System Software Interview preparation

What is a system software?

It consists of variety of programs that supports the operation of the computer. This software makes it possible for the user to focus on the other problems to be solved with out needing to know how the machine works internally. Eg: operatirig system, assembler, loader.

What is a compiler and interpreter?

Comiler is a set of program which converts the whole high level language program to machine language program.
Interpreter is a set of programs which converts high level language program to machine language program line by line

What is a loader?

Loader is a set of programs that loads the machine language translated by the translator into the main memory and makes it ready for execution.

What is the need of MAR register?

MAR (memory address register) is used to store the address of the memory from which the data is to be read or to which the data is to be written.
 
 

Draw SS Instruction format

Opcode^ 1                  D1 2 D2
0 7 8        15 16 19 20 31 32 35 36    47

  

It is 6 byte instruction used to move L+1 bytes of data from storage location 1 to storage location2.

Storage Location 1 = D1 + [B1]

Storage Location2 = D2 + [B2] 

Eg: MOV 60, 400(3), 500(4)


Give any two differences between base-relative addressing and program counter relative addressing us

Base relative addressing PC relative addressing

Target address is calculated using formula

address = Displacement + [B] B-base register

Target address is calculated using formula

address = Displacement + [PC] PC -program counter

Displacement lies between 0 to 4095 Displacement lies between -2048 to 2047

 


What is immediate addressing


In this addressing mode the operand value is given directly. There is no need to refer memory. The immediate addressing is indicated by prefix '#'. Eg: ADD #6

In this instruction, one operand is in accumulator and the second operand is an immediate value . The value 5 is directly added with the accumulator content and the result is stored in accumulator.

What is indirect addressing

In the case of immediate addressing the operand field gives the memory location. The word from the given address is fetched and it gives the address of the operand. Eg: ADD R5,[600].

Here, the second operand is given in indirect addressing mode. First the word in memory location 600 is fetched and which will give the address of the operand.


List out any two CISC and RISC machine.


CISC - Power PC, Cray T3E

RISC - VAX,Pentium Pro architecture


What is the name of A and L register in SIC machine and also specify its use

A - Accumulator

It is used for arithmetic operation. i.e. in the case of arithmetic operations one operand is in the accumulator and other operand may be an immediate value, reg ister operand or memory content. The operation given in the instruction is performed and the result is stored in the accumulator register.

L - Linkage register

It is used to store the return address in the case of jump to subroutine (JSUB) instructions.

 

What are the instruction formats used in SIC/XE architecture? Give any one format

Format 1 (1 byte), format 2 (2 bytes), format 3 (3 bytes) and format 4 (4 bytes) are the different instructions used in SIC/XE architecture.

Format 2 :

    8            4           4

OPCODE    R1        R2


What is the difference between the instructions LDA # 3 and LDA THREE ?


In the first instruction, immediate addresing is used. Here the value 3 is directly loaded into the accumulator register.

In the second instruction, the memory reference is used. Here the address (address assigned for the symbol THREE), is loaded into the accumulator register.


Differentiate trailing numeric and leading separate numeric.


The numeric format is used to represent numeric values with one digit per byte. In the numeric format, if the sign appears in the last byte, it is known as the trailing numeric. If the sign appears in a the separate byte preceding the first digit, then it is called as leading separate numeric. 


What are the addressing modes used in the VAX architecture ?


Register direct, register deferred, auto increment and decrement, program counter relative, base relative, index register mode and indirect addressing are the various addressing modes in the VAX architecture.


How do you calculate actual address in the case of register indirect with immediate index mode ?


Here the target address is calculated using the formula 

T.A = (register) + displacement

 


Write the sequence of instructions to perform the operation BETA = ALPHA + 1 using SIC instructions


                                                          LDA       ALPHA

                                                          ADD       ONE

                                                          STA        BETA

                                             ALPHA          RESW           1

                                                        BETA               RESW               1

                                                         ONE                RESW               1


Write the sequence of instructions to perform the operation BETA = ALPHA + 5 using SIC/XE instructio


LDA                ALPHA

                      ADD       #1

                      STA         BETA

ALPHA           RESW       1

BETA             RESW       1

 


What is the use of TD instruction in SIC architecture ?


The Test Device (TD)  instruction tests the addressed device is ready to send or receive a byte of data. The condition code is set to indicate the result of this test. Setting of '<' means the device is ready to send or receive, and '=' means the device is not ready.


What are the basic functions of assembler?


  • Translating mnemonic operation codes to their machine language equivalents
  • Assigning machine addresses to symbolic labels used by the programmer


What is meant by assembler directives. Give example.


These are the statements that are not translated into machine instructions, but they provide the instructions to assembler itself.

Example: START,END,BYTE,WORD,RESW and RESB

 

What is forward references ?


It is a reference to a label that is defined later in a program.


Consider the statement -


10      1000STL   RETADR


80       1036       RETADR   RESW  1 


The first instruction contains a forward reference RETADR. If we attempt to translate the program line by line, we will be unable to process the statement in line 10, because we do not know the address that will be assigned to RETADR. The address is assigned later (in line 80) in the program.