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| Program that manages the computer's hardware. |
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| Physical components of a computer. |
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| The "brain" of a computer. Executes instructions and controls other components of hardware. |
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| Usually RAM, the 0's and 1's that store programs and data. |
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| The devices that allow a user to interact with a computer. Includes keyboard, mouse, screen, printer, among others. |
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| Programs that a user of a computer uses to accomplish some task. Managed by the operating system. |
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| Simply how user friendly the operating system is for a user. This can mean different things however since it can mean easier for beginners or easier for experts. |
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| The operating system utilizes resources, often times memory and CPU-time, to complete certain tasks. |
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| Mainframe and Minicomputer |
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| Often times multiple users will connect to one of these through a terminal. |
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| A computer where users have some of their own resources but also connect to other workstations and servers to share resources. |
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| The operating system acts as one by using the various hardware and software resources for different tasks. |
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| A program that manages user programs and prevents improper computer use. An Operating system is an example of this. |
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| A single transistor that carries a charge so that it is either on, a 1, or off, a 0. |
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| Eight Bits. Common unit of measure. |
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| Another unit of measure. Depends on Operating system and hardware but is usually 32 or 64 bits. |
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| A program that is running at all times if the computer is on. |
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| A program that controls some part of the system. Surprising. |
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| Initial program that is run when a computer first turns on. Usually very simple and just initializes hardware and starts other programs. Usually stored in ROM |
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| Memory that is not commonly re-writable. Used to store the bootstrap program. |
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| Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory |
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| Another Name for the bootstrap program. Stored in ROM or EEPROM. |
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| The signal that shows some event happened. |
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| A way for a user program to generate an interrupt. Also called a monitor call. |
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| Memory with constant time to access any part of it. Used for main memory, is volatile. |
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| Typical instruction cycle. Next instruction is fetched from memory and is stored in the instruction register. Then the instruction is decoded and executed. |
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| Holds the next instruction to be executed. |
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| Larger storage to hold data for longer periods of time. Think Hard-drives. Non-volatile. |
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| How large amounts of data are stored currently(2013). Small disks have places where an area can be magnetized and later read. |
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| Storage that does not keep its state after power stops flowing through it. Examples would be RAM or a weird contraption that requires you to keep pedaling a bike so that it doesn't collapse in on itself, although the latter is rarely used with operating systems. |
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| Storage that keeps its state without power. Examples include Hard-drives, any form of flash memory, and solid state drives. |
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| A combination of RAM and disk that uses a battery to backup the RAM is the power dies. |
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| Non-volatile Random Access Memory. Known more commonly as flash memory. |
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| Small Computer-Systems Interface |
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Definition
| An interface for external devices to connect to the computer and be used by the operating system. |
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Definition
| Connects a device to the computer and operating system by providing a uniform interface for the device to the rest of the system. |
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| Direct Memory Access (DMA) |
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Definition
| Connector of IO device and memory that allows blocks of memory to transfer without the CPU needing to do all of it. |
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| A computer that only has a single CPU. |
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Definition
| A computer with more than one processor. |
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| The ability of a system to keep working even if part of the system is weakened, for instance a processor in a system slows, but the system as a whole continues to function. |
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Definition
| The ability of a system to continue operation even if a component breaks. |
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| Asymmetric Multiprocessing |
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Definition
| Processors have different tasks, and often one processor controls the other in a master-slave relationship. |
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| Symmetric Multiprocessing |
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Definition
| All processors share the load. |
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| Uniform Memory Access (UMA) |
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Definition
| All processors share memory evenly. |
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| Non-uniform Memory Access (NUMA) |
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Definition
| Processors do not share memory evenly. |
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Definition
| Processors put onto a single chip. |
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Definition
| Individual systems coupled together. |
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| High-Availability Service |
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Definition
| Service that won't be interrupted even if one of the systems in it fails. Clustered systems are often used to provide this type of service. |
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Definition
