TYPES OF OPERATING SYSTEMS

Multi tasking The ability to hold several programs in RAM at one time but the user switches between them. Usually uses GUIs. Facilitates import and export of data . Multitasking refers to the running of multiple independent computer programs on the same computer; giving the appearance that it is performing the tasks at the same time. Since most computers can do at most one or two things at one time, this is generally done via time-sharing, which means that each program uses a share of the computer's time to execute. The philosophy governing preemptive multitasking is that of ensuring that all programs are given regular time on the CPU. This implies that all programs must be limited in how much time they are allowed to spend on the CPU without being interrupted.)On many single user operating systems cooperative multitasking is perfectly adequate, as home computers generally run a small number of well tested programs. Windows NT was the first version of Microsoft Multi-tasking and Single-tasking Operating Systems: When a single program is allowed to

TYPES OF OPERATING SYSTEMS

run at a time, the system is grouped under a single-tasking system, while in case the operating system allows the execution of multiple tasks at one time, it is classified as a multi-tasking operating system. Multi-tasking can be of two types namely, pre-emptive or co-operative. In preemptive multitasking, the operating system slices the CPU time and dedicates one slot to each of the programs. Unix-like operating systems such as Solaris and Linux support pre-emptive multitasking. Cooperative multitasking is achieved by relying on each process to give time to the other processes in a defined manner. MS Windows prior to Windows 95 used to support cooperative multitasking Windows which enforced preemptive multitasking, but it didn't reach the home user market until Windows XP, (since Windows NT was targeted at professionals.) A Multi-threaded operating system is one that allows multiple operations to be performed simultaneously. All our operating systems are multi-threaded. Simultaneous processing with two or more processors in one computer or two or more

TYPES OF OPERATING SYSTEMS

computers processing together. When two or more computers are used, they are tied together with a high-speed channel and share the general workload between them. If one fails, the other takes over. Multiprocessing is also accomplished in special-purpose computers, such as array processors, which provide concurrent processing on sets of data computers perform simultaneous functions, such as executing instructions while reading from an input device and writing to an output device. CPUs can also execute multiple instructions simultaneously from a single stream of instructions (see pipeline processing). However, multiprocessing refers specifically to the concurrent execution of two or more independent streams of instructions. The ability of an operating system to execute different parts of a program, called threads, simultaneously. The programmer must carefully design the program in such a way that all the threads can run at the same time without interfering with each other.

TYPES OF OPERATING SYSTEMS

Taking a computer job/process, and coding it so the job utilitzes multiple resources for execution, this finishing faster. examples: machine has 16 cpu's. the job uses all 16 cpu's to process What is the difference between multithreading and multiprocessing? Multiprocessing : Several jobs can run at the same time. Multi-threading : Same job can be broken logically and executed simultaneously and the results are combined at the end of processing What is the difference between multitasking and multiprocessing? Multiprocessing is the use of two or more processors in a single computer. to acheive greater throughput, economy of scale and increased reliability.Most multiprocessing systems use symmetric multiprocessing, SMP, (as opposed to asymmetric) where all processes share the processing load equally. Multitasking on the other hand is best explained by first defining what multiprogramming is.

TYPES OF OPERATING SYSTEMS

Multiprogramming is used to ensure the best effecient use of the CPU. Whenever a CPU is processing a program, which is loaded in memory, and it must wait for resources or I/O then it will sit idly which is a waste of the CPU. Multiprogramming will store a number of 'jobs' in a queue and whenever the CPU is waiting for I/O etc while executing a particular job, it will immediately open the next job in the queue and process that job until such time as it must wait again, and then it can select the next job in the queue or return to the previous job. In this way the CPU idle time is reduced. Multitasking is a logical extension of multiprogramming in that instead of waiting for a process to reach a stage where it must wait for I/O or some resource, it schedules time for each process that is loaded into memory, such that each process appears to the user to be running at exactly the same time.Another name for multitasking is timesharing.

TYPES OF OPERATING SYSTEMS