Introduction

Operating System
Components of a Computer System
Components of a Computer System
 Computer system can be divided into four components:
 Hardware – provides basic computing resources
 CPU, memory, I/O devices
 Operating system
 Controls and coordinates use of hardware among various
applications and users
 Application programs – define the ways in which the system
resources are used to solve the computing problems of the
users
 Word processors, compilers, web browsers, database systems,
video games
 Users
 People, machines, other computers
OS Definition
 A program that acts as an intermediary between a user of a
computer and the computer hardware
 Operating system goals:
 Execute user programs
 Make the computer system convenient to use
 Use the computer hardware in an efficient manner
 OS is a resource allocator
 Manages all resources
 Decides between conflicting requests for efficient and fair
resource use
 OS is a control program
 Controls execution of programs to prevent errors and improper
use of the computer
 The kernel.
OS features and functionalities
 Scheduling
 The task of handling how active processes are making efficient use of the CPU
processing cycles is called scheduling.
 Memory Management
 The operating system has to make sure that applications are able to run in the
amount of memory available and that they do not interfere with one another.
 Allocation of resources
 The operating system will provide a working area for each user. This includes
 Disk space. A personal GUI set up, how many processing cycles, how much
printer output they are allowed
 Data and User security
 Each users data and files will be kept private from other users, unless they
choose to make some shareable with others.
 Providing system services such as print spooling
 Managing input / output
 Handling Network communication
User’s view of Operating System
 It varies according to the interface
 Personal Computers (PC): Such OS are designed for ease of use and with
some attention to performance and resource allocation
 Terminal Systems: Such OS are designed for maximum resource
utilization. This assures that the system resources are distributed fairly
among all the terminals.
 Workstations: they have dedicated h/w as well as they share network
resources. Such OS are designed to compromise between individual
usability and resource utilization.
 Handheld Devices: Such OS are designed for individual use, with atmost
importance to performance per unit of battery
 Embedded Devices: Such OS are designed basically with very less user
intervention
System view of Operating System
 From computer view the OS is a program most
intimately involved with the h/w.
 Resource Allocator
 Controller Program
OS structure
System calls and System programs
 System calls provide an interface between the process and
the operating system.
 a system call is the programmatic way in which
a program requests a service from the OS, it is executed on.
 Eg. hardware-related services (for example, accessing a disk drive,
creation and execution of new processes, and communication with
integral kernel services such as process scheduling).
 System calls allow user-level processes to request some services from
the operating system which process itself is not allowed to do.
 System programs provide basic functioning to users so that
 they do not need to write their own environment for program
development (editors, compilers) and program execution (shells).
 In some sense, they are bundles of useful system calls
Concept of Virtual Machine
 Virtualization technology enables a single PC or server to
simultaneously run multiple operating systems

 Abstract the hardware of a single computer into several different

executable environments, thereby creating the illusion that this
environment is its own private computer.

 A machine with virtualization software can host numerous

applications, including those that run on different operating
systems, on a single platform

 The host operating system can support a number of virtual

machines, each of which has the characteristics of a particular OS
Virtual Machine – Hypervisor or Virtual machine monitor
 A Virtual Machine is a software construct that mimics
the characteristics of a physical server
 it is configured with some number of processors, some
amount of RAM, storage resources, and connectivity
through the network ports
 once the VM is created it can be powered on like a physical
server, loaded with an operating system and software
solutions, and utilized in the manner of a physical server
 unlike a physical server, this virtual server only sees the
resources it has been configured with, not all of the
resources of the physical host itself
 the hypervisor facilitates the translation and I/O from the
virtual machine to the physical server devices and back
again to the correct virtual machine
Reference
 Operating System Concepts
 Abraham Silberschatz, Peter Galvin, Greg Gagne
 http://www.teach-ict.com
 www.unf.edu/public/cop4610/ree/Notes/PPT/PPT8E/CH14-OS8e.pdf