OPERATING SYSTEM STRUCTURE
from user programs to system programs like printer
WHAT ARE OPERATING SYSTEM SERVICES?
An Operating System provides services to both the
users and to the programs.
 It provides programs an environment to execute.
 It provides users the services to execute the
programs in a convenient manner.
Following are a few common services provided by an
operating system:
 Program execution
 I/O operations
 File System manipulation
 Communication
 Error Detection
 Resource Allocation
 Protection
Operating systems handle many kinds of activities
from user programs to system programs like printer
spooler, name servers, file server, etc. Each of these
activities is encapsulated as a process.
A process includes the complete execution context
(code to execute, data to manipulate, registers, OS
resources in use). Following are the major activities of
an operating system with respect to program
management:
 Loads a program into memory.
 Executes the program.
 Handles program's execution.
 Provides a mechanism for process
synchronization.
 Provides a mechanism for process
communication.
 Provides a mechanism for deadlock handling.
I/O Operation
An I/O subsystem comprises of I/O devices and
their corresponding driver software. Drivers hide the
peculiarities of specific hardware devices from the users.
An Operating System manages the communication
between user and device drivers.
 I/O operation means read or write operation with
any file or any specific I/O device.
 Operating system provides the access to the
required I/O device when required.
Program Execution
Operating systems handle many kinds of activities
spooler, name servers, file server, etc. Each of these
activities is encapsulated as a process.
A process includes the complete execution context
(code to execute, data to manipulate, registers, OS
resources in use). Following are the major activities of
an operating system with respect to program
management:
 Loads a program into memory.
 Executes the program.
 Handles program's execution.
 Provides a mechanism for process
synchronization.
 Provides a mechanism for process
communication.
 Provides a mechanism for deadlock handling.
File System Manipulation
A file represents a collection of related information.
Computers can store files on the disk (secondary
storage), for long-term storage purpose. Examples of
storage media include magnetic tape, magnetic disk and
optical disk drives like CD, DVD. Each of these media
has its own properties like speed, capacity, data transfer
rate and data access methods.
A file system is normally organized into directories
for easy navigation and usage. These directories may
contain files and other directions. Following are the
major activities of an operating system with respect to
file management
 Program needs to read a file or write a file.
 The operating system gives the permission to the
program for operation on file.
 Permission varies from read-only, read-write,
denied and so on.
 Operating System provides an interface to the
user to create/delete files.
 Operating System provides an interface to the
user to create/delete directories.
 Operating System provides an interface to create
the backup of file system.
Communication
In case of distributed systems which are a collection
of processors that do not share memory, peripheral
devices, or a clock, the operating system manages
communications between all the processes. Multiple
processes communicate with one another through
communication lines in the network.
The OS handles routing and connection strategies,
and the problems of contention and security. Following
are the major activities of an operating system with
respect to communication:
 Two processes often require data to be
transferred between them
 Both the processes can be on one computer or on
different computers, but are connected through a
computer network.
 Communication may be implemented by two
methods, either by Shared Memory or by
Message Passing.
Error Handling
Errors can occur anytime and anywhere. An error
may occur in CPU, in I/O devices or in the memory
hardware. Following are the major activities of an
operating system with respect to error handling;
 The OS constantly checks for possible errors.
 The OS takes an appropriate action to ensure
correct and consistent computing.
Resource Management
In case of multi-user or multi-tasking environment,
resources such as main memory, CPU cycles and files
storage are to be allocated to each user or job. Following
are the major activities of an operating system with
respect to resource management:
 The OS manages all kinds of resources using
schedulers.
 CPU scheduling algorithms are used for better
utilization of CPU.
Protection
Considering a computer system having multiple
users and concurrent execution of multiple processes, the
various processes must be protected from each other's
activities.
Protection refers to a mechanism or a way to
control the access of programs, processes, or users to the
resources defined by a computer system. Following are
the major activities of an operating system with respect
to protection
 The OS ensures that all access to system
resources is controlled.
 The OS ensures that external I/O devices are
protected from invalid access attempts.
 The OS provides authentication features for each
user by means of passwords.
SYSTEM CALL AND SYSTEM PROGRAM
What is System Call?
It is a method of interaction with the OS through
