Calang, Felizardo E.

BSCPE - 301

Practice Exercise

Input/Output Management

Objectives:

At the end of the exercise, the students should be able to:

▪ Examine the logical structure of the I/O function in an operating system; and

▪ Analyze the performance implications of I/O buffering in an operating

system. Part A (30 points)

1. Run at least five (5) different applications on your computer. (e.g., Google Chrome with
multiple tabs, Microsoft Word/Excel/PowerPoint, programming software, video/music player, etc.).

2. Open and maximize the window of Task Manager.

3. Find the tab showing the list of processes (application and background tasks) and
its corresponding details that currently run on your computer.

4. Set the columns to show the following:

• execution status

• Total processor time used by the process

• Maximum amount of physical memory used by the process

• Number of read I/O operations generated by the process since it started

• Total number of bytes read by the process in I/O operations

• Number of write I/O operations generated by the process since it started

• Total number of bytes written by the process in I/O operations

5. Take a screenshot of the maximized Task Manager window that shows the eight (8)
columns listed above. (10 points)
6. Analyze the details of the running processes in your computer, and answer the following
(5 items x 3 points):

a. Which process has the greatest number of read I/O operations since it started?

The process of Mir4G application has the greatest number of read I/O operations since it started.

b. Which process has the least number of write I/O operations since it started?

It is the dwm.exe or Desktop Window Manager that has no or zero write on I/O then the Excel with
the least amount among object applications with a value of 42 in write I/O operations.

c. Is the total number of I/O bytes read by a process always equal to the total number of I/O
bytes written by the same process?

Sometimes the process I/O bytes read, and I/O bytes written values are close to each other or can be
equal in a short time, but most of the time they are always different. Therefore, the process is not
always equal to the total number of I/O bytes written by the same process.

d. Would you agree that suspended processes will always hold a zero (0) value for both read
and write I/O operations?

I would not agree on suspended processes will always hold a zero value. Based on my
experimentation in the task manager the process will not hold zero value, but it will hold the
previous
value from the start when the process is executed and running. But when the process has been
suspended the value of both read and write I/O operations will not be increased or changed.

e. Is the number of threads directly proportional to the number of bytes written by the process in
I/O operation?

It is not directly proportional to the number of bytes written by the process in I/O operation. Based
on the task manager the treads of a process can be higher than the process with the higher number
of bytes written. For example, if process A has the higher bytes written with 12 threads and process B
has the lower bytes written but it has 20 threads and it can happen the other way around.

7. After analyzing the I/O details of the running processes in your computer, would you agree
that your computer implements I/O buffering? Why or why not? (5 points)

Note: Perform additional research, if needed, to support your answer above.

I agree that a computer implements I/O buffering because buffering is done to deal effectively with a
speed mismatch between the producer and user of the data stream and make the input and output
more efficient. I/O buffering is just using memory to make disk activity faster by reducing the amount
of time spent interacting with a slow disk, and by gathering up actual disk operations so that they can
be most efficiently performed. Also, I/O buffering is already implemented in Windows, which typically
uses the faster RAM to store temporary data due to the much faster access time than hard disk drives.

Part B (35 points)

Search for relevant and up-to-date literatures and studies about the Windows I/O Manager. Then,
answer or provide the following:

A. Describe the overall structure of the Windows I/O manager.

The Windows kernel-mode I/O manager manages the communication between applications
and the interfaces provided by device drivers. Because devices operate at speeds that may not
match the operating system, the communication between the operating system and device drivers is
primarily done through I/O request packets. These packets are like network packets or Windows
message packets. They are passed from the operating system to specific drivers and from one driver
to another.
 B. Illustrate the structure of the Windows I/O manager based on your understanding.

I/O Manager

Cache

Manager
File
Manager

Network Drivers
Manager

Hardware
Device Drivers

C. Differentiate the asynchronous and synchronous mode of operation of Windows I/O.

In Asynchronous Transmission, data is sent in form of byte or character. This transmission is

the half-duplex type of transmission. In this transmission start bits and stop bits are added with data.
It does not require synchronization. While in Synchronous Transmission, data is sent in form of blocks
or frames. In Synchronous transmission, there is no gap present between data. It is more efficient
and more reliable than asynchronous transmission to transfer a large amount of data.

D. Does the Windows I/O manager support any RAID configuration? Rationalize your answer.

A Random Array of Independent Disks (RAID) is a set of multiple drives put together to
improve the performance of a single drive. The Windows I/O manager also supports it and to create
a RAID array, a user can use both Storage Spaces and the command prompt or Windows PowerShell.
Before creating a software RAID, a user should define its type and what it will be used for. Today
Windows 10 supports three types of software RAID: RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5.

E. In your opinion, what other kernel components work closely with the Windows I/O
manager? Elaborate on your answer.

In my opinion, the plug and play manager are the kernel component that works closely with
the Windows I/O manager because the kernel-mode PnP manager keeps track of the devices that are
connected to I/O devices in the system. It is also responsible for processing the addition or removal of
devices while the system is running.
 F. In your perspective, what is the most significant part of the Windows I/O model and why?

In my perspective the driver or device driver, because it is the software that serves as a bridge
from the user to the hardware and a software application. Because the driver's purpose is to enable
operating systems and other computer programs to access hardware functions. So, the computer can
be controlled and accessed by the user. Also, drivers interpret high-level commands, such as read or
write, device-specific commands, such as the input of the keyboard, the driver will be the connection
from the keypress of a user then it will output in the computer.

Properly cite all your references. (5 points)

Buffering in Operating System - javatpoint. (n.d.). Www.javatpoint.com.

https://www.javatpoint.com/buffering-in-operating-system

Editor. (2019, October 21). I/O Manager. Network Encyclopedia.

https://networkencyclopedia.com/io-manager/

Difference between Synchronous and Asynchronous Transmission - GeeksforGeeks. (2019, May 23).
GeeksforGeeks. https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/difference- between-synchronous-
andasynchronous-transmission/

How to setup software RAID in Windows. (n.d.). RecoverHDD.com. Retrieved January 19, 2022, from
https://recoverhdd.com/blog/creating-software-raid-in- windows.html

How to setup software RAID in Windows. (n.d.). RecoverHDD.com.

https://recoverhdd.com/blog/creating-software-raid-in-windows.html tedhudek. (n.d.). Plug and
Play Manager - Windows drivers. Docs.microsoft.com. Retrieved January 19, 2022, from
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/install/pnpmanager