Operating System

Operating System
• A special system software that acts as an
intermediary between a user of a computer and the
computer hardware.
• Provides an environment in which the user can
execute programs/applications in a convenient and
efficient manner.
User

Operating System

Hardware
Examples of OS: Windows, MS-DOS, Linux, Unix
 Operating System.

Thus the main goals for an Operating system are:

• Make computer convenient to use (hides Hardware

details)
• Utilize resources in efficient manner
Operating System
User

Application Software

Operating System

Computer hardware
 Functions of O/S
1. Process Management
2. Memory Management
3. Deadlock Handling
4. File Management
5. I/O Management
6. Protection & Security
7. Job scheduling
8. Interpretation of commands and instructions.
9. Co-ordination of compilers and, assembler,
programs and other s/w of computer system.
 Functions of O/S
10. Production of error messages.
11. Maintenance of internal time clock and log
system usage for all users.
12. Provides easy communication between the
computer system and users.
13. Resource Allocator
14. Intermediary
15. Executes application software
16. Memory management
17. CPU Scheduling
 CATEGORIES OF OPERATING
SYSTEMS
Operating systems can be categorised by
the number of users they support as well as
by their level of sophistication.
Three categories are broadly recognized:-
1. Desktop O/S:
• Designed to support a single user or a
small work group of users.
2. Departmental O/S:
• Supports from a few dozen to a few
hundred users.
 CATEGORIES OF OPERATING
SYSTEMS
3. Enterprise O/S:
• Generally supports thousands of users
and transactions simultaneously.
• Offers the greatest functionality, followed
by departmental operating systems, and
then desktop operating systems.
• The user interface is the least
sophisticated on enterprise operating
systems.
Desktop Operating
System
 Desktop Operating
System
• Supports a single user or a small group of users.
• Some examples of the operating systems in this
category are:-

1. MS-DOS:
• One of the original operating systems for the IBM
PC and its clones.
• A non-graphical, line oriented, command-driven
operating system, with a relatively simple
interface but not a friendly user interface.
• It was not capable of multitasking.
• It has now been almost totally replaced by GUI
products such as Windows 95, Windows 98,
Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
 Desktop Operating
System
2. Windows 3.1
• It is a transition windowing system
between MS-DOS and Windows95,
Windows 98 and Windows 2000.
• It is not actually an operating system,
but a GUI that operates with, and
extends the capabilities of MS-DOS
 Desktop Operating
System
3. Windows 95
• The first of a series of products in the Windows
operating systems that provides a GUI by using
icons to provide instant access to common tasks.
• It is a 32-bit operating system that features
multitasking, networking, and Internet integration
capabilities.
• It also offers plug-and-play capabilities by
enabling the operating system to recognize new
hardware and install the necessary software
(device drivers) automatically.
 Desktop Operating
System
4. Windows 98
• Offered minor refinements, bug fixes, and
enhancements to windows 95.
5. Windows NT
• An operating system for high-end desktops and
workstations.
• It provides the same GUI as Windows 95, 98,
and 2000.
• Has more powerful multitasking, and memory
management capabilities.
• It is popular in networked systems in business
organizations.
 Desktop Operating
System
6. Windows 2000
• Microsoft changed the name of the upgrade of
Windows NT 5.0 to Windows 2000.
• This operating system has added security features.
• Runs on multiprocessor computers.
• Offers added Internet and Intranet functionality.
7. Windows CE (Compact Edition)
• Is a 32-bit operating system designed for hand-held
PCs, and wireless communication devices.
 Desktop Operating
System
8. IBM’s OS/2 Operating System
• A 32-bit operating system that supports
multitasking, and supports networked
applications.
9. Macintosh Operating System
• For Apple Macintosh microcomputers.
• Is a 32-bit operating system that features
multitasking and powerful graphics
capabilities.
 Desktop Operating
System
10. Unix
• Provides many sophisticated desktop
features, including multiprocessing and
multitasking techniques.
• Is valuable to business organizations because
it can be used on many different sizes of
computers ( different hardware: non Intel and
Intel processors).
• Was popularized by Sun Microsystems.
 Desktop Operating
System
11. Linux
• A powerful version of Unix .
• Completely free of charge.
• It offers multitasking, virtual memory management, and
TCP/IP networking.
• Originally written by Linus Tovalds at the University of
Helsinki in 1991.
• He then released the source code to the world.
• Like Unix, it runs on multiple hardware platforms.
• Is becoming widely used by Internet service providers.
• The clearinghouse for Linux information on the Internet
may be found at www.linuxhq.com
 Desktop Operating System
12. Java Operating System
• Is designed for hand-held products and network
computers.
• Sun’s java operating system executes programs
written in Java language without the need for a
traditional operating system.
• It is designed for Internet and Intranet applications and
embedded devices.
Departmental Server
Operating
Systems
 Departmental Server Operating
Systems
The major departmental server operating
systems include:-
• Unix
• Windows NT server
• IBM’s OS/2 Warp Server
• Novell NetWare
• IBM’s OS/400
 Departmental Server Operating
Systems
Although some of these are also desktop OS,
all can serve as departmental server OS
because of their:-

• Strong scalability
• Reliability
• Backup
• Security26
• Fault tolerance
• Multitasking
• Multiprocessing
• TCP/IP networking
• Network management
Enterprise Operating
Systems
 Enterprise Operating
Systems
The major enterprise operating systems include:

• IBM’s MVS (Multiple Virtual Storage)

• IBM’s VM (Virtual Machine)
• IBM’s VSE (Virtual Storage Extended)
• Digital Open VMS (Virtual Machine System)
 Enterprise Operating
Systems
Enterprise operating systems support:

• Secure electronic commerce

• Multiple concurrent users
• Large (terabyte) databases
• Millions of transactions per day.
 Types of O/S

• Multitasking
• Multiprogramming
• Time sharing
• Multiprocessing
 MULTITASKING O/S

• Executing more than one task concurrently.

• Execution of two or more tasks/programs by
one user concurrently on the same computer
with one central processor.
• For example, the user may be running one
program and simultaneously listening to a
music file.
 Multiprogramming
Operating System

• Refers to concurrent execution of different users’ programs

on a machine with a single processor.
• It is the execution of two or more programs concurrently on
a multi-user operating system.
• The processor spends a certain amount of time executing
each user’s program. As the processor works much faster,
it seems as though all the programs are being run at the
same time.
 Time Sharing Operating
System
• Round-Robin processing of programs for several
users.
• A single computer processes the tasks of
several users at different locations based on the
concept of time slicing between the users.
 Multiprocessing Operating
System
• Simultaneous processing of two or more
programs by multiple computers or processors
linked together to perform work simultaneously.
• This can involve processing of instructions from
different programs or different instructions
within the same program simultaneously.
• Implemented using concepts of parallel
processing.
 Real Time Operating System
• an operating system that guarantees a certain capability
within a specified time constraint
• Such applications include embedded systems and scientific
research equipment.
• Provides facilities which, if used properly, guarantee
deadlines can be met.
• Uses specialized scheduling algorithms in order to provide
the real-time developer with the tools necessary to produce
deterministic behavior in the final system.
• An RTOS is valued more for how quickly and/or predictably
it can respond to a particular event
• An early example of a large-scale real-time operating
system was the so-called "control program" developed by
American Airlines and IBM for the Sabre Airline Reservations
System.