COP4600 - FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2023/2024

COP4600 - FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2023/2024 What is a path? Correct Answer: A path is a sequence of directories used to reference a file. They can be relative or absolute. Why do we need file systems? Correct Answer: 1. Locate free storage space 2. Store information in a persistent way (survives process termination) 3. Allow more than one process to access the information store concurrently 4. Find information by human-accessible identifiers 5. Protect data from unauthorized use 6. Identifying types of data stored and programs that can read the data How are directories implemented? Correct Answer: Directories can be implemented in-line or via reference - Variable attribute/name size Why do we mount filesystems? Correct Answer: We mount a file system to make it accessible to programs through the operating system. Challenges with mounting filesystem? Correct Answer: Where will the root of the file system appear to the user? How should different devices be presented to the user? When accessing a file system on a device, we need to know? Correct Answer: boot block, Filesystem type/organization (super block), and where the root directory is What is in the filesystem superblock? Correct Answer: The file system superblock holds information about its type, format, and organization What happens when you make a mounting call in Unix Correct Answer: Copies the Superblock from the disk being mounted to the superblock table in main memory. Sets pointers in the directory inode to FS mounted What are the approaches to file allocation? Correct Answer: 1. Contiguous allocation (all-in-a-row) 2. Linked list allocation (block) 3. Chained table allocation (FAT) 4. Indexed allocation (index nodes)