Introduction to ICT(CSC101 )

INTRODUCTION TO
ICT

Lecture 9: Operating System Functions

COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 Operating System Functions:

 Providing User Interface
 Running Programs
 Managing Hardware
 Utility Programs
 Types of OS
 PC Operating System
 Network Operating System
 Embedded Operating System.

Tutor::Dr. Fiaz Gul Khan COMSATS University Islamabad Abbottabad Campus 2

 OPERATING SYSTEM SERVICES

 Operating systems provide an environment for execution of programs and services to

programs and users
 One set of operating-system services provides functions that are helpful to the user:
 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 a an
I/O device
PROVIDING A USER INTERFACE

 User interface
 How a user interacts with a computer
 Require different skill sets
PROVIDING A USER INTERFACE

 Graphical user interface (GUI)

 Most common interface
 Windows, OS X, Gnome, KDE
 Uses a mouse to control objects
 Uses a desktop metaphor
 Shortcuts open programs or documents
 Open documents have additional objects
 Task switching
 Dialog boxes allow directed input
GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE

Click icon to add picture

PROVIDING A USER INTERFACE

 Command line interfaces

 Older interface
 DOS, Linux, UNIX
 User types commands at a prompt
 User must remember all commands
 Included in all GUIs
COMMAND LINE INTERFACE
RUNNING PROGRAMS

 Many different applications supported

 System call
 Provides consistent access to OS features
 Share information between programs
 Copy and paste
 Object Linking and Embedding
MANAGING HARDWARE

 Programs need to access hardware

 Interrupts
 CPU is stopped
 Hardware device is accessed
 Device drivers control the hardware
ORGANIZING FILES AND FOLDERS

 Organized storage
 Long file names
 Folders can be created and nested
 All storage devices work consistently
ENHANCING AN OS

 Utilities
 Provide services not included with OS
 Goes beyond the four functions
 Firewall, anti-virus and compression
 Prices vary
ENHANCING AN OS

 Backup software
 Archives files onto removable media
 Ensures data integrity
 Most OS include a backup package
 Many third party packages exist
BACKUP SOFTWARE

Click icon to add picture

ENHANCING AN OS

 Anti-virus software
 Crucial utility
 Finds, blocks and removes viruses
 Must be updated regularly
 McAfee and Norton Anti-Virus
ENHANCING AN OS

 Firewall
 Crucial utility
 Protects your computer from intruders
 Makes computer invisible to hackers
 Zone Labs is a home firewall
 Cisco sells hardware firewalls
ENHANCING AN OS

 Intrusion detection
 Often part of a firewall package
 Announces attempts to breach security
 Snort is a Linux based package
ENHANCING AN OS

 Screen savers
 Crucial utility for command line systems
 Prevents burn in
 Merely fun for GUI systems
 Screen saver decorates idle screens
PC OPERATING SYSTEMS

 A personal computer is a general purpose machine used for variety of our daily
tasks
 from gaming and entertainment related applications to arciferal designs to flight
simulation
 A standard operating system creates an environment where a user and the
computer may interact with one another to perform a huge variety of tasks.
 An embedded system, however, will only perform one type of task, and it will
often do it without any, or little, user intervention.

COMSATS University Islamabad Abbottabad Campus 19

NETWORK OPERATING SYSTEM (NOS)

 Traditional computers were stand-alone general purpose machines

 But blurred as most systems interconnect with others (i.e., the Internet)
 Portals provide web access to internal systems
 Network computers (thin clients) are like Web terminals
 Mobile computers interconnect via wireless networks
 Networking becoming ubiquitous – even home systems use firewalls to protect
home computers from Internet attacks
 Network Operating System is an operating system that includes special functions
for connecting computers and devices into a local-area network (LAN) or Inter-
network.

COMSATS University Islamabad Abbottabad Campus 20

TYPES OF NOS

 There are two basic types of network operating systems:

1. Peer-to-peer (P2P) network OSes let users share network resources saved in a
common, accessible location. In this architecture, all devices are treated equally
in terms of functionality. P2P usually works best for small and medium LANs
and is less expensive to set up compared to the client-server model.
2. Client-server network OSes provide users with access to resources through a
server. In this architecture, all functions and applications are unified under one
file server that can be used to execute individual client actions, regardless of
physical location.

COMSATS University Islamabad Abbottabad Campus 21

EMBEDDED SYSTEMS

 An embedded system is generally a system within a larger system. All embedded

systems contain a processor and software . Modern cars and trucks contain many
embedded systems.
 One embedded system controls anti-lock brakes, another - monitors and controls
vehicle's emission and a third displays information on the dashboard.
 Even the general-purpose , personal computer itself is made up of numerous
embedded systems.
 Keyboard, mouse, video card, modem, hard drive, floppy drive and sound card.
each of them is an EMBEDDED SYSTEM.

COMSATS University Islamabad Abbottabad Campus 22

 GENERAL PURPOSE COMPUTERS
VS
EMBEDDED SYSTEMS
 An embedded system has historically been defined as a SINGLE function product
where the intelligence is embedded in the system. It could be anything from a
dishwasher to a hearing aid, if that product includes a microprocessor and software.
 A PC is designed to be a general purpose computing environment.

Many of today’s embedded systems are looking more like PCs with user interfaces, touch-
screen, display, keypads and more. Still, these are not general function systems but are
designed to perform very specific function.

COMSATS University Islamabad Abbottabad Campus 23

EMBEDDED OPERATING SYSTEM

 An embedded OS is a specialized OS designed to perform a specific task for a device that

is not a computer. The main job of an embedded OS is to run the code that allows the
device to do its job.
 In today’s digital era, most vehicles, appliances, and handheld devices need embedded
operating systems to control functionality and perform tasks efficiency.
 Here are some common characteristics of an embedded OS:
 Power efficient
 Fewer storage capabilities
 Smaller processing power
 Fast and lightweight
 I/O device flexibility
 Real-time operation
 Tailored to the intended use case
COMSATS University Islamabad Abbottabad Campus 24