Commit 4e955bf

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+# Assignment 1
+
+This assignment should be submitted after you have finished Unit 1. It is worth 10% of your final grade.
+
+## Part 1: Concepts and Principles (60 marks; 5 marks each)
+
+Instructions: Please answer the following questions in complete sentences. Your answer for each question should be about 150 words.
+
+1. Define the concepts interrupt and trap, and explain the purpose of an interrupt vector.
+1. How does a computer system with von Neumann architecture execute an instruction?
+1. What role do device controllers and device drivers play in a computer system?
+1. Why do clustered systems provide what is considered high-availability service?
+1. Describe an operating system’s two modes of operation.
+1. Define cache, and explain cache coherency.
+1. Describe why direct memory access (DMA) is considered an efficient mechanism for performing I/O.
+1. Describe why multicore processing is more efficient than placing each processor on its own chip.
+1. Describe the relationship between an API, the system-call interface, and the operating system.
+1. Describe some requirements and goals to consider when designing an operating system.
+1. Explain why a modular kernel may be the best of the current operating system design techniques.
+1. Distinguish between virtualization and simulation.
+
+## Part 2: Design Considerations (40 marks)
+
+Instructions: Please answer the following questions in about 1-2 pages each.
+
+1. Draw a typical computer organization figure that includes the main components of von Neumann architecture. Identify each component, and explain its function and interaction relative to other components. (15 marks)
+1. Define system call, and list the main types of system calls. Elaborate on how a system call interacts with a standard C library and hardware under a dual-mode operating system environment. (10 marks)
+1. Describe the overall structure of virtual machines, and compare VMware and JVM. (15 marks)

@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ Textbook: Operating Systems Concepts, 9th Edition - Abraham Silberschatz
 
 ## Unit 1: Overview of Computer Organziation and Operating Systems
 
+### 1.1
+
 1. describe the computer-system organization.
 1. identify major computer hardware components.
 1. explain how instructions are executed in a computer.
@@ -53,6 +55,45 @@ Read:
 * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_processing_unit
 * Chapter 1: 1.4 to 1.13
 
+### 1.2
+
+Concepts:
+
+* system call
+* microkernel
+* performance tuning
+* operating system generation
+* system boot
+* system and application programs
+
+Read:
+
+* Chapter 2: 2.1 to 2.5
+
+Key concepts and topics:
+
+* operating system services helpful to users
+  * graphical user interface (GUI)
+  * command interpreter
+  * program execution
+  * I/O operations
+  * file-system manipulation
+  * communications
+  * error detection
+* operating-system functions that ensure the efficient operation of the system itself
+  * resource allocation
+  * accounting
+  * protection and security
+* system calls
+* system-call interface
+* types of system calls
+* application programming interface (API)
+* systems programs
+  * file manager programs and text editors
+  * logging, registry, system information viewer
+  * compilers, interpreters, assemblers, and debuggers
+  * communication programs such as Web browser
+
 ## Unit 2: Process Management
 
 ## Unit 3: Storage Management