4003-440 and 4003-713 Operating Systems
Homework #2
Due December 18, 2006
Name: ___David Oguns____________________________Section: ___02_____________________
1. List five services provided by an operating system that are designed to make it more
convenient for users to use the computer system. In what cases it would be impossible for
user-level programs to provide these services? Explain.
User interface, I/O operations, file system manipulation, communications, error
detection. If the service require kernel mode access to hardware like a hard disk main
memory access, user level programs could never provide the service because they do not
have kernel mode. They would have to make system calls to accomplish the task.
2. What is the purpose of the command interpreter? Why is it usually separate from the
kernel? Would it be possible for the user to develop a new command interpreter using the
system-call interface provided by the operating system?
The purpose of the command line interpreter is to allow the user to perform
certain operations or run programs simply by typing in commands. It is usually
separate from the kernel so the user can choose what interpreter to use based on
preference. The users could develop a new command interpreter using system calls
because that is how they are made. A command interpreter is simply program that
forward commands and arguments to the necessary programs, or make the
necessary system calls directly.
3. In what ways is the modular kernel approach similar to the layered approach? In what
ways does it differ from the layered approach?
A modular kernel is similar to the layered approach in that modifying one
part of the kernel does not affect the other parts. As long as the interface of a
certain section(or layer) stays the same, the other’s do not have to be chanced. The
parts are loosely coupled. A modular kernel differs from a layered approach in that
there is less overhead in making a call to a lower level part of the kernel. The call
doesn’t have to jump through numerous layers before work gets done and parts are
aware of any other parts of the kernel and not just what is below them.
4. What is the relationship between a guest operating system and a host operating system
in a system like VMware? What factors need to be considered in choosing the host
operating system?
A host operating system is the operating system that is in direct
communication with the hardware. It has direct hardware access to kernel mode
and all of the devices on the physical machine. The guest operating system runs on
top of a virtualization layer and all of the physical devices are virtualized. A host
operating system should be as modular and thin as possible to allow the
virtualization of the hardware to be as close to the physical hardware as possible,
and so that dependencies that exist in the host operating don’t restrict operation in
the guest operating system.
5. What is the main advantage for an operating-system designer of using a virtualmachine architecture? What is the main advantage for a user?
There is complete protection of various system resources because it is
completely isolated. The designer can make changes without worry that they will
destroy the machine and render it unusable to others. For a user, this means that
the applications they run will work on any hardware the virtual machine is
available for.