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Operating Systems I Answer Guide

The document is an answer guide for the Operating Systems I unit at Multimedia University of Kenya, covering key concepts such as the definition of an Operating System, client/server computing, and various Linux commands. It also discusses the relationship between system and application software, differentiates between important terms, and explains system calls. Additionally, it lists current operating system releases for desktops, mobile devices, and servers.

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26 views2 pages

Operating Systems I Answer Guide

The document is an answer guide for the Operating Systems I unit at Multimedia University of Kenya, covering key concepts such as the definition of an Operating System, client/server computing, and various Linux commands. It also discusses the relationship between system and application software, differentiates between important terms, and explains system calls. Additionally, it lists current operating system releases for desktops, mobile devices, and servers.

Uploaded by

ianniyann721
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Operating Systems I - Answer Guide

Multimedia University of Kenya


Faculty of Computer and Information Technology
Unit Code: CCS 2124
Unit Name: Operating Systems I
Date: May 2025
Duration: 1 Hour

a) Define an Operating System. (2 marks)


An Operating System (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware and
software resources and provides common services for computer programs.

b) What distinguishes client/server computing from any other form of


distributed data processing? (2 marks)
Client/server computing is characterized by a central server providing resources or
services to multiple client machines. Unlike other distributed systems, the roles are clearly
defined—clients request services, and servers respond.

c) State the use of ANY FOUR of the following Linux commands: CHMOD, LS,
WHO, VI, KILL, CAT, IFCONFIG, PING. (4 marks)
1. CHMOD – Changes file or directory permissions.
2. LS – Lists directory contents.
3. WHO – Displays who is currently logged into the system.
4. VI – Opens a text editor for creating/modifying files.
(Other valid answers include: KILL – Terminates processes, CAT – Concatenates and
displays file contents, IFCONFIG – Configures or displays network interfaces, PING – Tests
network connectivity to another host.)

d) For each case below, state any two current Operating Systems releases: (6
marks)
i. Desktop:
- Windows 11
- Ubuntu 24.04

ii. Mobile devices:


- Android 14
- iOS 17

iii. Servers:
- Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
e) Describe the relationship between system software and application software.
(4 marks)
System software acts as a bridge between hardware and application software. It provides a
platform for application software to run and includes the OS and utilities, enabling
applications to interact with hardware efficiently.

f) Differentiate between each of the following pair of terms: (10 marks)


i. A program and a process:
- A program is a passive set of instructions stored on disk.
- A process is an active execution of those instructions in memory.

ii. Pages and segments:


- Pages are fixed-size memory blocks used in paging.
- Segments are variable-sized blocks used in segmentation.

iii. Absolute and relative path:


- Absolute path gives the full path from root (/home/user/file.txt).
- Relative path is based on the current directory (../file.txt).

iv. RAM and ROM:


- RAM is volatile memory used for temporary data storage.
- ROM is non-volatile memory that stores firmware.

v. A port and a socket:


- A port is a communication endpoint identified by a number.
- A socket is a combination of IP address and port used for network communication.

g) What are system calls in reference to operating systems? (2 marks)


System calls are predefined functions used by application programs to request services
from the operating system, such as file operations, process control, and communication.

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