Section 12: Miscellaneous - bmitch26/Operating-Systems GitHub Wiki

Section 12. Miscellaneous

• System Performance
  • Benchmarking
    • Utilizing operations to assess the relative performance of an object by running a number of standard tests and trials against it. Source
  • Throughput
    • Rate at which data is successfully transmitted over a network or channel within a period of time. Source
  • Latency
    • Total time it takes to give output after being given input. Source
• System Calls (e.g., fork, exec, wait, read, write)
  • A system call is the mechanism by which a program interacts with the underlying system to request services using the kernel. Source
• Kernel Types: Source
  • Monolithic Kernel
    • All operating system services operate in the kernel space.
  • Microkernel
    • Minimalist approach with virtual memory and thread scheduling, and higher stability and less services in the kernel space.
  • Hybrid Kernel
    • Combination of the speed and design from Monolithic style, and modularity and stability of Microkernel.
  • Exokernel
    • Follows end-to-end principle with fewest hardware abstractions as possible, and allocates physical resources to applications.
• Virtual Machines (VMs)
  • Operating system or application environment that runs on software mimicking physical hardware. Source
• Resource Allocation
  • Distributing available computer resources to running processes.
• Debugging Tools (strace, gdb)
  • Programs allowing for the monitoring and control of errors arising from other programs' execution. Source
• Synchronization Hardware (Test-and-Set, Compare-and-Swap)
  • Algorithms meant to assist with the resolution of critical section problems. Source