processing system and Real Time Processing System?
3. Define a process scheduler? State the characteristics of a good process scheduler?
4. What do you mean by a Process? How it differs from a Program? Explain the structure of a Process
Control Block.
5. Discuss the various types of operating systems and their functions.

Answer

Short Answer Type

1. What is Process Control Block (PCB)?
o A Process Control Block (PCB) is a data structure in the operating system that
contains information about a specific process. It holds details such as the process ID,
process state, program counter, CPU registers, memory management information,
and I/O status.
2. What is the main purpose of an operating system?
o The main purpose of an Operating System (OS) is to act as an intermediary
between the user and computer hardware. It manages hardware resources, facilitates
software execution, and ensures efficient and secure operation of the system by
controlling tasks like memory management, process scheduling, file systems, and
input/output operations.
3. What is the difference between multiprogramming and multiprocessing operating
system?
o Multiprogramming OS allows multiple programs to be loaded into memory at
once, sharing the CPU by switching between processes, leading to improved CPU
utilization.
o Multiprocessing OS involves multiple processors (CPUs) working simultaneously,
which enables concurrent execution of processes, improving system performance
and reliability.
4. What is a time-sharing operating system?
o A Time-Sharing Operating System allows multiple users to share system resources
simultaneously. The CPU time is divided among different users or processes by
quickly switching between them, creating the illusion that each user has their own
dedicated system.
5. What is the purpose of system calls?
 o System calls are the mechanism that allows user-level processes to request services
from the operating system kernel. They provide an interface for performing low-
level tasks like file handling, process control, communication, and memory
management.

Long Answer Type

1. Define an operating system. Discuss the different operating system services.
o An Operating System (OS) is a software layer that manages computer hardware
resources and provides services to applications. It enables communication between
software and hardware and facilitates efficient and secure system operation.
 Operating System Services:
1. Process Management: Creation, scheduling, and termination of
processes.
2. Memory Management: Allocation and deallocation of memory to
processes.
3. File System Management: Creation, deletion, reading, writing, and
permission management of files.
4. I/O System Management: Managing input/output operations and
devices.
5. Security and Protection: Ensuring authorized access to system
resources.
6. Error Detection and Handling: Detecting and addressing system
errors.
7. User Interface (UI): Providing an interface (CLI/GUI) for users to
interact with the system.
2. What are the differences between Batch Processing System and Real-Time Processing
System?
o Batch Processing System:
 Processes batches of jobs sequentially without user interaction.
 Used in applications like payroll processing, where response time is not
critical.
o Real-Time Processing System:
 Responds to events or inputs in real-time with strict timing constraints.
 Used in systems like air traffic control and medical devices where timely
response is critical.
 Involves hard real-time systems (failure leads to catastrophic results) and
soft real-time systems (delays are tolerated to some extent).
3. Define a process scheduler. State the characteristics of a good process scheduler.
o A Process Scheduler is a component of the operating system responsible for
deciding which process will execute next by managing the execution order and
timing of processes.
 Characteristics of a Good Process Scheduler:
1. Fairness: All processes get a fair chance to execute.
2. Efficiency: Maximizes CPU utilization by minimizing idle time.
3. Responsiveness: Provides quick response times to interactive users.
4. Throughput: Maximizes the number of processes completed in a
given time frame.
5. Turnaround Time: Minimizes the total time from submission to
completion of a process.
6. Waiting Time: Reduces the time a process spends waiting in the
ready queue.
4. What do you mean by a Process? How does it differ from a Program? Explain the
structure of a Process Control Block.
o A Process is an instance of a program in execution. It is a dynamic entity, consisting
of the program code, current activity (e.g., program counter), and resources
(memory, files).
 Difference Between Process and Program:
 A program is a passive collection of instructions stored on disk.
 A process is an active entity with a program counter, stack, and
memory allocated by the OS.
 Structure of a Process Control Block (PCB):
 Process State: Current state (e.g., running, waiting, terminated).
 Process ID: Unique identifier for the process.
 Program Counter: Address of the next instruction to execute.
 CPU Registers: Current values of the processor’s registers.
 Memory Management Information: Details like base and limit
registers.
 I/O Status Information: List of I/O devices allocated to the process.
 Accounting Information: CPU usage, process start time, etc.
5. Discuss the various types of operating systems and their functions.
o Batch Operating System: Executes batches of jobs without user interaction.
Functions to automate execution of programs and maximize resource utilization.
o Time-Sharing Operating System: Allows multiple users to interact with the system
simultaneously. Functions to provide responsive interaction by time-slicing CPU
usage.
o Real-Time Operating System: Provides immediate processing for time-critical
tasks. Functions to manage hardware and software for precise control over response
times.
o Distributed Operating System: Manages a collection of independent computers
and presents them as a single system. Functions to coordinate resources across
multiple systems.
o Network Operating System: Supports networking functions like file sharing and
remote access. Functions to provide services over a network and enable
communication between connected devices.
o Multiprocessing Operating System: Manages systems with multiple processors.
Functions to coordinate processing across CPUs for improved performance.