Commit c98f206

mo khan <mo@mokhan.ca>
2021-02-08 18:14:38
answer more questions
1 parent 80d1333
Changed files (1)
doc/assignment1.md
@@ -174,8 +174,41 @@ Instructions: Please answer the following questions in complete sentences. Your
     multiple cores uses less power than multiple single-core chips.
 
 1. Describe the relationship between an API, the system-call interface, and the operating system.
+
+    API: Application Programming Interface
+    System-call interface: The API provided by the operating system for executing privileged instructions.
+    Operating System: The system managing the interface between the hardware and software.
+
+    The system-call interface is an API provided by the operating systems so that
+    user programs can request access to perform functions like reading/writing to
+    I/O devices etc.
+
 1. Describe some requirements and goals to consider when designing an operating system.
+
+    1. Provide a system call interface for user mode programs to use.
+    2. Provide compilers, linkers etc to build user mode programs.
+    3. Provide consistent abstractions to shield user mode programs from needing to know the details of each piece of hardware.
+    4. Can execute multiple tasks concurrently
+    5. Can operate against different combinations of hardware without impact to user mode programs.
+    6. Process management
+    7. Memory management
+
 1. Explain why a modular kernel may be the best of the current operating system design techniques.
+
+    The kernel has a set of core components and links in additional services either during boot time
+    or during run time. Such a strategy uses dynamically loadable modules and is common in modern
+    implementations of UNIX, such as Solaris, Linux and macOS.
+
+    Solaris is organized around a core kernel with seven types of loadable kernel modules:
+
+    1. Scheduling classes
+    2. File systems
+    3. Loadable system calls
+    4. Executable formats
+    5. STREAMS modules
+    6. Miscellaneous
+    7. Device and bus drivers
+
 1. Distinguish between virtualization and simulation.
 
 ## Part 2: Design Considerations (40 marks)