OVERVIEW OF OPERATING SYSTEMS AND COMPUTER
ARCHITECTURE | FROM QUESTION TO PERFECTION|
STUDY WITH CONFIDENCE!
Course Code:
Course Title:
Programme:
Academic Year: 2026/2027
Duration: 2 Hours
Total Marks: 70%
Candidate Instructions:
1) Write your Registration Number on every answer booklet used.
2) Answer ALL questions in Section A and ANY TWO (2) questions in Section B.
3) Read each question carefully before answering.
4) Begin each question on a new page.
5) The marks for each question are indicated in brackets.
6) This paper consists of several printed pages, including this page.
7) Ensure your copy is complete before the examination begins.
8) Unauthorized materials and communication with other candidates are not permitted.
Turn Over.
APPHIA – Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
1
, Single-user systems Answer: Personal computer, workstation, multi-tasking, found in laptops
and desktops.
Mobile device systems Answer: Small hand-held devices like phones, tablets, e-readers.
Mainframe systems Answer: Large-scale platforms and enterprise environments.
Network server systems Answer: Designed for specific purpose like database or web server.
Thin client Answer: Computers that are connected to a networked server, containing the
minimum amount of hardware required for user interaction.
Real-time systems Answer: Systems that need to act in real time, e.g., in pacemakers, cars.
Embedded control systems Answer: Designed to control a single piece of equipment, e.g.,
thermostat.
Distributed systems Answer: Allocates process power, programs, files, to network users.
Barebones Computer System Answer: A system that can run only one program at a time with no
memory or I/O.
Emulator Answer: A computer or program that emulates or imitates another computer or
program.
Cross-platform application Answer: May run on many platforms, or as few as two.
Multiprogramming Answer: Multiple programs execute at a time on a single device.
Multitasking Answer: Allows multiple programs and processes to run on a computer system
simultaneously.
Preemptive multitasking Answer: Each process is allocated an equal share of computing
resources.
Cooperative multitasking Answer: Non-preemptive technique that allocates an entire CPU to a
single process until it is completed.
Hybrid multitasking Answer: The preemptive multitasking part interrupts the running process to
allow other processes to run.
Multithreading Answer: Allows the CPU to execute multiple threads of the same process
simultaneously.
Concurrency Answer: Ability of multiple threads to access shared resources simultaneously.
Batch processing Answer: The method computers use to periodically complete high-volume,
repetitive data jobs.
HCL Answer: Hardware compatibility list, a list of computer hardware compatible with a
particular operating system or device management software.
APPHIA – Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
2
ARCHITECTURE | FROM QUESTION TO PERFECTION|
STUDY WITH CONFIDENCE!
Course Code:
Course Title:
Programme:
Academic Year: 2026/2027
Duration: 2 Hours
Total Marks: 70%
Candidate Instructions:
1) Write your Registration Number on every answer booklet used.
2) Answer ALL questions in Section A and ANY TWO (2) questions in Section B.
3) Read each question carefully before answering.
4) Begin each question on a new page.
5) The marks for each question are indicated in brackets.
6) This paper consists of several printed pages, including this page.
7) Ensure your copy is complete before the examination begins.
8) Unauthorized materials and communication with other candidates are not permitted.
Turn Over.
APPHIA – Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
1
, Single-user systems Answer: Personal computer, workstation, multi-tasking, found in laptops
and desktops.
Mobile device systems Answer: Small hand-held devices like phones, tablets, e-readers.
Mainframe systems Answer: Large-scale platforms and enterprise environments.
Network server systems Answer: Designed for specific purpose like database or web server.
Thin client Answer: Computers that are connected to a networked server, containing the
minimum amount of hardware required for user interaction.
Real-time systems Answer: Systems that need to act in real time, e.g., in pacemakers, cars.
Embedded control systems Answer: Designed to control a single piece of equipment, e.g.,
thermostat.
Distributed systems Answer: Allocates process power, programs, files, to network users.
Barebones Computer System Answer: A system that can run only one program at a time with no
memory or I/O.
Emulator Answer: A computer or program that emulates or imitates another computer or
program.
Cross-platform application Answer: May run on many platforms, or as few as two.
Multiprogramming Answer: Multiple programs execute at a time on a single device.
Multitasking Answer: Allows multiple programs and processes to run on a computer system
simultaneously.
Preemptive multitasking Answer: Each process is allocated an equal share of computing
resources.
Cooperative multitasking Answer: Non-preemptive technique that allocates an entire CPU to a
single process until it is completed.
Hybrid multitasking Answer: The preemptive multitasking part interrupts the running process to
allow other processes to run.
Multithreading Answer: Allows the CPU to execute multiple threads of the same process
simultaneously.
Concurrency Answer: Ability of multiple threads to access shared resources simultaneously.
Batch processing Answer: The method computers use to periodically complete high-volume,
repetitive data jobs.
HCL Answer: Hardware compatibility list, a list of computer hardware compatible with a
particular operating system or device management software.
APPHIA – Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
2
