Homework Assignment 1

Homework Assignment 1

• Silberschatz et al, Operating System Concepts, 9th edition, Chapter 1, Introduction
  1. Under what circumstances would a user be better off using a timesharing system rather than a PC or a single-user workstation?

  2. Describe the differences between symmetric and asymmetric multiprocessing. What are three advantages and one disadvantage of multiprocessor systems?

  3. How do clustered systems differ from multiprocessor systems? What is required for two machines belonging to a cluster to cooperate to provide a highly available service?

  4. Direct memory access is used for high-speed I/O devices in order to avoid increasing the CPU.s execution load.
     1. How does the CPU interface with the device to coordinate the transfer?
     2. How does the CPU know when the memory operations are complete?
     3. 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.