the system programs. It is a technique in which a
computer system program requests a service from the
OS kernel.
The Application Program Interface (API) helps to
connect the OS functions with user programs. It serves
as a bridge between a process and the OS, enabling user-
level programs to request OS services. System calls may
only be accessed using the kernel system, and any
software that consumes resources must use system calls.
Types of System Call
Process Control
 It is responsible for file manipulation jobs,
including creating files, deleting files, reading,
opening, writing, closing, etc.
File Management
 It is responsible for file manipulation jobs,
including creating files, opening files, deleting
files, closing files, etc.
Device Management
 These are responsible for device manipulation,
including reading from device buffers, writing
into device buffers, etc.
Information Maintenance
 These are used to manage the data and its share
between the OS and the user program. Some
common instances of information maintenance
are getting time or date, getting system data,
setting time or date, setting system data, etc.
Communication
 These are used for interprocess communication
(IPC). Some examples of IPC are creating,
sending, receiving messages, deleting
communication connections, etc.
What is System Program?
System programming may be defined as the act of
creating System Software by using the System
Programming Languages. A system program offers an
environment in which programs may be developed and
run. In simple terms, the system programs serve as a link
between the user interface (UI) and system calls. Some
system programs are only user interfaces, and others are
complex. For instance, a compiler is complicated system
software.
The system program is a component of the OS, and
it typically lies between the user interface (UI) and
system calls. The system user view is defined by the
system programs, not the system call, because the user
view interacts with system programs and is closer to the editors, relocatable loaders, Overlay loaders, and
user interface. loaders.
Communication
Types of System Program  System program offers virtual links between
File Management processes, people, and computer systems. Users
 It is a collection of specific information saved in may browse websites, log in remotely,
a computer system's memory. File management communicate messages to other users via their
is described as manipulating files in a computer screens, send emails, and transfer files from one
system, including the creation, modification, and user to another.
deletion of files.
Status Information Layered Structure of Operating System
 Status information is information about the
input, output process, storage, and CPU
utilization time, how the process will be
computed in how much memory is necessary to
execute a task.
File Modification
 These system programs are utilized to change
files on hard drives or other storage media.
Besides modification, these programs are also
utilized to search for content within a file or to
change content within a file.
Programming-Language Support
 The OS includes certain standard system The layered structure approach breaks up the
programs that allow programming languages operating system into different layers and retains much
such as C, Visual Basic, C++, Java, and Pearl. more control on the system. The bottom layer (layer 0) is
There are various system programs, including the hardware, and the topmost layer (layer N) is the user
compilers, debuggers, assemblers, interpreters, interface. These layers are so designed that each layer
etc. uses the functions of the lower-level layers only. It
Program Loading and Execution simplifies the debugging process as if lower-level layers
 After Assembling and Compiling, the program are debugged, and an error occurs during debugging. The
must be loaded into the memory for execution. A error must be on that layer only as the lower-level layers
loader is a component of an operating system have already been debugged.
responsible for loading programs and libraries,
and it is one of the most important steps to
starting a program. The system includes linkage

Differences between System Call and System Program in Operating System

Features System Call System Program

Definition It is a technique in which a It offers an environment for a

computer system program program to create and run.
requests a service from the OS
kernel.

Request It fulfils the low-level requests It fulfils the high-level request or

of the user program. requirement of the user program.
Programming It is usually written in C and C+ It is commonly written in high-level
Languages + programming languages. programming languages only.
Assemble-level language is used
in system calls where direct
hardware access is required.
 User View It defines the interface between
the services and the user process
provided by the OS.
Action The user process requests an OS
service using a system call.
Classification It may be categorized into file
manipulation, device
manipulation, communication,
process control, information
maintenance, and protection.
It defines the user interface (UI) of
the OS.
It transforms the user request into a
set of system calls needed to fulfil
the requirement.
It may be categorized into file
management, program loading and
execution, programming-language
support, status information, file
modification, and communication.