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What is meaning of simple batch system?

A batch system is a when a computer is programmed to batch together a number of transactions for
processing at a specific time. For example a bank may run batch jobs to update all payments into
customer accounts at midnight, 3am and 5am. Equally they could do the same for payments going out.

In fact a lot of banks actually do this and it explains why you spend money on your account but it is not
reflected at the hole in the wall/cash machine statement instantly.

The main idea behind this is to save processing time and resource so these are available for more urgent
transactions that need to be processed quicker.

Early computers were run from console. The card readers and tape drives were input devices. Line
printers, tape drives and card punched were common output devices. The user did not interact directly
with computer system. The user prepared a job that consisted of program, data and some control
information (control cards). He then submitted it to the computer operator in the form of punched
cards.

The operating system was simple. Its basic job was to transfer control automatically from one job to the
next. The operating system was always resident in memory. The operator .batched similar jobs together
and then ran in the computer to speed up the processing.
The CPU is often idle in this environment as speed of I/O devices is much slower than CPU. Alter
sometime, the introduction of disk instead of card reader resulted in faster I/O devices.

In disk technology, the operating system keeps all jobs on a disk instead of card reader. The resources
are utilized and jobs are performed more efficiently with the help of job scheduling. Job scheduling is
possible because all jobs are present on the disk.
The memory contains operating system in one part and user program in other part. The user space can
contain only one process at a time in batch systems. Digital equipment's VMS is an example of a batch
operating system.

What is mean by resident monitor?


A Resident monitor (1950s-1970s) was a piece of software that was an integral part of a general-use
punch card computer.
Job Control Language

DEFINITION: JCL (job control language) is a language for describing jobs (units of work) to
the MVS, OS/390, and VSE operating systems, which run on IBM's S/390 large server
(mainframe) computers. These operating systems allocate their time and space resources among
the total number of jobs that have been started in the computer. Jobs in turn break down into job
steps. All the statements required to run a particular  … 

efinition -

JCL (job control language) is a language for describing jobs (units of work) to the MVS, OS/390,
and VSE operating systems, which run on IBM's S/390 large server (mainframe) computers.
These operating systems allocate their time and space resources among the total number of jobs
that have been started in the computer. Jobs in turn break down into job steps. All the statements
required to run a particular program constitute a job step. Jobs are background (sometimes called
batch) units of work that run without requiring user interaction (for example, print jobs). In
addition, the operating system manages interactive (foreground) user requests that initiate units
of work. In general, foreground work is given priority over background work.

One IBM manual compares a set of JCL statements to a menu order in a restaurant. The whole
order is comparable to the job. Back in the kitchen, the chefs divide the order up and work on
individual dishes (job steps). As the job steps complete, the meal is served (but it has to be
served in the order prescribed just as some job steps depend on other job steps being performed
first).

JCL statements mainly specify the input data sets (files) that must be accessed, the output data
set to be created or updated, what resources must be allocated for the job, and the programs that
are to run, using these input and output data sets. A set of JCL statements for a job is itself stored
as a data set and can be started interactively. MVS and OS/390 provide an interactive menu-like
interface, ISPF, for initiating and managing jobs.

What is difference between uni-programming


and multiprogramming?
Multiprogramming or multitasking means more than one program can execute at the same time. It is
the allocation of a computer system and its resources to more than one application at the same time.
However in uni-programming you can have only one program running at any point in time.
Definitions of system software on the Web:

 System software is computer software designed to operate the computer hardware and to
provide and maintain a platform for running application software.

Definitions of application software on the Web:

 Computer programs designed for a specific purpose (such as accounts receivable, billing,
or inventory control

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