Search the Internet to find two tutorials on virtual memory as it is used in modern workstations, servers, or mobile devices. The tutorials could be in written form or videos similar to the Messer (2012) video Understanding PC Memory included in this module's instructional resources. Write a short paper comparing the tutorials you identified. Explain which tutorial you preferred based upon how it helped you answer the following questions:
- How does virtual memory extend the memory available to applications?
- What are the drawbacks of a page fault when a virtual memory page is not resident?
A complete paper will include:
- The answers to the above questions
- A description of the tutorial that best helped you answer those questions and why you preferred it
- Any challenges you are having with understanding virtual memory. If you are having difficulty, you can simply write a paragraph or two about any areas of virtual memory you still do not understand and your plan for how you will master those areas. If you are confident in what you have learned, use that portion of your paper to talk about any benefits of virtual memory you found.
Full Answer Section
Comparison of the Tutorials
Both tutorials are excellent resources for learning about virtual memory. However, I preferred the first tutorial because it provided a more comprehensive overview of the topic. The second tutorial was also informative, but it was more focused on the basics of virtual memory.
How Virtual Memory Extends the Memory Available to Applications
Virtual memory allows applications to use more memory than is physically available on a system. This is done by dividing the physical memory into smaller pages and storing the pages on disk when they are not being used. When an application needs to access a page that is not in memory, the operating system loads the page from disk into memory. This process is called a page fault.
Drawbacks of a Page Fault
The main drawback of a page fault is that it can cause a performance penalty. When a page fault occurs, the operating system must stop whatever it is doing to load the page from disk. This can cause the application to pause or even crash.
Conclusion
Both tutorials are excellent resources for learning about virtual memory. However, I preferred the first tutorial because it provided a more comprehensive overview of the topic. The second tutorial was also informative, but it was more focused on the basics of virtual memory.
Sample Answer
Here are two tutorials on virtual memory as it is used in modern workstations, servers, or mobile devices:
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/operating_system/os_virtual_memory.htm
This tutorial is a written article that provides a comprehensive overview of virtual memory, including its history, how it works, and its benefits. It also discusses some of the challenges of implementing virtual memory and how they are addressed.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8yO2FBBfaB0])
This video tutorial provides a more concise overview of virtual memory, focusing on the basics of how it works and its benefits. It also includes a helpful example of how virtual memory is used in a real-world application.