Download Operating Systems CSLO - Barbara Hecker

CEN 959 Principles of Operating Systems CSLO (25 Pts)
Name: _____________________________________ ID: ______________
Course-Student Learning Essay
(25 points) Select one of the following essay topics. Write a 2-3 page
(double-spaced) essay on your selected topic. You must provide your own
writing and cannot include portions cut-n-pasted from the internet or other
sources.
Topic selections: (Select one)
1. What is an operating system? What functions does an operating
system provide? Provide an overview of the history and evolution of
operating systems. Discuss the various different hardware platforms
that have operating systems and what they are used for. Also discuss
the desktop PC operating systems and how it has evolved.
2. What is the KERNEL? Describe the difference between kernel mode
and user mode. Provide a complete overview of the features and
utilities that most Kernels have. You should compare and contrast
kernel features of different Linux/Unix/Windows systems.
3. What is a Process? What is a thread? Describe how processes and
threads are used in Operating Systems. Why is this of a significant
importance to the functionality of the modern operating system?
4. Describe how an Operating System manages memory. What is Virtual,
Logical, and Physical memory? What are frames and pages? How is
the memory on the computer organized and accessed? Describe Main
Memory components and features that an operating system provides.
5. Describe the concepts of CPU Scheduling. What is it? How is it
performed? What components are included? What are some ways to
optimize it? What are some common CPU Scheduling algorithms?
6. Describe operating system protection and security. How can an
operating system be protected? How can it be made more secure?
What security and protection features exists on modern operating
systems? Are they effective? How or why?
7. Describe what is meant by Distributed Operating Systems. Describe
the platform, features and unique characteristics of this type of
operating system.
8. Write on an Operating Systems topic of your choice. Pick any topic
that was covered in class and provide an overview of it.
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