What is aging in operating systems?
a) A technique used to prevent starvation by gradually increasing the priority of waiting processes
b) A method for reducing memory fragmentation
c) A scheduling algorithm that focuses on process aging
d) A way to manage virtual memory
Answer:
a) A technique used to prevent starvation by gradually increasing the priority of waiting processes
Explanation:
Aging is a technique used in operating systems to prevent process starvation. It involves gradually increasing the priority of processes that have been waiting in the queue for an extended period of time. As the process ages, its priority is increased, ensuring that it will eventually receive CPU time.
This method ensures that lower-priority processes are not indefinitely postponed in systems using priority-based scheduling algorithms. By increasing the priority of a process over time, aging helps balance the load and ensures fairness in process scheduling.
Aging is commonly implemented in systems where starvation is a potential risk, helping to improve overall system efficiency and fairness in resource allocation.