Worksheet 3 Operating systems software

Unit 4 Network security and systems software

Name:...................................................................................................... Class: ......................

Task 1
1. What does an operating system do?
Write down what you think an operating system does. Use screen shots from an operating
system that you use to illustrate your points.
Here are some examples of the type of screen shots you could use.

The operating system manages all the hardware and software in a computer. It
performs basic tasks such as file, memory and process management, handling input
and output, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.

Task 2
1. What type of user interface does a smartphone have?
Graphical user interface- full screen with no pointer

2. List three differences between a mobile phone and a desktop PC that affect how the user
interface operates.

Mobile OS handles cellular and wireless connectivity and device access. On the other hand, the

desktop OS handles the software and hardware resources of the system. Mobile OS runs on

touchscreen or touchpad devices. On the other hand, the desktop OS runs through many input
devices, including mouse, keyboard.

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Worksheet 3 Operating systems software
Unit 4 Network security and systems software

3. An advanced computer user makes use of a command line interface.

They enter the commands below which are in green.
The commands are:
 ls – which lists all the files
 rm *.py – which removes all python files
 ls – which lists the files that remain

~$ ls
~$ program1.py program2.py program3.py
help.txt important.txt
~$ rm *.py
~$ ls
~$ help.txt important.txt

(a) Write down all the steps that would be required to delete all python files from a folder
using an operating system with a graphical user interface. Make sure to include every
time that the mouse is moved, a button is clicked or a keyboard button is pressed.
Open operating system

Open command Line Interface

Using Keyboard type rm*.py

(b) Why would an advanced user prefer to use a command line interface?
It can be much faster if you know the commands to execute and it saves a lot of memory as
it reduces the load on the GUI.

(c) Why do most users in the world use GUIs rather than command line interfaces?
It is easier to know what to do and easier to learn. Command Line Interfaces aren’t always
allowed and the commands are difficult to learn and can take time.

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Worksheet 3 Operating systems software
Unit 4 Network security and systems software

Task 3
1. One task that an operating system carries out is memory management.
Using as many of the following key words as you can, explain how memory management
works. You may wish to research memory management before you start answering this
question.

Memory management RAM Virtual memory

Secondary storage Open a program Loading
Free area of RAM Out of memory error swapping
Memory protection

Memory management is the ability of the OS to transfer programs in and out of memory when
processing required. The OS can move a program from secondary storage to a free area of
RAM to virtural memory when needed. When a program is opened, the data for that program
will move into RAM to be accessible by the CPU and to make it faster. When closed, the
memory is sent back to the virtural memory of Secondary storage depending on where the suer
saves itor where it should be stored. If there is no free area of RAM or other storage, an out of
memory error will occur.

2. User management is almost always used on school and business computers.

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Worksheet 3 Operating systems software
Unit 4 Network security and systems software

Give at least five ways that user management is used on your school’s network.