| Multiple calculations being carried out simultaneously to solve a bigger problem using the divide-and-conquer methodology. |
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Definition
| Function that prevents multiple systems writing to the same disk at the same time. |
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| Programming in a way that allows the CPU to always have something to do, so it is not sitting idle waiting for something to happen. |
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| The collection of all jobs that are in a system. |
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Definition
| Logical extension of multiprogramming. CPU switches between multiple tasks frequently, allowing the user to interact with them. |
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| Interactive Computer System |
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Definition
| System where the user is an active part of the environment. Contrasts with Batch style systems. |
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Definition
| Time it takes for computer to respond to user input, be it moving the mouse or pressing a key. |
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Definition
| A program loaded into memory and executing. |
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Definition
| Choosing which job gets brought into memory among all available jobs. |
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Definition
| Choosing which jobs gets executed on the CPU. |
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Definition
| Swapping processes between main and secondary memory to allow better response time. |
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Definition
| A result of swapping where the program thinks it has more memory that it really does due to parts of the process being stored in secondary memory. |
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Definition
| A software driven interrupt due to an error or the program requesting the operating system do something for it. |
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Definition
| Type of system where there are two distinct modes: User and Kernel, or privileged, Mode. Kernel can execute certain instructions user can't. |
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Definition
| What most programs run it. Has limited capability, but is usually enough for programs. |
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Definition
| Can execute all instructions. Operating system runs in this mode. |
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Definition
| Bit that indicates which mode the CPU is currently in. |
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| An instruction that only the kernel mode can execute, such as switching modes, or changing memory. |
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Definition
| Interrupt that goes off every time units. Used to prevent infinite loops, or a single program from taking up too much time. |
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Definition
| Timer that has the interrupt time variable. This is implemented through a counter and a fixed-clock. Every increment of the clock, the counter is decremented. Once it reaches zero an interrupt is made. |
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Definition
| Very slow form of memory, where the desired memory must first be mounted before it can be read. Often it must be physically connected, commonly by a robot. Used for storing VERY large amounts of data that doesn't need to be frequently accessed. |
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Definition
| Storing data in a temporary location to speed up access time. |
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Definition
| Deciding what data needs to stay in the cache. |
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| Ensuring that that data in the cache is consistent with the data in storage. |
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| A rubber. Also any mechanism that prevents access of processes or users to resources. |
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| Defends a system from external or internal attacks. |
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Definition
| Number that identifies a user since many operating systems need to be able to distinguish between users. |
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Definition
| ID that refers to a set of Users. |
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Definition
| Gaining more privileges to accomplish a task. Usually uses an effective user ID. |
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Definition
| A psuedo-ID that the user adopts in order to gain privileges. |
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Definition
| Systems connected together to allow communication between them. |
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Definition
| Connects computers within the same building. |
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Definition
| Connects computers within buildings, cities, or countries. |
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Definition
| Operating system that provides features such as file-sharing across the network or process communication between computers. |
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| Real-Time Operating System |
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Definition
| An operating system that needs results within a certain time. Useless if the results aren't gotten in the correct time. EX: computer in airplane. |
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Definition
| Exactly what it sounds like. |
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Definition
| Sends requests to a server system. |
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Definition
| Completes requests sent by clients. |
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Term
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Definition
| Provides an interface to allow a client to send data to a server so the server can execute some instructions on the data. |
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Definition
| Provides an interface so users can edit files on a server. |
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Definition
| Devices that distribute web connections among similar servers. |
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| Open-Source Operating Systems |
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Definition
| Source code is available to the public. |
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Definition
| Source code is not available to the public. |
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Definition
| Foundation that supports the free-software movement. Duh. |
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| GNU General Public License |
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Definition
| License that attempts to protect rights of developers while ensuring that software remains free and open-sourced. |
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Definition
| Operating system kernel made by Linus Torvalds and then combined with GNU software to make complete operating system. |
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| Now defunct monolithic operating system. |
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Definition
| UNIX based scalable operating system by Sun Microsystems. |
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