WGU - D386 Hardware and Operating Systems Essentials
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_d0nyxs
1. operating system: system software that acts as a "go-between", allowing computer hardware and other
software to communicate with each other
2. What is the purpose of a computer operating system?: It functions as a resource manager.
3. Which kind of software are Mac OS X and Windows 10 programs?: Operating system
(OS)
4. Which operating system allows for its source code to be modi�ed and redis-
tributed?: Android is an open-source mobile operating system; therefore, source code is available, and anyone
can modify and redistribute it.
5. Cloud-based operating systems: primarily manages the operation of one or more virtual machines
within a virtualized environment.
6. What is a feature of cloud-based operating systems?: They are primarily stateless.
7. System calls: unique set of services provided by operating systems for use by applications and have to be
accounted for by di�erent operating systems.
8. Application Programming Interface (API): A set of software routines that allows one software
system to work with another.
9. Why do applications designed to work on one operating system not work on
a di erent operating system?: Unique system calls
10. single‐user systems: multitasking systems, found in laptops and workstations
11. mobile device operating systems: provides single-user and multitasking at a scaled-down level
due to power and memory limitations
12. Basic resources OS organizes before users can give a computer instructions:-
: 1. Processor
2. Storage
3. Devices
4. Input/Output
5.Memory
13. Mainframe Systems: large, fast, and powerful, used for high transaction processing and complex com-
putations; used by corporations and government agencies
14. network server systems: designed and named for a speci c purpose such as database servers, web
servers, and print servers
15. real‐time systems: designed to direct CPU access immediately when needed or required
, WGU - D386 Hardware and Operating Systems Essentials
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_d0nyxs
16. Embedded control systems: specialized operating systems designed to control a single piece of
equipment or machinery
17. distributed systems: geared toward allocating process power, programs, les, and databases to network
users
18. Application Software: software program that helps you use the computer to do particular tasks
19. Drivers: instructs a particular OS on how to access a piece of hardware
20. version: particular revision of a piece of software, normally described by a number that tells you how new the
product is in relation to other versions of the product
21. source code: actual code that de nes how a piece of software works
22. Open Source: Software that is created for free use by everyone
23. closed source: source code that is highly protected and only available to trusted employees and carefully
vetted contractors
24. Graphical User Interface (GUI): A visual display on a computer's screen that allows you to interact
with your computer more easily by clicking graphical elements.
25. network: a group of two or more computer systems linked together
26. Cooperative multitasking: Multiple processes must work together for the operating system to work
e�ectively.
27. preemptive multitasking: When the operating system processes the task assigned a higher priority
before processing a task that has been assigned a lower priority.
28. Multithreading: Allows di�erent parts of a single program to run concurrently.
29. Interrupt driven I/O: involves the use of interrupt to exchange data between I/O and memory.
30. programmed I/O: The Processor issues an I/O command, on behalf of a process, to an I/O module; that
process then busy waits for the operation to be completed before proceeding.
31. Direct Memory Access (DMA): When a device controller transfers an entire block of data from its own
bu�er storage to memory without CPU intervention
32. What is one reason why programmed I/O does not work well when the I/O
device is a hard disk or a graphics display?: A complete instruction fetch-execute cycle must be
performed to transfer each I/O data word.
This interrupt-driven data transfer causes the programmed I/O to be slow.
33. Fetch-Execute Cycle: the basic process performed by the CPU. On each cycle the CPU fetches the next
instruction from RAM, interprets it and executes it.
, WGU - D386 Hardware and Operating Systems Essentials
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_d0nyxs
34. processor: short for microprocessor or CPU
35. Level-0 Cache: Core registers- usually a few hundred or less storage locations
36. Level 1 cache: Memory on the processor die used as a cache to improve processor performance.
37. Level 2 Cache: Memory in the processor package but not on the processor die. The memory is used as a
cache or bu�er to improve processor performance.
