Operating System
Chapter 01: OVERVIEW
Operating System overview
An operating system (OS) is an interface between computer
user and computer hardware. An operating system is a software
which performs all the basic tasks like file management,
memory management, process management, handling input
and output, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk
drivers and printers
Definition
Operating System is a program that Acts as an interface
between computer user and computer hardware and controls
the execution of all kinds of programs
Following are some of important functions of an operating
System.
01-Memory Management
02-Processor Management
03-Device Management
04-File Management
05-Security
06-Control over system performance
07-Job accounting
08-Error detecting aids
09-Coordination between other software and users
Memory Management
Memory management refers to management of Primary
Memory or Main Memory. Main memory is a large array of
words or bytes where each word or byte has its own address.
Main memory provides a fast storage that can be accessed
directly by the CPU. For a program to be executed, it must in
the main memory. An Operating System does the following
activities for memory management –
• Keeps tracks of primary memory, i.e., what part of it are in use
by whom, what part are not in use.
•In multiprogramming, the OS decides which process will get
memory when and how much.
•Allocates the memory when a process requests it to do so.
• De-allocates the memory when a process no longer needs it
or has been terminated.
Processor Management
In multiprogramming environment, the OS decides which
process gets the processor when and for how much time. This
function is called process scheduling. An Operating System does
the following activities for processor management –
• Keeps tracks of processor and status of process. The program
responsible for this task is known as traffic controller.
• Allocates the processor (CPU) to a process.
• De-allocates processor when a process is no longer required.
Device Management
An Operating System manages device communication via their
respective drivers. It does the following activities for device
management –
• Keeps tracks of all devices. Program responsible for this task is
known as the I/O controller.
•Decides which process gets the device when and for how
much time.
• Allocates the device in the efficient way.
• De-allocates devices.
File Management
A file system is normally organized into directories for easy
navigation and usage. These directories may contain files and
other directions.
An Operating System does the following activities for file
management –
• Keeps track of information, location, uses, status etc. The
collective facilities are often known as file system.
• Decides who gets the resources.
• Allocates the resources.
• De-allocates the resources.
Other Important Activities
Following are some of the important activities that an
Operating System performs –
• Security – By means of password and similar other
techniques, it prevents unauthorized access to programs and
data.
•Control over system performance Recording delays between
request for a service and response from the system.
•Job accounting – Keeping track of time and resources used by
various jobs and users.
• Error detecting aids – Production of dumps, traces, error
messages, and other debugging and error detecting aids.
•Coordination between other softwares and users –
Coordination and assignment of compilers, interpreters,
assemblers and other software to the various users of the
computer systems.
Chapter 02: TYPES
Types of Operating System
Operating systems are there from the very first computer
generation and they keep evolving with time. In this chapter, we
will discuss some of the important types of operating systems
which are most commonly used.
Batch operating system
The users of a batch operating system do not interact with the
computer directly. Each user prepares his job on an off-line
device like punch cards and submits it to the computer
operator. To speed up processing, jobs with similar needs are
batched together and run as a group. The programmers leave
their programs with the operator and the operator then sorts
the programs with similar requirements into batches.
The problems with Batch Systems are as follows -
•Lack of interaction between the user and the job.
• CPU is often idle, because the speed of the mechanical I/O
devices is slower than the CPU.
• Difficult to provide the desired priority.
Time-sharing operating systems
Time-sharing is a technique which enables many people,
located at various terminals, to use a particular computer
system at the same time. Time-sharing or multitasking is a
logical extension of multiprogramming. Processor’s time which
is shared among multiple users simultaneously is termed as
time-sharing.
The main difference between Multipr”gram’ed Batch Systems
and Time-Sharing Systems is that in case of Multiprogrammed
batch systems, the objective is to maximize processor use,
whereas in Time-Sharing Systems, the objective is to minimize
response time.
Multiple jobs are executed by the CPU by switching between
them, but the switches occur so frequently. Thus, the user can
receive an immediate response. For example, in a transaction
processing, the processor executes each user program in a short
burst or quantum of computation. That is, if n users are present,
then each user can get a time quantum. When the user submits
the command, the response time is in few seconds at most.
The operating system uses CPU scheduling and
multiprogramming to provide each user with a small portion of
a time. Computer systems that were designed primarily as
batch systems have been modified to time-sharing systems.
Advantages of Timesharing operating systems are as follows –
•Provides the advantage of quick response.
• Avoids duplication of software.
•Reduces CPU idle time.
Disadvantages of Time-sharing operating systems are as
follows_
•Problem of reliability.
•Question of security and integrity of user programs and data.
• Problem of data communication.
Distributed operating System
Distributed systems use multiple central processors to serve
multiple real-time applications and multiple users. Data
processing jobs are distributed among the processors
accordingly.
The processors communicate with one another through various
communication lines (such as high-speed buses or telephone
lines). These are referred as loosely coupled systems or
distributed systems. Processors in a distributed system may vary
in size and function. These processors are referred as sites,
nodes, computers, and so on. The advantages of distributed
systems are as follows
•With resource sharing facility, a user at one site may be able to
use the resources available at another.
• Speedup the exchange of data with one another via electronic
mail.
• If one site fails in a distributed system, the remaining sites can
potentially continue operating.
• Better service to the customers.
• Reduction of the load on the host computer.
• Reduction of delays in data processing.
Network operating System
A Network Operating System runs on a server and provides the
server the capability to manage data, users, groups, security,
applications, and other networking functions. The primary
purpose of the network operating system is to allow shared file
and printer access among multiple computers in a network,
typically a local area network (LAN), a private network or to
other networks.
Examples of network operating systems include Microsoft
Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows Server 2008, UNIX,
Linux, Mac OS X, Novell NetWare, and BSD.
The advantages of network operating systems are as follows –
•Centralized servers are highly stable.
•Security is server managed.
•Upgrades to new technologies and hardware can be easily
integrated into the system.
•Remote access to servers is possible from different locations
and types of systems.
The disadvantages of network operating systems are as follows -
• High cost of buying and running a server.
•Dependency on a central location for most operations.
• Regular maintenance and updates are required.
Real Time operating System
A real-time system is defined as a data processing system in
which the time interval required to process and respond to
inputs is so small that it controls the environment. The time
taken by the system to respond to an input and display of
required updated information is termed as the response time.
So in this method, the response time is very less as compared to
online processing.
Real-time systems are used when there are rigid time
requirements on the operation of a processor or the flow of
data and real-time systems can be used as a control device in a
dedicated application. A real-time operating system must have
well-defined, fixed time constraints, otherwise the system will
fail. For example, Scientific experiments, medical imaging
systems, industrial control systems, weapon systems, robots, air
traffic control systems, etc.
There are two types of real-time operating systems.
Hard real-time systems
Hard real-time systems guarantee that critical tasks complete
on time. In hard real-time systems, secondary storage is limited
or missing and the data is stored in ROM. In these systems,
virtual memory is almost never found.
Soft real-time systems
Soft real-time systems are less restrictive. A critical real-time
task gets priority over other tasks and retains the priority until it
completes. Soft real-time systems have limited utility than hard
real-time systems. For example, multimedia, virtual reality,
Advanced Scientific Projects like undersea exploration and
planetary rovers, etc.
