What do registers consist of?
Registers consist of a small amount of fast storage.

How many registers does a Central Processing Unit (CPU) have?
A CPU has a small number of registers.

What is another term for memory?
Another term for memory is primary storage.

The memory is much ... than the CPU register but much ... in size.
The memory is much slower than the CPU register but much larger in size.

Why do the CPU and device controllers compete for memory cycles?
The CPU and device controllers compete for memory cycles because they execute in parallel.

What is provided to ensure orderly access to the shared memory?
To ensure orderly access to the shared memory, a memory controller is provided.

What is the function of the memory controller?
The function of the memory controller is to synchronize the access to the memory.

What is considered Input/Output (I/O) when it comes to computer systems?
When it comes to computer systems, I/O is considered to be any transfer of information between the CPU or memory and any of the external devices.

What does the Operating System control and coordinate, and for whom?
The OS controls and coordinates the hardware for its use among the various programs of the various users on the system.

What is a program?
A program is a set of instructions which is in a human-readable format.

What type of entity is a program and what does it require?
A program is a passive entity which requires storage space.

What is an executable?
An executable is a compiled form of a program.

What two things does an executable consist of?
The two things an executable consists of include:

1. Machine instructions.
2. Static data.

What type of entity is an executable and what does it require?
An executable is a passive entity which requires storage space.

What is a process?
A process is a program loaded into memory which is either executing or waiting.

For how long does a process typically execute and when does it stop?
A process typically executes for a short time before it finishes or needs to perform I/O.

What type of entity is a process and what does it require?
A process is an active entity which requires resources such as CPU time and memory.

What is another term for the CPU context?
Another term for the CPU context is the CPU state.

Why does the hardware provide two modes to run processes?
The hardware provides two modes to run processes to protect the operating system from user processes.

What is it called when you can run processes in user mode or kernel mode?
When you can run processes in user mode or kernel mode, it is called dual mode operation.

What restrictions does dual mode operation place?
Dual mode operation places restrictions on the type and scope of operations that can be executed by the CPU.

What does asynchronous mean?
Asynchronous means not happening, existing, or arising at precisely the same time.

What is a synchronous event directly related to?
A synchronous event is directly related to the instruction currently being executed by the CPU.

What is another term for an exception?
Another term for an exception is a trap.

What are exceptions produced by and when?
Exceptions are produced by the CPU control unit while executing instructions.

What are interrupts produced by and when?
Interrupts are produced by hardware devices outside of the CPU at arbitrary times with respect to CPU clock signals.

What happens when an exception or interrupt is handled in kernel mode?
When an exception or interrupt is handled in kernel mode, execution resumes in user space.

How are system calls implemented?
System calls are implemented using a special system call exception.