CSCI 567, Fall 2006 Exam 3 Review

Review Questions for Exam 3

These questions are intended to help you review for the final exam, and at least one of these questions will be on the exam. Since the final exam is comprehensive, you should also study the two previous sets of review questions.

  1. Describe the operation of the MVCP and MVCS instructions.

  2. Explain what is meant by the term semi-privileged instruction.

  3. Explain how the following are semi-privileged: the PC-ss instruction; the MVCP and MVCS instructions.

  4. Describe "true length" and how it is used in MVCP and MVCS.

  5. Describe how the PSW-Key-Mask is used in MVCP and MVCS.

  6. Describe the process of ASN translation. Which control registers are referenced and which have their contents altered? Describe the circumstances under which ASN translation which may take place during PR-ss.

  7. Describe the process of PC-number translation. Which control registers are referenced and which have their contents altered?

  8. How is access to an ETE authorized? How is ASN translation authorized? (For the latter, be sure to explain the AT and the AX.)

  9. For each of the following cross-memory macro instructions, describe (1) its purpose, (2) the stage in which it is issued, and (3) who issues it:

    1. LXRES
    2. LXFRE
    3. ETCRE
    4. ETCON
    5. ETDIS
    6. ETDES
    7. AXRES
    8. AXSET
    9. AXFRE
    10. ATSET

  10. Describe the differences between a non-system LX and a system LX.

  11. Describe the two types of access list and how they are used. Describe how they are located. What determines which list is used during ART?

  12. CR0.15 is the address-space-function bit [the "ESA" bit]. What are the S/390 architecture differences when that bit is on?

  13. What is the purpose of the authorization index (AX)? What is the purpose of the extended authorization index (EAX)? [Be specific.]

  14. Describe the operation (including operands) of the following instructions:

    1. CPYA
    2. EAR
    3. LAM
    4. LAE
    5. SAR
    6. STAM

  15. Describe the process of access register translation (ART). Under what circumstances does authorization checking take place?

  16. Describe the purpose and functions of the DSPSERV macro instruction. Do the same for ALESERV. What is an STOKEN and how is it used by these macros?

  17. Describe the creation, access, and removal of a data space using DSPSERV and ALESERV.

  18. Describe both the stacking process and the unstacking process of linkage stack operation.

  19. Describe the operation (including operands) of the following instructions:

    1. BAKR
    2. PR
    3. EREG
    4. ESTA
    5. MSTA
    6. TAR

  20. Describe the difference(s) in operation between a basic PC-ss and a stacking PC-ss.

This page was last modified by Michael Stack on Wednesday, March 28, 2007, at 08:10:28 PM GMT