CNIT 176 STUDY GUIDE 2026 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS SCORED A+
✔✔Measurement of bytes (smallest to largest) - ✔✔KB, MB, GB, TB, PB...
✔✔Operating System - ✔✔a collection of programs that integrates hardware and makes
resources available to user. allows user access to computer in productive, timely, and
efficient manner
✔✔True or False: a hardware platform may support a variety of OS - ✔✔true
✔✔True or False: An OS is limited to working on a singular platform - ✔✔False
✔✔Components of OS - ✔✔Memory resident, Memory non-resident, Bootstrap program
✔✔System - ✔✔a collection of components linked together and organized in such a
way as to be recognizable as a single unit
✔✔Environment - ✔✔Anything outside of the system
✔✔System architecture - ✔✔Fundamental properties and patterns of relationships,
connections, and constraints among components and between the system and its
environment
✔✔Examples of client server computing - ✔✔A Google search, VPN server connection,
joining a multiplayer game
✔✔Two tier architecture and examples - ✔✔two computers are involved in a service.
Ex. web browser and web server model used in intranets and on the Internet
✔✔Three-tier architecture and examples - ✔✔Three computers are involved in a
service. Ex. client computer, web server, database server
✔✔N tier architecture - ✔✔N computers are involved in a service.
✔✔Public Cloud Computing Deployment - ✔✔third-party service providers
✔✔Private Cloud computing - ✔✔controlled, typically single-organization, on-premises
resources
✔✔hybrid cloud computing - ✔✔some mixture of both private and public (also called
"multicloud") 90% of all cloud computing, most common
, ✔✔Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - ✔✔cloud-based hardware emulation of virtual
machines and networking. ex. Amazon Web Services
✔✔Platform as a Service (PaaS) - ✔✔tools for a developer to create and run
applications on a cloud platform. ex. Google App Engine
✔✔Software as a Service (SaaS) - ✔✔applications run on a server or processing may
be divided on server and client. ex. email services
✔✔Peer to Peer (P2P) computing - ✔✔computers on a network are treated as equals.
each computer can share resources with other computers on network. has advantages
and disadvantages
✔✔Basic services an OS provides - ✔✔Accepts commands and requests from users
and responds with results. Manages, loads, and executes programs. Manages
hardware resources of computer and other external parts of system.
✔✔Memory Resident - ✔✔Component of OS that is always loaded in memory.
commonly called the kernel. contains essential services required by other parts of OS
and responsible for managing memory, processes, tasks, and secondary storage
✔✔Memory non-Resident - ✔✔Infrequently used programs in OS. software tools.
commands
✔✔Monolithic Configuration - ✔✔Unix/Linux. Kernel in the center with shell and utilities
around it. Drawback: stability and integrity must be managed carefully.
✔✔Hierarchical (layered/modular) configuration - ✔✔Multics, Windows 2000 and later
versions. each layer is independent of other layers. requests are passed down to the
layer immediately below it.
✔✔Microkernel - ✔✔macOS. minimum essential functionality. client-server system on
same system. client requests services from microkernel, which passes message onto
appropriate server
✔✔Single-user systems and workstations - ✔✔predominant systems in use. laptop and
desktop computers and workstations. ex. macOSX, versions of Windows, Linux, and
Sun Solaris
✔✔Mobile operating systems - ✔✔designed for small hand-held devices. features of
single-user multitasking systems but with constraints. touch screen capability. ex. IOS,
android, e-readers, tablets
ANSWERS SCORED A+
✔✔Measurement of bytes (smallest to largest) - ✔✔KB, MB, GB, TB, PB...
✔✔Operating System - ✔✔a collection of programs that integrates hardware and makes
resources available to user. allows user access to computer in productive, timely, and
efficient manner
✔✔True or False: a hardware platform may support a variety of OS - ✔✔true
✔✔True or False: An OS is limited to working on a singular platform - ✔✔False
✔✔Components of OS - ✔✔Memory resident, Memory non-resident, Bootstrap program
✔✔System - ✔✔a collection of components linked together and organized in such a
way as to be recognizable as a single unit
✔✔Environment - ✔✔Anything outside of the system
✔✔System architecture - ✔✔Fundamental properties and patterns of relationships,
connections, and constraints among components and between the system and its
environment
✔✔Examples of client server computing - ✔✔A Google search, VPN server connection,
joining a multiplayer game
✔✔Two tier architecture and examples - ✔✔two computers are involved in a service.
Ex. web browser and web server model used in intranets and on the Internet
✔✔Three-tier architecture and examples - ✔✔Three computers are involved in a
service. Ex. client computer, web server, database server
✔✔N tier architecture - ✔✔N computers are involved in a service.
✔✔Public Cloud Computing Deployment - ✔✔third-party service providers
✔✔Private Cloud computing - ✔✔controlled, typically single-organization, on-premises
resources
✔✔hybrid cloud computing - ✔✔some mixture of both private and public (also called
"multicloud") 90% of all cloud computing, most common
, ✔✔Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - ✔✔cloud-based hardware emulation of virtual
machines and networking. ex. Amazon Web Services
✔✔Platform as a Service (PaaS) - ✔✔tools for a developer to create and run
applications on a cloud platform. ex. Google App Engine
✔✔Software as a Service (SaaS) - ✔✔applications run on a server or processing may
be divided on server and client. ex. email services
✔✔Peer to Peer (P2P) computing - ✔✔computers on a network are treated as equals.
each computer can share resources with other computers on network. has advantages
and disadvantages
✔✔Basic services an OS provides - ✔✔Accepts commands and requests from users
and responds with results. Manages, loads, and executes programs. Manages
hardware resources of computer and other external parts of system.
✔✔Memory Resident - ✔✔Component of OS that is always loaded in memory.
commonly called the kernel. contains essential services required by other parts of OS
and responsible for managing memory, processes, tasks, and secondary storage
✔✔Memory non-Resident - ✔✔Infrequently used programs in OS. software tools.
commands
✔✔Monolithic Configuration - ✔✔Unix/Linux. Kernel in the center with shell and utilities
around it. Drawback: stability and integrity must be managed carefully.
✔✔Hierarchical (layered/modular) configuration - ✔✔Multics, Windows 2000 and later
versions. each layer is independent of other layers. requests are passed down to the
layer immediately below it.
✔✔Microkernel - ✔✔macOS. minimum essential functionality. client-server system on
same system. client requests services from microkernel, which passes message onto
appropriate server
✔✔Single-user systems and workstations - ✔✔predominant systems in use. laptop and
desktop computers and workstations. ex. macOSX, versions of Windows, Linux, and
Sun Solaris
✔✔Mobile operating systems - ✔✔designed for small hand-held devices. features of
single-user multitasking systems but with constraints. touch screen capability. ex. IOS,
android, e-readers, tablets
