Operating System

Operating System
• An operating system is a group of computer programs that coordinates all the
activities among computer hardware devices.
• It is the first program loaded into the computer by a boot program and remains
in memory at all times.
• Without an operating system, a computer is useless.
• It acts as an interface between users and the hardware of a computer system. A
• n operating system is 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 drives and printers.
• Some popular Operating Systems include Linux Operating System, Windows
Operating System, UNIX, Mac OS, etc.
Basic role of Operating system
• Manage the computer’s resources, such as the central processing
unit, memory, disk drives, and printers,
• Establish a user interface, and
• Execute and provide services for applications software.
The functions of operating systems are as
described below:
1. I/O Management:
OS manages I/O devices and makes the I/O process effective. OS accepts
the input from the input device, stores it in the main memory, asks the
CPU to process it and finally provides the result to the output devices for
output.
2.Command Interpreter:
Command interpreter is one of the parts of operating system which reads
the commands that user types in at a terminal, interprets them and
translate them into a detailed set of instructions that the computer
hardware can understand. It varies widely from one OS to other OS. Every
OS must provide command interpreter for its operation.
3. 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 is 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
4. Process Management:
OS finds the status of processor and processes, chooses a job, chooses
processer in the job, allocates the processor to the process and frees the
processor when the process is executed. 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.
5. 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. The 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 most efficient way.
• De-allocates devices
6. 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.
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7. Security:
OS makes sure that only authorized users get access to the computer and its data
and the users only do things they are authorized to do. By means of password and
similar other techniques, it prevents unauthorized access to programs and data.

8.Interrupt Handling:
Interrupt is a signal generated from a device or program when they need
attention of the CPU. OS determines the type of interrupt and priority of the
interrupt, stops the execution process of CPU, preserves the initial state of the
CPU, perform the requested operation and brings the CPU at the same state when
it was stopped
9. Virtual Storage:
If there are programs larger than main memory (RAM) of the computer, OS
uses the reserved space in the secondary memory which is termed as virtual
memory. It makes the execution of larger program (than RAM) possible but
at the same times the operation becomes slower, etc. Moreover, Operating
System also provides certain services to the computer system in one form or
the other.
10.Deadlock Prevention:
During processing, a situation can arise in which a resource shared by two or
more processes cannot continue because the resource required by one
process is held by the other. This situation is called deadlock. OS ensures that
the above condition do not hold by carefully allocating resources.
 Types of Operating system based on processing
1. Multiuser OS :
In multiuser OS, more than one user can use the same system at a same time through
the multi I/O terminal or through the network. For example: windows, Linux, Mac, etc. A
multiuser OS uses timesharing to support multiple users.
2. Multiprocessing OS:
A multiprocessing OS can support the execution of multiple processes at the same time.
It uses multiple number of CPU. It is expensive in cost however; the processing speed will
be faster. It is complex in its execution. Operating system like UNIX, 64 bit edition of
windows, server edition of windows, etc. are multiprocessing.
3. Multiprogramming OS:
In a multiprogramming OS more than one program can be used at the same time. It may
or may not be multiprocessing. In a single CPU system, multiple programs are executed
one after another by dividing the CPU into small time slice. Example: Windows, Mac,
Linux, etc
4. Multitasking OS
In a multitasking system more than one task can be performed at the same time
but they are executed one after another through a single CPU by time sharing.
For example: Windows, Linux, Mac, Unix,etc.
Multitasking OS are of two types:
a. Pre-empetive multitasking
b. Co-operative multitasking
In the pre-empetive multitasking, the OS allows CPU times slice to each program.
After each time slice, CPU executes another task. Example: Windows XP.
In co-operative multitasking a task can control CPU as long as it requires.
However, it will free CPU to execute another program if it doesn’t require CPU.
Example: windows 3.x, MultiFinder, etc
5. 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.
6. 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.
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.
• A. 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.
• B .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.
7. 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.
• 8. 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.
Based on User Interfaces

• The user interface is a program that controls a display for the user and
allows the user to interact with the system.
• It comprises the screen menus and icons, keyboard shortcuts,
command language and online help.
• It controls how data and instructions are entered and how
information is presented on the screen.
• The most common types of user interfaces are character user
interface (CUI) and graphical user interface (GUI).

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Character User Interface (GUI)

• Character User Interface (CUI) is a user interface that uses the

character, or text mode of the computer, such as DOS and Unix.
• A command prompt is a sequence of characters used in a character
user interface to indicate readiness to accept commands.
• Commands are typed in to instruct the computer. MS-DOS is a
character user interface operating system.

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Graphical User Interface

• Graphical User Interface (GUI) is a visual computer environment that

uses graphics, icons and pointers to make the computer more user
friendly.
• The command required can be specified by clicking or double-clicking
with a mouse.
• The goal of graphical operating system is to create a system that the
computer user can turn on and operate right away without any prior
training or the need to refer to manuals or remember commands.

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Based on Mode of User

• Single-user operating system

• A single-user operating system is a type of operating system (OS) that
is developed and intended for use on a computer or similar machine
that will only have a single user at any given time. This is the most
common type of OS used on a home computer, as well as on
computers in offices and other work environments. This type of OS is
typically used on devices like wireless phones and two-way messaging
devices. A single task operating system can only run one program or
application at a time, and so it is not as useful for a computer or other
device intended to run multiple programs at once.

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Features of single user os
• It is CUI (Character User Interface).
• It is text based user interface.
• It is a single user and single tasking.
• It does not allow the long file names. The user is bound to give eight
characters file names with three character extension.
• It is not secured.

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Multi-user operating system

• A multi-user operating system is a computer operating system (OS) that

allows multiple users on different computers or terminals to access a
single system with one OS on it.
• These programs are often quite complicated and must be able to
properly manage the necessary tasks required by the different users
connected to it.
• The users will typically be at terminals or computers that give them
access to the system through a network, as well as other machines on
the system such as printers.
• A multi-user operating system differs from a single-user system on a
network in that each user is accessing the same OS at different machines.
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Features of Multi-user operating system
• User can share other resources from other computer such as printer,
file, data, etc.
• Many computers can be connected with one to another.
• It is Graphical User Interface.
• It requires high configuration systems.
• It is secured.

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