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1
Chapter 1
Understanding and usage of Operating System
Structure :
1.0 Introduction1.1
 
Objectives1.2
 
What is an Operating System?1.3
 
History of Operating System1.4
 
Operating System Concepts
1.0 Introduction
Without software, a computer is basically a useless lump of metal. With its software,a computer can store, process and retrieve information and engage in many other valuableactivities to earn its keep. Computer software can be divided roughly into two kinds:System program, which manage the operation of the computer itself, and application programs, which perform the actual work the user wants. The most fundamental system program is
Operating System
, which controls all the computer resources and providesthe base upon which the application program can be written.A modern computer system consists of one or more processors, some main memory,disk, printers, network interfaces and other input/output devices. It is all in all, a complexsystem. Writing programs correctly, is an extremely difficult job. If every programmer had to be concerned with how disk drives work, and with all things that could go wrongwhen reading a disk, it is unlikely that many programs could be written at all.Some way had to be found to shield programmers from the complexity of thehardware. The way that has evolved gradually is to put a layer of software on top of barehardware to manage all parts of the system. This layer of software is the
OperatingSystem
.
 
2The situation is shown in the following figure. At the bottom hardware, whichcomposes two or more layers. Lowest layer contains physical devices, consisting of Integrated circuits chips, wires, power supplies, CRT and similar physical devices.Application Programs
 
SystemSoftwareHardware
 
 Next comes primitive software that directly controls these devices. This software iscalled
Microprogram
usually located in Read Only Memory. The set of instructions thatthe microprogram interprets defines the
Machine Language.
In this layer Input / Output devices are controlled by loading values into specialdevice registers. Next layer is operating system. The major function of the operatingsystem is to hide all this complexity and give the programmer a more convenient set of instructions to work with. On top of the operating system is the rest of the systemsoftware. Here we find, Command Interpreter (Shell), Window system, Compilers,Editors and similar application independent programs.Finally above the system programs come the application programs. These programsare purchased or written by the users to solve their particular problems for Ex: Word processing, Spreadsheets, Engineering Calculations, Games etc.
1.1 Objectives:
At the end of this unit you should be able to
•
 
define Operating System
•
 
Trace the history of Operating System
•
 
Identify the functions of Operating System
•
 
Identify the services provided by the Operating System
BankingSystemAirlineReservationWeb Browser Compilers EditorsCommandInterpreter Operating SystemMachine LanguageMicro ProgrammingPhysical Devices
 
3
1.2 What is an Operating System
An Operating system is a program that controls the execution of application programs and acts as an interface between the user of a computer and the computer hardware. An Operating system mainly performs three functions
•
 
Convenience :
It makes computer more convenient to use
•
 
Efficiency :
It allows the computer system resources to be used in an efficientmanner 
•
 
Ability to solve
: It should be constructed in such a way as to permit theeffective development, testing and introduction of new system functionswithout at the same time interfacing with service.The Operating system typically provides services in the following areas :
•
 
Program Creation:
Operating system services editors and debuggers, toassist programmer in creating programs.These services are in the form of utility programs that are accessible throughthe Operating System.
•
 
Program Execution:
Program execution needs instructions and data to beloaded in to main menu, Input / Output devices and files to be initialized andother resources to be prepared. The operating system handles all thesetasks for the user.
•
 
Access to Input / Output devices:
Each Input / Output device requires itsown peculiar set of instructions of control signals for operation.Operating system takes care of details so, the programmes can think in termsof simple read and writes.
•
 
Controlled access to files:
Operating system provides protection mechanismsto controlled access to files
•
 
System Access:
Operating System controls access to the system as a wholeand to specific system resources.
•
 
Error detection and response:
Variety of errors can occur which a computer system is running, i.e., internal and external hardware errors, such as memoryerror, device failure error, various software errors, inability of Operating
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