Describe the difference between a process and a program.

A program is a set of instructions on your computer, while a process is a running instance of that program.

What is a context switch, and why is it necessary?

A context switch is like changing gears in a car. It’s necessary to let different programs take turns using the CPU.

How does an operating system manage memory allocation for processes?

The operating system keeps track of which part of memory each program uses and makes sure they don’t interfere with each other.

What is a shell in the context of Unix-like operating systems?

A shell is like a command interpreter. It lets you communicate with the operating system by typing commands.

Explain the concept of a race condition in concurrent programming.

A race condition is like a race between programs to access shared data. It can cause unexpected problems when two programs try to change the same thing at the same time.

What is the key difference between a 32-bit and a 64-bit operating system?

The key difference is the size of memory addresses. A 32-bit OS can address up to 4 GB of RAM, while a 64-bit OS can address a vastly larger amount of memory (many terabytes). This enables 64-bit systems to handle more extensive and memory-intensive tasks.

What is a process control block (PCB), and what information does it contain?

A PCB is a data structure that stores information about a process. It typically contains data like process ID, program counter, CPU registers, scheduling information, memory management details, and I/O status.

What is a thread pool, and how does it improve performance in multithreaded applications?

A thread pool is a collection of pre-initialized threads that are ready to perform tasks. It improves performance in multithreaded applications by reusing threads for multiple tasks, reducing thread creation overhead and ensuring efficient CPU utilization.

Explain the concept of CPU scheduling algorithms, and discuss the differences between round-robin, priority-based, and shortest job first (SJF) scheduling.

CPU scheduling algorithms determine the order in which processes execute on the CPU. Round-robin is time-based, priority-based assigns priority levels, and SJF selects the shortest job first based on execution time. Each has its advantages and trade-offs in terms of fairness and efficiency.

What is the difference between symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) and asymmetric multiprocessing (AMP)?

SMP is a multiprocessor system where all CPUs are identical and can execute any task. AMP, on the other hand, has processors with specific roles, such as one handling system tasks and another handling user tasks.

What is a device driver, and why is it essential for hardware interaction in an operating system?

A device driver is software that acts as an interface between the operating system and hardware devices. It’s crucial because it allows the OS to communicate with and control various hardware components like disks, printers, and network adapters.

Describe the purpose and benefits of virtualization in modern operating systems.

Virtualization allows multiple virtual machines (VMs) to run on a single physical machine. It provides isolation, resource allocation, and flexibility, making it easier to manage and utilize hardware efficiently.

What is a file descriptor, and how does it relate to file handling in Unix-like operating  systems?

A file descriptor is a unique identifier assigned by the OS to represent an open file. It is used in Unix-like systems to read, write, and manage files, sockets, and other I/O resources.

Explain the concept of a critical section in concurrent programming and discuss methods for synchronization to prevent concurrent access issues.

A critical section is a part of code that should be executed by only one thread at a time to avoid data corruption. Synchronization methods like locks, semaphores, and mutexes are used to control access to critical sections.

What are system calls related to file operations in Unix-like systems (e.g., open, read, write, close), and what are their primary functions?

System calls like `open`, `read`, `write`, and `close` are used for file operations in Unix-like systems. `open` opens a file, `read` reads data from a file, `write` writes data to a file, and `close` closes a file.