OPERATING SYSTEMS

Introduction

Tanenbaum, Modern Operating Systems 3 e, (c) 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. All rights reserved. 0-13-6006639
 What Is An Operating System?

Inside computer there is Lots of hardware !!

• One or more processors

• Main memory
• Disks
• Printers
• Various input/output devices

Managing all these components requires a layer of

software – the operating system

Tanenbaum, Modern Operating Systems 3 e, (c) 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. All rights reserved. 0-13-6006639
 Computer System Structure
• 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)
Abstract View of Components of
Computer
 What is an Operating System (2)?

• An Operating System is a program that acts as

an intermediary/interface between a user of a
computer and the computer hardware.
• It provides a user-friendly environment in which a
user may easily develop and execute programs.
• Otherwise, hardware knowledge would be
mandatory for computer programming.
 What Operating Systems Do
• Depends on the point of view
• Users want convenience, ease of use and good
performance
– Don’t care about resource utilization
• But shared computer such as mainframe or minicomputer must keep
all users happy
– Operating system is a resource allocator and control program making
efficient use of HW and managing execution of user programs
• Users of dedicate systems such as workstations have dedicated
resources but frequently use shared resources from servers
• Mobile devices like smartphones and tables are resource poor,
optimized for usability and battery life
– Mobile user interfaces such as touch screens, voice recognition
• Some computers have little or no user interface, such as embedded
computers in devices and automobiles
– Run primarily without user intervention
 OS goals
• Control/execute user/application programs.
• Make the computer system convenient to use.
• Ease the solving of user problems.
• Use the computer hardware in an efficient manner.
 Services provided by an OS
• Facilities for program creation
– editors, compilers, linkers, debuggers, etc.
• Program execution
– loading in memory, I/O and file initialization.
• Access to I/O and files
– deals with the specifics of I/O and file formats.
• System access
– resolves conflicts for resource contention.
– protection in access to resources and data.

A. Frank - P. Weisberg
Layers and Views
The Operating System as a Resource
Manager
• Allow multiple programs to run at the same time
• Manage and protect memory, I/O devices, and
other resources
• Multiplexes (shares) resources in two different
ways:
• In time
• In space
 Operating system timeline
• First generation: 1945 – 1955
– Vacuum tubes
– Plug boards
• Second generation: 1955 – 1965
– Transistors
– Batch systems
• Third generation: 1965 – 1980
– Integrated circuits
– Multiprogramming
• Fourth generation: 1980 – present
– Large scale integration
– Personal computers
• Next generation: ???
– Systems connected by high-speed networks?
– Wide area resource management?
 First generation: direct input
• Run one job at a time
– Enter it into the computer (might require rewiring!)
– Run it
– Record the results
• Problem: lots of wasted computer time!
– Computer was idle during first and last steps
– Computers were very expensive!
• Goal:
• Make better use of an expensive commodity:
computer time
Third generation: multiprogramming
• Multiple jobs in memory
– Protected from one another
Job 3 • Operating system
protected from each job
as well
Job 2
• Resources (time,
Memory
Job 1 hardware) split between
partitions
jobs
• Still not interactive
Operating – User submits job
system – Computer runs it
– User gets results minutes
(hours, days) later
 Timesharing
• Multiprogramming allowed several jobs to be
active at one time
– Initially used for batch systems
– Cheaper hardware terminals -> interactive use
• Computer use got much cheaper and easier
– No more “priesthood”
– Quick turnaround meant quick fixes for problems
 Operating System Definition
• No universally accepted definition
• 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
 Computer Startup
• bootstrap program is loaded at power-up or reboot
– Typically stored in ROM or EPROM, generally known as firmware
– Initializes all aspects of system
– Loads operating system kernel and starts execution
 Types of modern operating
systems
• Mainframe operating systems: MVS
• Server operating systems: FreeBSD, Solaris
• Multiprocessor operating systems: Cellular IRIX
• Personal computer operating systems: Windows,
Unix
• Real-time operating systems: VxWorks
• Embedded operating systems
• Smart card operating systems
Þ Some operating systems can fit into more than one
category
 Computer-system Operation
• One or more CPUs, device controllers connect
through common bus providing access to shared
memory
• Concurrent execution of CPUs and devices
competing for memory cycles
 Computer-System Operation
• I/O devices and the CPU can execute
concurrently
• Each device controller is in charge of a
particular device type
– Each device controller has a local buffer
– CPU moves data from/to main memory to/from local
buffers
• I/O is from the device to local buffer of controller
• Device controller informs CPU that it has
finished its operation by causing an interrupt
 Operating System Structure
• Multiprogramming (Batch system) needed for
efficiency
– Single user cannot keep CPU and I/O devices busy at all times
– Multiprogramming organizes jobs (code and data) so CPU always has one to
execute
– A subset of total jobs in system is kept in memory
– One job selected and run via job scheduling
– When it has to wait (for I/O for example), OS switches to another job

• Timesharing (multitasking) is logical extension in which

CPU switches jobs so frequently that users can interact with each job
while it is running, creating interactive computing
– Response time should be < 1 second
– Each user has at least one program executing in memory process
– If several jobs ready to run at the same time  CPU scheduling
– If processes don’t fit in memory, swapping moves them in and out to run
– Virtual memory allows execution of processes not completely in memory
 Multiprogramming
• The CPU is wasted if a job waits for I/O.
• This leads to: Multiprogramming (dynamic
switching):
– While one job waits for a resource, the CPU can find another
job to run. It means that several jobs are ready to run and only
need the CPU in order to continue.
• By multiprogramming the CPU time is not wasted, because, while one process
moves on some I/O work, the OS picks another process to execute till the
current one passes to I/O operation.
• Multiprogramming increases CPU utilization by
organizing jobs (code and data) so that the CPU
always has one to execute.
Memory Layout for Multiprogrammed System
 Operating System Functions
• User interface - Almost all operating systems have a user
interface (UI).
– Varies between Command-Line (CLI), Graphics User Interface
(GUI), Batch
• Program execution - The system must be able to load a
program into memory and to run that program, end
execution, either normally or abnormally (indicating error)
• I/O operations - A running program may require I/O,
which may involve a file or an I/O device
• File-system manipulation - The file system is of
particular interest. Programs need to read and write files
and directories, create and delete them, search them, list
file Information, permission management.
• Communications
• Error detection
 Operating System Functions (Cont.)
• Resource allocation - When multiple users or multiple
jobs running concurrently, resources must be allocated to
each of them
– Many types of resources - Some (such as CPU cycles, main
memory, and file storage) may have special allocation code, others
(such as I/O devices) may have general request and release code
• Accounting - To keep track who uses, how much and
what kinds of computer resources
• Protection and security - Control the use of stored
information, concurrent processes should not interfere with
each other
– Protection
– Security of the system from outsiders requires user authentication,
extends to defending external I/O devices from invalid access
attempts