Which data structure in the Operating System kernel stores all information associated with a specific process, such as Process ID, Program Counter, CPU registers, and Memory Limits?
Option D is correct. The Process Control Block (PCB) or Process Descriptor is a kernel data structure containing complete state info about a process, including PID, state, PC, CPU registers, and I/O status.
When a process transitions from the 'Running' state to the 'Ready' state in a preemptive operating system, what usually triggers this state change?
Option A is correct. In preemptive scheduling, a running process is moved back to the Ready queue when its time quantum expires (timer interrupt) or a higher-priority process arrives.
What is the primary function of the Long-Term Scheduler (Job Scheduler) in an operating system?
Option E is correct. The Long-Term Scheduler (Job Scheduler) controls the degree of multiprogramming by selecting processes from the job pool on disk and loading them into main memory.
Which scheduler controls the 'Degree of Multiprogramming' in a batch processing operating system?
Option B is correct. The Long-Term Scheduler determines how many processes reside in main memory simultaneously, thereby controlling the degree of multiprogramming.
What term refers to the cost/overhead of saving the state of the currently running process and restoring the saved state of another process by the kernel dispatcher?
Option C is correct. Context switching is pure CPU overhead where the OS saves the context (registers, PC) of the running process in its PCB and loads the context of the new process.