File System Topics:
- File Attributes
- File and Directory Operations
- Disk Space Management
- File System Backups
- File System Correction
- File System Performance
I/O Topics:
- I/O Devices, Device Controllers, Device Drivers
- Direct Memory Access
- Interrupts and Interrupt Handlers
- Performance
- Error Handling
- Disks (Formatting, RAID, Stable Storage)
- Clocks
- User Interfaces (Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor)
- Power Management
Directions:
1. Pick a file system topicandan I/O topic. At a minimum, determine 2 utilities which are available under each topic (both file system and I/O). The file system and I/O utilities chosen may or may not already be included in an OS (i.e. could be a utility to be installed in an OS).For the purposes of this assignment, a utility is an individual program so for example, each of Windows' sysinternals counts as a separate utility. If using command prompt, need to explain the different options (switches or flags) associated with the command name.
2. Explain the file system topic and I/O topic. Take or find a screenshot showing what information it provides to report or monitor the topic. Make sure to explain the screenshot(s) including what each utility is (at least 2 for file system and 2 for I/O) and discuss what each utility does as its functionality, purpose and uses and how it qualifies as a file system utility or I/O utility. Make sure to indicate what OS (with version(s)) it can be installed on or found and whether it is automatically part of the OS or must be installed.
3. Discuss whether each utility should or should not be automatically included in each of the following OS: Personal, Handheld, and Real-Time system. Make sure to justify your answers.
4. For your chosen file and I/O topics, take a brief look at utilities in Mac OS, Windows OS and Linux OS. What kind of file system or I/O capabilities do you find in one and is not found in another? Is this surprising? Why/Why not? Note: Suggest to find at least 1 similarity and 1 difference and illustrate through screenshot(s). Similarity could be in file system and difference in I/O topics or vice versa. More similarities and differences illustrated and well explained will be considered "Excellent".
5. Are there any kind of file system or I/O capabilities you wish would be included in all OS's, but which aren't (it could be included in just one as discovered in #4 above)? Why do you believe this capability (or these capabilities) are important? What justification might there be as to why these are not included in certain OS's?
6. What was most exciting or intriguing aspect about learning about how file systems and I/O are implemented in these various OS's? Why? What new utilities did you learn about or new explorations in the utilities?