38. Level 3 Cache: Cache memory further from the processor core than Level 2 cache but still in the processor
package.
39. Level 4 cache: is shared dynamically between the on-die graphics processor unit (GPU) and CPU.
The L4 cache acts an over ow cache for the L3. Information evicted from L3 is dumped into L4.
40. A client has recently purchased a CPU that references the amount of L1 cache
in the list of features.
What is this referring to?: the amount of memory residing directly on the processor die
41. x86 processors: An older processor that rst used the number 86 in the model number and processes 32
bits at a time.
42. x64: Describes 64-bit operating systems and software.
43. Which processors process in both 32 and 64 bits?: x86-64 processors
hybrid processors capable of processing 32 bits and 64 bits.
44. Dual-mode processors: there are two separate modes: monitor mode (also called 'system mode' and
'kernel mode') and user mode.
In monitor mode, the CPU can use all instructions and access all areas of memory. In user mode, the CPU is restricted
to unprivileged instructions and a speci ed area of memory.
45. Itanium processors: discontinued family of 64-bit Intel microprocessors that implement the Intel Itanium
architecture
46. ARM: runs on advanced RISC Machine (ARM) processors.
47. reduced instruction set computing (RISC): CPUs (like ARM), which have smaller instruction sets
than complex instruction set computing (CISC) CPUs
48. operating system categories: 1. Server
2. Workstation
3. Mobile
4. Cloud-Based
, WGU - D386 Hardware and Operating Systems Essentials
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_d0nyxs
49. mobile: optimized for touch-based devices where one program is used at a time
50. Workstation: optimized for foreground processes, such as the GUI. Background sharing is usually limited to
a speci c number of users; workstation ver-sions of Microsoft Windows are limited to 10 concurrent users
51. Server: optimized for background processes used for access by clients, as opposed to the foreground processes,
such as the GUI
52. Cloud-Based: considered stateless operating systems, since personal data is not primarily stored on the
device but in the cloud
53. DRAM: It stores its information in a cell containing a capacitor and transistor.
54. Asynchronous DRAM: Conventional form of DRAM where the timing of the memory device is controlled
asynchronously (respond immediately with the changed in control signals)
55. Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM): A type of memory stored on DIMMs that runs in sync with the system
clock, running at the same speed as the motherboard.
56. SDR SDRAM: Ram that is synchronous with the system clock and has a single data rate.
57. DDR SDRAM: is memory that transfers data twice as fast as SDRAM. Increases performance by transferring
data twice per clock cycle.
58. DDR2 SDRAM: A RAM standard that replaces the original DDR standard. Using far less power than DDR1, a
stick of DDR2 SDRAM has 240 pins. (2)
59. DDR3 SDRAM: A RAM standard that replaces the original DDR2 standard and requires far less power, while
providing almost twice the bandwidth. A stick of DDR3 SDRAM has 240 pins, but is keyed so it will not t into a socket
designed for DDR2. DDR3 SO-DIMMs have 204 pins. (2)
60. DDR4 SDRAM: Double Data-Rate Four SDRAM (DDR4 SDRAM) is the successor to DDR3 SDRAM. DDR4
SDRAM runs its external data bus at twice the speed of DDR3 SDRAM, enabling faster performance. DDR4 SDRAM also
uses lower voltages than DDR3 and supports higher memory capacities.
61. DDR5 SDRAM: DDR5 doubles the speed of DDR4 to 6.4 Gbps, as is expected for a new memory standard.
62. SRAM (Static RAM): RAM that uses a ip- op circuit rather than the typical transistor/capacitor of DRAM
to hold a bit of information. SRAM does not need to be refreshed and is faster than regular DRAM. Used primarily for
cache.
63. ROM (Read Only Memory): It is non-volatile memory. It is also a storage medium that is used with
computers and other electronic devices. As the name indicates, data stored in it may only be read. Permanent Storage.
