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Operating Systems - Please answer in a few sentences

Explain the concept of a context switch. List at least five
parameters in the context switch

User Jon Carter
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Final answer:

A context switch in operating systems involves saving and restoring the state of a CPU so that processes can be paused and resumed. Parameters such as the Program Counter, registers, stack pointer, memory management information, and I/O state are involved in a context switch.

Step-by-step explanation:

Context Switch in Operating Systems

A context switch is the process of saving and restoring the state of a CPU so that one process can be paused and another can resume. During a context switch, several parameters are involved:

Program Counter (PC): Stores the address of the next instruction to be executed.

Registers: Save the current values of various CPU registers.

Stack Pointer (SP): Points to the top of the stack for the current process.

Memory Management Information: Contains information about the process's memory mapping.

I/O State: Includes information about any pending I/O operations.

These parameters ensure that the suspended process can be resumed accurately and efficiently when it regains control.

User Adam Wenger
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