22
votes
Introducing file systems to students who really don't understand
The problems
Hierarchies are not obvious
First let me point out that a hierarchy is not the most obvious or best structure for storing files. It is still based on library categorization systems, where ...
- 10.8k
14
votes
Good example of what isn't a system call?
The simple breakdown is:
Anything that performs input/output involes a series of system calls.
Anything that's purely computational doesn't involve system calls.
Both of these statements have ...
10
votes
Introducing file systems to students who really don't understand
Its actually harder than just finding a modern user-interface which exposes a directory structure. The whole concept of a directory structure is just a convenience - there is nothing 'physical' which ...
- 1,652
9
votes
Accepted
Why is the critical-section problem always presented with code in infinite loops?
One reason infinite loops are used could be so the problem can't be solved by letting one thread complete the code before the other thread starts it. With infinite loops, no thread ever completes the ...
- 7,650
8
votes
Accepted
Teaching an absolute beginners class Operating Systems with Rust
Trying to learn many things at once: A language, an operating system, creating command line tools, compilation, etc. goes against cognitive load theory. That is why so many students fail. Keep it ...
- 10.8k
8
votes
What is a file?
I would approach this pragmatically, beginning with the metaphor that kicked it off. I would tell the students something like this:
Imagine that it's 1925, and you're working at a giant company like ...
- 33.9k
6
votes
What is a file?
The question is actually quite deep. For instance, I'm sure you've heard the phrase "everything is a file," that is associated with a design of Unix operating system. So, the answer could be puzzling "...
6
votes
Introducing file systems to students who really don't understand
Make sure you are having your students "spelunk" in the file system and have them draw some of the tree structure. Often, this visualization helps them see the way the FS works, more clearly.
We ...
- 2,339
6
votes
How to teach operating systems development nowadays?
Implementing a whole OS may not be the best approach if you want your students to learn operating system concepts. This is specially true if your students are not proficient in C and Assembly, since ...
- 680
5
votes
Operating System Concepts by Silberschatz and Galvin, how much down the edition timeline can I go to safely understand the core-concept
I don't know this book in particular, but I do know Computer Science text books in general, and offer this advice:
Consider the title: Operating System Concepts. It is about basic and fundamental ...
5
votes
What is a file?
I think in this case a short answer is better than a long one, which is harder, but I might give it a shot:
A file is a list of bytes and an identifier [location].
Make sure to explain that there ...
- 151
5
votes
Why is the critical-section problem always presented with code in infinite loops?
"processes that run and enter critical sections ... where the code is not in an infinite loop"
Processes are generally components of a reactive system (like an OS) that are designed to be non-...
- 111
4
votes
Accepted
Teaching information security to students without basic IT knowledge
I don't see any particular problems with your syllabus. However, I do see two challenges that you will need to overcome. Depending on other factors in your context these may be easy or hard. But there ...
- 36.4k
4
votes
What is a file?
"File" is an abstraction. Even worse, we use it for different abstractions.
Well, suppose I copy a file to this site, and you download it. Would you say it is the same file? What do you mean by same?...
- 947
4
votes
How to teach operating systems development nowadays?
You might consider using MIT's xv6 which they describe as "xv6 is a reimplementation of Dennis Ritchie's and Ken Thompson's Unix Version 6 (v6). xv6 loosely follows the structure and style of v6, but ...
- 499
3
votes
Accepted
System Security related study material suggestions
It's a great field to explore!
Operating Systems, Three Easy Pieces is a way to continue your exploration of OS, and is free online.
The Shellcoder's Handbook has been recommended to me before, ...
- 33.9k
3
votes
How to teach operating systems development nowadays?
First I would recommend to start by using an operating system, such as Gnu (Debian etc), but any Unix will do. Most people have not used an OS: Most people just run applications, but don't interact ...
- 10.8k
3
votes
How to teach operating systems development nowadays?
There are two standard texts that have stood the test of time. Both are fairly deep:
XINU shows how to build an OS that externally resembles UNIX, but isn't (XINU = Xinu Is Not Unix), using a ...
- 36.4k
2
votes
What is a file?
Nothing wrong with citing all the "dictionary" definitions found on the Internet.
I'd add that a file tends to be the lowest level of abstraction of a container or boundary around data that the ...
- 21
2
votes
What is a file?
Was in a conference the other day and someone was showing intercept security... A .exe file started with MZ. Why? Those are the initials of the man who created the first DOS executable file format. ...
- 957
2
votes
Teaching information security to students without basic IT knowledge
You may have to rethink the curriculum design at a higher level ( involving other staff ).
Do you kick people off the course, loosing revenue. Do you teach extra lessons to get them up to entry ...
- 10.8k
2
votes
Books and courses to learn Operating Systems Fundamentals?
The "dinosaur book" is Operating System Concepts by Abraham Silberschatz. It is good and has a recent edition, but it isn't cheap. Another classic book is Modern Operating Systems by Andrew ...
- 36.4k
2
votes
Accepted
Which OS is best if I want to play around with exploits?
That's a really good book that I use with my students!
The book comes with a CD that has an image that you can run in Oracle VirtualBox. You'll also find all of the book examples preloaded there, and ...
- 33.9k
2
votes
What is a file?
As is the case with most simplified explanation, I have glossed over some more advanced specific details that don't factor into the basics on file systems.
File content
At its most basic level, a file ...
- 1,361
1
vote
What operating system concepts should I be fluent with to understand LVM in UNIX operating systems?
Start with an understanding of "disk system," that is, a single physical disk drive containing a single logical volume. You might start with the FAT (file allocation table) system of the ...
- 419
1
vote
What is a file?
A file is a metaphor, representing a mental model that would be familiar to office workers who were the initial users of computing systems.
Different users in a different context require different ...
1
vote
What is a file?
I'd actually answer this question from an Intro student from more of the HCI perspective, because they likely have more experience using a computer than understanding how the computer works. @...
- 323
1
vote
What is a file?
A slightly different but insightful take on this :-
On UNIX systems everything is a file. A file of data is a datafile but a directory (folder) is also a file. A device is a file (found in the /dev ...
- 533
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible