UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2017/2018
EXAMINATION FOR THE DIPLOMA IN INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY/DIPLOMA IN BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DIT301 OPERATING SYSTEMS
FULLTIME/PARTTIME
DATE: MAY-AUGUST 2018 TIME: 1
1
/2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: ATTEMPT QUESTION ONE AND ANY OTHER TWO QUESTIONS.
QUESTION ONE
a) The operating system is the most important software in the computer system. In your own words
explain why. [4 Marks]
b) Explain FIVE types of operating systems. [5 Marks]
c) Differentiate between the following terms. [10 Marks]
i. Multiprocessing and multiprogramming
ii. System software and application software
iii. Real time and time sharing operating systems
iv. Process and thread
v. Throughput and turnaround time
d) Ann has been sent by the systems administrator to go and buy an operating system and asked to
buy one that has features of modern day operating systems. Help Ann identify these features.
[5 Marks]
e) With the aid of diagrams explain paging and swapping memory management techniques.
[6 Marks]
QUESTION TWO
a) Explain three types of user interfaces. [6 Marks]
b) With the aid of a diagram explain the FIVE state process model. [5 Marks]
c) File access mechanism refers to the manner in which the records in a file may be accessed.
Explain three ways used to access files [6 Marks]
d) Briefly explain the three types of schedulers we learnt in class. [3 Marks]
QUESTION THREE
a) Outline FIVE ways that can be used to differentiate I/O devices. [5 Marks]
b) Explain THREE methods of handling deadlocks. [6 Marks]
c) Explain FIVE qualities of a good scheduling algorithm. [5 Marks]
d) List FOUR examples of operating systems in the market today. [4 Marks]
QUESTION FOUR
a) Explain the components of a process control block. [5 Marks]
b) Outline FIVE objectives of process scheduling [5 Marks]
c) According to Coffman FOUR conditions must be present for a deadlock to occur. Discuss.
[8 Marks]
d) Define the term interrupt [2 Marks]
QUESTION FIVE
a) Briefly explain FIVE categories of computer hardware. [5 Marks]
b) Alice is an experienced computer user. Suggest what you think is her preferred user interface giving
reasons for your answer. [4 Marks]
c) Explain any FIVE file attributes [5 Marks]
d) A file owner should be able to control what can be done to a file and by whom. Outline the types of
access that can be allowed. [6 Marks]