64. PROM: Programmable ROM
-Write once
65. EPROM: erasable programmable read-only memory
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_d0nyxs
1. operating system: system software that acts as a "go-between", allowing computer hardware and other
software to communicate with each other
2. What is the purpose of a computer operating system?: It functions as a resource manager.
3. Which kind of software are Mac OS X and Windows 10 programs?: Operating system
(OS)
4. Which operating system allows for its source code to be modi�ed and redis-
tributed?: Android is an open-source mobile operating system; therefore, source code is available, and anyone
can modify and redistribute it.
5. Cloud-based operating systems: primarily manages the operation of one or more virtual machines
within a virtualized environment.
6. What is a feature of cloud-based operating systems?: They are primarily stateless.
7. System calls: unique set of services provided by operating systems for use by applications and have to be
accounted for by di�erent operating systems.
8. Application Programming Interface (API): A set of software routines that allows one software
system to work with another.
9. Why do applications designed to work on one operating system not work on
a di erent operating system?: Unique system calls
10. single‐user systems: multitasking systems, found in laptops and workstations
11. mobile device operating systems: provides single-user and multitasking at a scaled-down level
due to power and memory limitations
12. Basic resources OS organizes before users can give a computer instructions:-
: 1. Processor
2. Storage
3. Devices
4. Input/Output
5.Memory
13. Mainframe Systems: large, fast, and powerful, used for high transaction processing and complex com-
putations; used by corporations and government agencies
14. network server systems: designed and named for a speci c purpose such as database servers, web
servers, and print servers
15. real‐time systems: designed to direct CPU access immediately when needed or required
, WGU - D386 Hardware and Operating Systems Essentials
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_d0nyxs
16. Embedded control systems: specialized operating systems designed to control a single piece of
equipment or machinery
17. distributed systems: geared toward allocating process power, programs, les, and databases to network
users
18. Application Software: software program that helps you use the computer to do particular tasks
19. Drivers: instructs a particular OS on how to access a piece of hardware
20. version: particular revision of a piece of software, normally described by a number that tells you how new the
product is in relation to other versions of the product
21. source code: actual code that de nes how a piece of software works
22. Open Source: Software that is created for free use by everyone
23. closed source: source code that is highly protected and only available to trusted employees and carefully
vetted contractors
24. Graphical User Interface (GUI): A visual display on a computer's screen that allows you to interact
with your computer more easily by clicking graphical elements.
25. network: a group of two or more computer systems linked together
26. Cooperative multitasking: Multiple processes must work together for the operating system to work
e�ectively.
27. preemptive multitasking: When the operating system processes the task assigned a higher priority
before processing a task that has been assigned a lower priority.
28. Multithreading: Allows di�erent parts of a single program to run concurrently.
29. Interrupt driven I/O: involves the use of interrupt to exchange data between I/O and memory.
30. programmed I/O: The Processor issues an I/O command, on behalf of a process, to an I/O module; that
process then busy waits for the operation to be completed before proceeding.
31. Direct Memory Access (DMA): When a device controller transfers an entire block of data from its own
bu�er storage to memory without CPU intervention
32. What is one reason why programmed I/O does not work well when the I/O
device is a hard disk or a graphics display?: A complete instruction fetch-execute cycle must be
performed to transfer each I/O data word.
This interrupt-driven data transfer causes the programmed I/O to be slow.
33. Fetch-Execute Cycle: the basic process performed by the CPU. On each cycle the CPU fetches the next
instruction from RAM, interprets it and executes it.
, WGU - D386 Hardware and Operating Systems Essentials
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_d0nyxs
34. processor: short for microprocessor or CPU
35. Level-0 Cache: Core registers- usually a few hundred or less storage locations
36. Level 1 cache: Memory on the processor die used as a cache to improve processor performance.
37. Level 2 Cache: Memory in the processor package but not on the processor die. The memory is used as a
cache or bu�er to improve processor performance.
38. Level 3 Cache: Cache memory further from the processor core than Level 2 cache but still in the processor
package.
