The exam will take the place, time, and duration of the usual lecture (see the course syllabus).

The exam is CLOSED note and CLOSED computer.

You are allowed to bring ONE 8.5" x 11" (double sided) cheat sheet with any information you'd like with you for consultation into the exam.

The exam may feel long, but that's OK! Take your time, a deep breath or two, and don't worry if you don't finish everything -- it will be likely that your classmates do not either, which will likely be by design.

Exam I will cover the topics in the first 5 weeks. These include:

• OS Fundamentals: the OS's core responsibilities, OS kernel structures, dual-mode operation.

• OS Hardware Interface: Von Neumann Architecture, hierarchical memory organization, mounting devices.

• File System Organization: Unix FS structure, hard vs. soft links, file control blocks, inodes, file meta-data.

• Interrupts: hardware vs. software, interrupt vector, system calls vs. exceptions.

• Bash commands: usage of any of the commands covered in class, I/O redirection, pipes, compound commands.

• C Programming: (just a little bit!) any of the topics covered in Classwork 2, focus on C-Strings.

The examination format may include:

• Definitions and short answer questions

• Multiple choice

• Drawing FS trees, links, mount points

• Structured-response code writing (I give you a skeleton, you fill in the requested parts)

• Code triage (identifying something wrong with code some noob has written)

Be prepared to answer some questions similar to those on the assignments and in-class exercises.

Furthermore, although I won't ask you anything about mechanics we haven't covered in class, you might be expected to apply the mechanics we've learned about in a way that we didn't see in class. If you thoroughly understand the material, there should be no surprises, but still challenges.

Here is my suggestion for preparation order:

1. Re-read my course notes, re-doing the exercises if you aren't clear on any of them. Importantly: try to answer each "question" box yourself before revealing its answer.

2. Read the relevant textbook chapters outlined in the Syllabus.

3. Study any available classwork and homework solutions.