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1. INTRODUCTION OF OPERATING SYSTEMQ - What is an Operating system?
Operating system is a system software that is extremely important to activate and co-ordinate the activities of various hardware resources like the processor, input output devices etc. Italso controls the movement of information in the computer system.It is the first program who loaded into the computer memory when we boot our computer system. It provides a standard to its application software so that application software cantalk to operating system or each other easily.The main functions of an operating system are...(i) It assigns a processor to different tasks being performed by the computer system.(ii) It allocates the main memory and other storage areas to the system programs as well asuser programs and data.(iii) It carries out the input-output management and co-ordinates different input-output devices whileone or more program is being executed.(iv)It manages file on various storage devices and their transfer from one to another devices. It alsoallows modification through text editor or any other program.(v) It establishes and enforces the job priority.(vi)It automatically transfer control from one program to another as per control signal supply byuser.(vii) It establishes and maintains data security and integrity.(viii) It also produces error messages and other debugging codes.(ix) It maintains log of users in multi-user operating system.(x) It facilitates easy communications between the computer system and the computer operator.
Single-user Operating System
Operating system, which allows only one user to work on a computer at a time, is knownas single user operating system. Example included MS-DOS, Windows 9x etc.
Multiuser Operating System
A Multiuser operating system allows a number of users to work together on a singlecomputer. UNIX is a multiuser operation system. It is not that all users will bump on a computer at the same time. Each user will be provided with a terminal and all such terminals will beconnected to the single computer.Multiuser operating system running on a computer will manage the work of all users,without letting them know that they all are actually working on a single computer.
Single - tasking Operating System
Operating system which can execute a single job at a time is known as Single- taskingoperating system. For example, MS-DOS is a single tasking operating system because you canopen and run only one application in DOS, at one time.
Multitasking Operating System
Multitasking operating system allows the user to perform more than one job at the sametime on a computer. Most of today's operating systems such as Windows 9x, OS/2, UNIX,LINUX etc. support multitasking. For example, when you open MS-Word and Internet Explorer at the same time, the Windows Operati9ng system is doing multitasking. The operating system isable to keep track of where yo are in each of these applications and switch from one to another without losing track.
Real- time Operating System
Real - time Operating Systems work towards providing immediate processing and alsoresponding to user's commands in a very short time. Such an operating system is more
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commonly used in chemical industry for process control and scientific processing like airplanecontrol and space vehicle control operations. Success of a real time system does not depend onlyon the correctness of the result, but also on the timeliness of the result. A correct answer obtainedafter the expiration of time limit is as bad as a wrong answer. Some examples of real timeoperating systems are HP-RT and VT- works.
Network Operating System (NOS)
Network Operating System (NOS) is an operating system specifically designed to supportinterconnection of several computers. NOS provide support for multiuser operations as well asadministrative, security and network management functions. Some examples of NOSs are Novell's Netware, Microsoft's Windows NT, Artisoft's LAN tactic etc.A network operating system has to acknowledge and respond to requests from manyworkstations, managing network access, resource allocation and sharing, data protection as wellas error control. It provides for printer, file system, database and application sharing.
Distributed Operating system
A Distributed Operating System hides the existence of multiple computers(interconnected by a network) from the user. That is, the user remains unaware of the fact thatmany computers and being used to process the data. These computers may be located at many places around the globe. Distributed Operating System provides single- system image to itsusers. Each computer in a distributed computing system processes a part of the global distributedoperating system. All these computers work in close coordination with each other. Processes andsystem resources are managed globally, and controlled from specific locations.User views the complete system as a "virtual uni-processor" and not as a collection of machines. The distributed operation system works towards generating this illusion.Degree of autonomy of individual computers in an environment that uses network operationsystem is very high whereas the degree of autonomy of individual computers in an environmentthat uses distributed operation system is considerably low.
How is it Compulsory to function a computer system?
Operating system works like a coordinator and mediator between users and computer hardware as well as software. It is the main system software that controls all the hardware andsoftware of the computer. It manages the memory, devices, processors etc. As soon as computer system boots, the control automatically transferred into hand of Operating System. Without anOS, the computer is just like a “Buddhu Baksa”, who can’t do anything.
Operating System Processing Methods
Various types of OS processing methods are:
a)Serial Processingb)Batch processingc)MultiprogrammingSerial Processing
In the serial processing, programs are executed one by one, in the order in which they aresupplied to the computer. That is, the different computer jobs are executed one after the other.
Batch processing
In batch processing systems, a number of jobs are put together and executed as a group. Manyusers.
Multiprogramming
In a Batch Multiprogramming system, a series of jobs was loaded into the memory at the sametime, if sufficient memory space were available. While one job was held up waiting for an I/Otransfer, another job was started. A job was selected (from those ready to run), on the basis of an
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operator assigned priority number. It was found advantageous to ‘mix’ jobs which differed in the balance of processor to I/O activity.Some systems only handled two jobs at a time, which were referred to as the foreground and the background jobs. The foreground job had the higher priority and was allowed to run if it wasable. The background job could only run if the foreground was awaiting an I/O transfer or wasotherwise inactive. Background running is inherently more suited to jobs requiring little processor time, but with relatively more I/O activity. A specific example of such a job is referredto as spooling.
Spooling
This acronym stands for Simultaneous Peripheral Operations On-Line. Essentially, this technique‘absorbs’ surplus processor time by performing I/O transfers for other jobs. Input and output datawere routed via disk files, so that these jobs were only required to communicate with disk systems with disk systems which are, of course, much faster.Spooling was one of the earliest applications of multiprogramming. Jobs are read in via a cardreader and copied into a disk file. The operating system reads this file as if it were the cardreader. Printable output generated by the running programs is written to another disk file, while a printing program constantly prints the data in this file (if any).Another benefit of spooling is that access to the slow peripherals is restricted to the one program,namely the spool print program. This facilitates the sharing of devices such as printers betweenseveral running programs, avoiding the need for these programs to ‘compete’ for possession of the printer.Memory Management, Process Management, Device Management, File Management
OPERATING SYSTEM SOFTWARE
- Operating System is a set of programs that isextremely important to activate and Co-Ordinate the activities of various hardware resources likethe processor and Input/Output devices. In other words, Operating System controls themovement of information on in the Computer.OS is the first program loaded into the computer's memory after the computer is switchedon. The operating system is an important component of the computer system, because it sets thestandards for application programs that run in it. All programs must be written to "talk to"Operating System. The main functions of an OS are: -(a)It assigns a processor to different tasks being performed by the computer system.(b)It allocates the main memory and other storage areas to the system programs as well asuser programs and data.(c)It carries out the input/output management and coordinates and assigns different input andoutput devices while one or more programs are being executed.(d)It manages files on various storages devices and the transfer of these files from one storagedevice to another. It also allows all files to be easily changed and modified through the useof text editors or other file manipulation software packages.(e)It establishes and enforces the job priority. That is, it determines and maintains the order inwhich jobs are to be executed in the computer system.(f)It automatically transits from job to job as directed by special control statements.(g)It is able to interpret commands and instructions.(h)It co-ordinates and assigns compilers, assemblers, utility programs, and other software packages to various users working on the computer system.(i)It establishes data security and integrity. That is, it keeps different programs and data insuch a manner that they do not interfere with each other. Moreover, it also protects datafrom being destroyed by and other user.(j)It also produces traces, error messages, and other debugging and error detecting codes.(k)It maintains internal time clock and log of system usage for all users.(l)It facilitates easy communication between the computer system and the computer operator (human).
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Operating System
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