39. Level 4 cache: is shared dynamically between the on-die graphics processor unit (GPU) and CPU.
The L4 cache acts an over ow cache for the L3. Information evicted from L3 is dumped into L4.
40. A client has recently purchased a CPU that references the amount of L1 cache
in the list of features.
What is this referring to?: the amount of memory residing directly on the processor die
41. x86 processors: An older processor that rst used the number 86 in the model number and processes 32
bits at a time.
42. x64: Describes 64-bit operating systems and software.
43. Which processors process in both 32 and 64 bits?: x86-64 processors
hybrid processors capable of processing 32 bits and 64 bits.
44. Dual-mode processors: there are two separate modes: monitor mode (also called 'system mode' and
'kernel mode') and user mode.
In monitor mode, the CPU can use all instructions and access all areas of memory. In user mode, the CPU is restricted
to unprivileged instructions and a speci ed area of memory.
45. Itanium processors: discontinued family of 64-bit Intel microprocessors that implement the Intel Itanium
architecture
46. ARM: runs on advanced RISC Machine (ARM) processors.
47. reduced instruction set computing (RISC): CPUs (like ARM), which have smaller instruction sets
than complex instruction set computing (CISC) CPUs
48. operating system categories: 1. Server
2. Workstation
3. Mobile
4. Cloud-Based
, WGU - D386 Hardware and Operating Systems Essentials
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_d0nyxs
49. mobile: optimized for touch-based devices where one program is used at a time
50. Workstation: optimized for foreground processes, such as the GUI. Background sharing is usually limited to
a speci c number of users; workstation ver-sions of Microsoft Windows are limited to 10 concurrent users
51. Server: optimized for background processes used for access by clients, as opposed to the foreground processes,
such as the GUI
52. Cloud-Based: considered stateless operating systems, since personal data is not primarily stored on the
device but in the cloud
53. DRAM: It stores its information in a cell containing a capacitor and transistor.
54. Asynchronous DRAM: Conventional form of DRAM where the timing of the memory device is controlled
asynchronously (respond immediately with the changed in control signals)
55. Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM): A type of memory stored on DIMMs that runs in sync with the system
clock, running at the same speed as the motherboard.
56. SDR SDRAM: Ram that is synchronous with the system clock and has a single data rate.
57. DDR SDRAM: is memory that transfers data twice as fast as SDRAM. Increases performance by transferring
data twice per clock cycle.
58. DDR2 SDRAM: A RAM standard that replaces the original DDR standard. Using far less power than DDR1, a
stick of DDR2 SDRAM has 240 pins. (2)
59. DDR3 SDRAM: A RAM standard that replaces the original DDR2 standard and requires far less power, while
providing almost twice the bandwidth. A stick of DDR3 SDRAM has 240 pins, but is keyed so it will not t into a socket
designed for DDR2. DDR3 SO-DIMMs have 204 pins. (2)
60. DDR4 SDRAM: Double Data-Rate Four SDRAM (DDR4 SDRAM) is the successor to DDR3 SDRAM. DDR4
SDRAM runs its external data bus at twice the speed of DDR3 SDRAM, enabling faster performance. DDR4 SDRAM also
uses lower voltages than DDR3 and supports higher memory capacities.
61. DDR5 SDRAM: DDR5 doubles the speed of DDR4 to 6.4 Gbps, as is expected for a new memory standard.
62. SRAM (Static RAM): RAM that uses a ip- op circuit rather than the typical transistor/capacitor of DRAM
to hold a bit of information. SRAM does not need to be refreshed and is faster than regular DRAM. Used primarily for
cache.
63. ROM (Read Only Memory): It is non-volatile memory. It is also a storage medium that is used with
computers and other electronic devices. As the name indicates, data stored in it may only be read. Permanent Storage.
64. PROM: Programmable ROM
-Write once
65. EPROM: erasable programmable read-only memory
