1. Answer the following questions about interrupts:
(a) Your program is running normally and then, unexpectedly, an interrupt occurs. Describe the events that occur once the interrupt is accepted.
(b) While you are processing that interrupt, a second interrupt occurs. What steps are then taken?
2. Answer the following about memory:
(a) What are two advantages of flash memory over hard disk storage?
(b) What are two advantages of hard disk over flash memory storage?
(c) What advantages do both hard disk and flash memory storage have over RAM?
(d) What is the major advantage of RAM over other hard disk and flash memory storage?
3. Clearly describe and discuss at least three advantages of clustering.
4. A high-quality photographic image requires 3 bytes per pixel to produce sixteen million shades of color.
(a) How large a video memory is required to store a 640 × 480 image during display?
(b) How large a video memory is required to store a 1600 × 900 image?
(c) How large a video memory is required to store a 1440 × 1080 image?
(d) How many 1024 × 768 non-compressed color images will fit on 4.7 GB DVD-ROM?
5. Cloud computing is used as a means to provide off-site computing power to an organization. Compare cloud computing with grid computing and describe how they are similar and at least one way in which they differ.