UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2017/2018
EXAMINATION FOR THE DIPLOMA IN BUSINESS INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY & DIPLOMA IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DIT 301& DBIT 403: OPERATING SYSTEMS
DATE: DECEMBER, 2017 TIME: 1 ½ HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer ANY THREE questions.
QUESTION ONE [20 MARKS]
(a) (i) Define the term “user interface” in the context of operating system [2 Marks]
(ii) Outline five differences between Graphical user interface and “command driven
interface” [5 Marks]
(b) State four examples of operating systems which are common in the market [4 Marks]
(c) List and explain six function of a computer operating system [6 Marks]
(d) Explain the following terms as used in computers:- [3 Marks]
(i) Operating system
(ii) System software
(iii) kernel
QUESTION TWO [20 MARKS]
(a) Outline four advantages of open source operating systems [4 Marks]
(b) Highlight five qualities of good operating system software [5 Marks]
(c) Give the functions of the following MS DOS commands: – [4 Marks]
(i) DIR
(ii) CD
(iii) MD
(iv)EXIT
(d) With the aid of a process state model diagram, explain the five states of a process [7 Marks]
QUESTION THREE [20 MARKS]
(a) Explain the term “deadlock” as used in operating systems [2 Marks]
(b) Explain four conditions necessary for a deadlock to occur [8 Marks]
(c) Outline two ways of dealing with a deadlocked condition [2 Marks]
(d) Explain the functions of four utility programs that are part of the operating system [8 Marks]
QUESTION FOUR [20 MARKS]
(a) With the aid of diagrams describe the following memory management techniques:-[6 Marks]
(i) Segmentation
(ii) Fixed memory partition
(b) Outline four objectives of the input / output device manager [4 Marks]
(c) Differentiate between the following terms:- [6 Marks]
(i) Multiprogramming & time sharing operating systems
(ii) Response time & turnaround time
(iii) Internal fragmentation & external fragmentation
(d) During operating system lesson, the lecturer outlined the following categories of Input/
Output devices:-
(i) Machine readable
(ii) Communication
Required: for each of the categories, state two examples of input/ Output devices.[4 Marks]
QUESTION FIVE [20 MARKS]
(a) List and explain four good features of NTFS file management system over FAT file
management system [8 Marks]
(b) Outline six objectives of process scheduling function of computer operating system
[6 Marks]
(c) Differentiate between a semaphore and a monitor as used in concurrent processing
[2 Marks]
(d) Outline four ways in which a computer operating system manages the Random Access
memory [4 Marks]
