Research Topics
A. Research the size of operating system software by finding the amount of secondary storage (disk) space required by different versions of the same operating system or different operating systems. if their sizes are substantially different, explain why that may be the case, such as platform issues, features, etc. Cite your sources.
Answer:
Win 3.1 ~15MB, although it requires at least MS-DOS 6.22 to boot, so tack on another few megs.
Win 95 b ~80MB
Win 98 SE ~300MB
Win 2000 Pro ~720MB with no service packs. After SP4, it's around 1GB.
Win XP Pro, ~1.2GB with SP2.
Source: http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=397609
The different versions of operating systems have different sizes it is because it evolves. The older the version of the operating system, the lower its size and secondary storage requires. The newer version of the operating system, the higher its size and secondary storage it has.
Exercises
1. Explain in your own words why file deallocation is important and what would happen if it did not occur on a regular basis.
Answer: File deallocation is important because once a file is deallocated it must returned at the same time. Once the file will not be deallocated on regular basis, the file will be terminated.
2. Describe how the File Manager allocates a file to a single user. List steps that you think would be followed and explain your reasoning.
Answer:
FIRST: To embed commands in the user’s program
*Provide examples of embedded commands (OPEN, CLOSE, READ, WRITE MODIFY). Note that OPEN and CLOSE pertain to the file availability for the program working on it. READ and WRITE are Input/Output (I/O) commands. MODIFY is a specialized command.
SECOND: To submit them interactively
*Provide examples of interactive commands (OPEN, DELETE, RENAME, COPY). Note that files may be created with other system-specific terms and provide examples.
3. Is device independence important to the file manager ? Why or why not ? Describe the consequences if that were not the case.
Answer:
The logical data independence is the key feature of database management system for maintaining data integrity and for maintaining overall effectiveness of data usage. Logical data independence is an important part of three schema architecture which allows the change or modification of conceptual schema without disturbing the external schema. The modification in conceptual schema may include alteration of entities, attributes, relationships etc. Changing any of these elements will not disturb the external application programs which is a key advantage of logical data independence feature of database management system.
4. Do you think file retrieval is different on a menu-driven system and a command-driven system? Explain your answer and describe any differences between two . Give an example of when each would be preferred over the other.
Answer:
Refers to programs and operating systems that accept commands in the form of special words or letters. In contrast, programs that allow you to choose from a list of option in a menu are said to be menu driven. Command-driven software is often more flexible than menu-driven software, but it is more difficult to learn.
5. Imagine one real-life example of each: multi- file volume and multi-volume file. Include a description of the media used for storage and a general description of the data in the file.
Answer:
MULTI-FILE VOLUME
*It is just like a nipa house that is composed of a very large number of family members. The nipa house is presented as the 'volume" and the family members is presented as the "file".
MULTI-VOLUME FILE
*The family that lives in that nipa house are getting larger because some of the family members has their own family. So they need to transfer to another nipa house because they will be overcrowded if the new members of the family will still stay in that nipa house. The new members of the family presented as the "files" and the new nipa house is presented as the "volume."
