CSCI 4717 -- Test 2 Study Guide

The following is a list of the topics that we've covered since the first test, topics which you could definitely see on the second test. Look for the format of the second test to be like that of the first test.

It is important to note that over the years, the order of topics has changed. Therefore, it is critical that you check this study guide to ensure that a question from an old test is qualified for this exam. There are also some questions from the first exams given in earlier semesters that may be of use to you for studying for test 2. These include:

• 2002 Test 1:
  • Error detection and correction: Questions 17 through 21, 31, and 32
  • Hard drives and RAID: Questions 24 through 29, 36, and 37
• 2003 Test 1:
  • Error detection and correction: Questions 17 through 19, 27, 29, 30, and 31

You can find additional notes and problem on error correction and detection in section 9.6 "Hamming Code" of this on-line chapter from the CSCI 2150 textbook.

It is important to note that in the past, there have been no questions on hard drive encoding as presented in slides 24 through 30 of the storage media lecture, or S.M.A.R.T. technology as presented in slides 31 and 32 of that same lecture. You can find some additional information from section 13.2.2 "Data Encoding" in this on-line chapter from the CSCI 2150 textbook.

1. Data Encoding
   • Be able to describe the purpose of encoding along with the goals for a good encoding scheme
   • Encoding schemes
     • If questions arise on the encoding on the test, I will describe the details of the scheme, but you may need to compare and contrast an possibly decode.
     • Frequency Modulation (FM)
     • Modified FM (MFM)
     • Run Length Limited (RLL)
2. Hard Drive Timing
   • Queuing time
   • Seek time
   • Rotational Latency
   • Transfer time
   • Rotational Position Sensing (RPS)
3. RAID -- Reading: Stallings section 6.2
   • Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) -- Be sure you understand the operation of each of these configurations in addition to their benefits and drawbacks including being able to describe why each level received the table entry it did in the I/O request rate, data transfer rate, and applications of Table 6.3, p. 181. (See Fall 2002 Test 1 and Fall 2005 Test 2 for sample questions.)
     • Organization of RAID 0 through 6
     • Methods of error checking for each
4. Input/Output -- Reading: Stallings chapter 7
   • General operation of I/O including data characteristics and types
   • Generic configuration (from Figure 7.2)
   • I/O Modules
     • Control and timing
     • Processor communication
     • Device Communication
     • Data Buffering
     • Error Detection
     • Structure (Figure 7.3/Figure 7.4 from 6^th ed.)
     • I/O Module Level of Operation
     • Input/Output Techniques
     • Addressing I/O
   • Types of I/O communications with processor
     • Programmed I/O
       • Operation
       • Drawbacks and benefits
     • Interrupt Driven I/O
       • Operation
       • Drawbacks and benefits
       • Design issues such as methods for resolving multiple interrupts
       • Please be sure to read the interrupt service routine discussion in our in-class exercise
     • DMA
       • Operation
       • Drawbacks and benefits
       • Cycle stealing
       • Different structures
     • I/O Channels
       • Operation (at a higher, more abstract level than for programmed I/O, interrupts, and DMA)
       • Selector versus multiplexor
       • Drawbacks and benefits
5. Buses -- Reading: Stallings sections 3.4, 3.5, and 7.7
   • Common characteristics
   • Types
     • Classic
     • Multiple busses
   • Structure/design issues
     • Parallel versus serial
     • Use of data lines, address lines, control lines
     • Dedicated versus multiplexed versus physical dedication
     • Arbitration
     • Timing
     • Bus width effects
   • Operation
     • Reading to memory
     • Writing to memory
     • Reading I/O
     • Writing I/O
   • Contemporary organization of PC bus, e.g., relationships between Northbridge, Southbridge, frontbus, and backbus. (See slide 18 from bus notes and bits of the discussion forum thread "A Brief History of the Computer Bus")
   • PCI Bus
     • Characteristics
     • Structure
     • Lines (don't memorize line names, just be able to describe them if I give you the name of one)
     • Commands and general operation
     • Be able to compare with the newer implementations of PCI: PCI-Express and PCI-X

That's about it. Feel free to use the Test 2 discussion forum on Blackboard if you have questions about topics on the test. You may find your answer quicker than if you try to e-mail me directly.