National University of Sciences & Technology

School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Department of Computing

CS 330: Operating Systems (3+1):

Assignment 1
CLO1: Explain & summarize OS Services and Abstractions
Maximum Marks: 30 Instructor: Dr. Mehdi Hussain

Question 1: (10 marks)

List down the last 5 years' latest distributions of operating systems including Windows, Linux, and Mac
OS. Briefly explain by keeping the following specifications in mind or may represent in tabular form in 1x
page.
 Security
 Portability
 Reliability / Stability
 Management / Customization
 Usability and Cost

Question 2: (20 marks)

Select any 1x questions set and keep answers to the point preferably into your own words by
consulting the book (make sure to avoid plagiarism)

“A” questions set

1 Some computer systems do not provide a privileged mode of operation in hardware. Is it
possible to construct a secure operating system for these computer systems? Give
arguments both that it is and that it is not possible?
2 What is the purpose of the command interpreter? Why is it usually separate from the
kernel?
3 What is the purpose of system programs?

“B” questions set

1 What is the main advantage of the layered approach to system design?
What are the disadvantages of the layered approach?
2 Why do some systems store the operating system in firmware, while others store it on disk?
3 Describe a mechanism for enforcing memory protection in order to prevent a program from
modifying the memory associated with other programs.

“C” questions set

1 How does the CPU interface with the device to coordinate the transfer of data?
2 The CPU is allowed to execute other programs while the DMA controller is transferring data.
Does this process interfere with the execution of the user programs? If so, describe what
forms of interference are caused.
3 How does the CPU know when the memory operations are complete?
“D” questions set
1 What is the main difficulty that a programmer must overcome in writing an operating system
for a real-time environment?
2 Keeping in mind the various definitions of operating system, consider whether the operating
system should include applications such as web browsers and mail programs. Argue both
that it should and that it should not, and support your answers
3 Some CPUs provide for more than two modes of operation. What are two possible uses of
these multiple modes?

“E” questions set

1 Timers could be used to compute the current time. Provide a short description of how this
could be accomplished?
2 Distinguish between the client–server and peer-to-peer models of distributed systems.
3 Give two reasons why caches are useful. What problems do they solve? What problems do
they cause? If a cache can be made as large as the device for which it is caching (for instance,
a cache as large as a disk), why not make it that large and eliminate the device?

“F” questions set

1 What is the purpose of system calls?
2 List five services provided by an operating system, and explain how each creates
convenience for users. In which cases would it be impossible for user-level programs to
provide these services? Explain your answer.
3 What system calls have to be executed by a command interpreter or shell in order to start a
new process on a UNIX system?

“G” questions set

1 What is the main advantage of the layered approach to system design? What are the
disadvantages of the layered approach?
2 How could a system be designed to allow a choice of operating systems from which to boot?
What would the bootstrap program need to do?
3 Give two reasons why caches are useful. What problems do they solve? What problems do
they cause? If a cache can be made as large as the device for which it is caching (for instance,
a cache as large as a disk), why not make it that large and eliminate the device?

Note:
a) Use 12 font sizes with 1.5 line spacing and in pdf format.
b) Mentioned which question set you are opting. i.e. “G Question Set”
c) The length requirement is 3 pages only for this assignment. (Mentioned the name with Question
set on top of the page)
d) Maximum 2x group members are allowed.
e) The assignment will be checked by plagiarism software.