CS2 Midterm Questions and Complete
Solutions Graded A+
Von Neumann Architecture - Answer: Memory/CPU/I-O
Address bus (where)
data bus (what)
control bus (how)
What are the 5 main categories of modern computer systems? - Answer: Personal Mobile Device (PMD)
Desktop computing
Servers
Clusters/Warehouse Scale
Embedded
What is the primary task of an OS? - Answer: Acts as an intermediary between user and hardware.
Manages resources, resolves conflicts, controls programs
What are the 2 main characteristics of an OS? - Answer: Efficiency and convenience
What are the 4 types of networks? - Answer: LAN, WAN, MAN (Metropolitan), PAN (Personal -
Bluetooth, USB)
What are the two types of networks? - Answer: Client-server and peer-to-peer
What's the difference between emulation and virtualization? - Answer: Emulation - different CPU,
Virtualization - guest OS runs as a an application on the host OS
, Difference between full virtualization and para-virtualization - Answer: Full virtualization: guest is an
original OS and manages memory, protection, etc. Para-virtualization: guest OS is aware of other OS's
and knows its limitations
What are the 3 types of cloud computing? - Answer: Private, public, hybrid
What are the 3 advantages of a multiprocessor system over a single processor? - Answer: Increased
throughput; Lower cost compared to a collection of single-proc systems; Higher reliability and fault
tolerance
What's the difference between symmetric and asymmetric multiprocessing? - Answer: Asymmetric:
master processor handles all OS activities, other processors execute user code.
Symmetric: each processor is self-scheduling
What are the 5 activities of process management? - Answer: 1. Creating and suspending user and system
processes
2. Suspending and resuming processes.
3. Providing mechanisms for process synchronization.
4. Providing mechanisms for process communication.
5. Providing mechanisms for deadlock handling.
What's the difference between program and process? - Answer: A program is a collection of instructions;
passive entity. Process is a program in execution.
What is a memory unit exposed to? - Answer: 1. Stream of addresses and read requests
2. Stream of addresses, data, and write requests
How long does one memory access take? - Answer: Many CPU cycles. AMAT = cache hit time + miss rate
* miss penalty
How long does one register access take? - Answer: One clock cycle or less
Solutions Graded A+
Von Neumann Architecture - Answer: Memory/CPU/I-O
Address bus (where)
data bus (what)
control bus (how)
What are the 5 main categories of modern computer systems? - Answer: Personal Mobile Device (PMD)
Desktop computing
Servers
Clusters/Warehouse Scale
Embedded
What is the primary task of an OS? - Answer: Acts as an intermediary between user and hardware.
Manages resources, resolves conflicts, controls programs
What are the 2 main characteristics of an OS? - Answer: Efficiency and convenience
What are the 4 types of networks? - Answer: LAN, WAN, MAN (Metropolitan), PAN (Personal -
Bluetooth, USB)
What are the two types of networks? - Answer: Client-server and peer-to-peer
What's the difference between emulation and virtualization? - Answer: Emulation - different CPU,
Virtualization - guest OS runs as a an application on the host OS
, Difference between full virtualization and para-virtualization - Answer: Full virtualization: guest is an
original OS and manages memory, protection, etc. Para-virtualization: guest OS is aware of other OS's
and knows its limitations
What are the 3 types of cloud computing? - Answer: Private, public, hybrid
What are the 3 advantages of a multiprocessor system over a single processor? - Answer: Increased
throughput; Lower cost compared to a collection of single-proc systems; Higher reliability and fault
tolerance
What's the difference between symmetric and asymmetric multiprocessing? - Answer: Asymmetric:
master processor handles all OS activities, other processors execute user code.
Symmetric: each processor is self-scheduling
What are the 5 activities of process management? - Answer: 1. Creating and suspending user and system
processes
2. Suspending and resuming processes.
3. Providing mechanisms for process synchronization.
4. Providing mechanisms for process communication.
5. Providing mechanisms for deadlock handling.
What's the difference between program and process? - Answer: A program is a collection of instructions;
passive entity. Process is a program in execution.
What is a memory unit exposed to? - Answer: 1. Stream of addresses and read requests
2. Stream of addresses, data, and write requests
How long does one memory access take? - Answer: Many CPU cycles. AMAT = cache hit time + miss rate
* miss penalty
How long does one register access take? - Answer: One clock cycle or less
