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What is a “real-time” system? Give one example of a real-time system that is NOT mission-critical or business critical and explain why this example is real-time.

Explain the concept of a load balancing.

What is the role of the Frontside Bus (FSB) in a computer executing instructions?

Why is the functionality of a PCB a good choice for OS functionality to build into hardware? Note: PCB here refers to a Process Control Block, do NOT confuse this with a printed circuit board.

Say which of the following is true and fully explain every part of the answer (the cases where the statement applies and the cases where it does not). Mutual exclusion must be enforced in the following scenarios: 1. On any shared memory, whether it is modifiable or not. 2. On any modifiable memory, whether is it shared or not. 3. Even on memory that is neither shared nor modifiable. 4. Only on memory that is both shared and modifiable.  

Explain the terms master and slave in a distributed system. In your answer include an example of something a master has to do that a slave does not, and something a slave has to do that a master does not.

Explain how threading can be used to improve the user experience of waiting for a program to run all of the preliminary tasks that must occur for the program can actually be used. Obviously, this question is asking for something that specifically relates to the given scenario, not just a general advantage of multithreading that applies to all scenarios of a programming running.

What is a peripheral device and what is its relationship to operating systems?

What is an advantage of threading that applies only to a system with more than one processor? Explain why this advantage doesn’t apply to a single processor.

Can a process transition directly from running to suspended-blocked? If so, explain what would cause this transition. If not, explain why not.