OPERATING SYSTEMS I

CSC 205
Lecture 1
Outline
• Definition of Operating Systems
• Goals of Operating Systems
• Why study Operating Systems
• Operating System Views
• Functions of an Operating System
Definitions of Operating Systems
• An Operating System (OS) is a program that acts as an intermediary
between the user of a computer and computer hardware
• OS simplifies and manages the complexity of running application
programs efficiently
• It provides an environment in which a user can execute programs
conveniently and efficiently using natural language
• OS controls the execution of all kinds of programs
• The software which manages hardware.
Abstract View of Computer System
Relationship between User, OS, Application Software & Hardware
Goals of Operating Systems
• Simplify the execution of user programs and make solving user
problems easier
• Use computer hardware efficiently
• Allow sharing of hardware and software resources
• Make application software portable and versatile
• Provide isolation, security and protection among user programs
• Improve overall system reliability – error confinement, fault tolerance,
reconfiguration
Why study Operating Systems?
• Need to understand interaction between the hardware and
applications
• Need to understand basic principles in the design of computer
systems i.e. efficient resource management, security, flexibility
• Increasing need for specialized operating systems
✓embedded operating systems for devices –cell phones, sensors and
controllers
✓real-time operating systems –aircraft control, multimedia services
Operating System Views
• Resource Allocator – to allocate resources (software and hardware) of
the computer system and manage them efficiently
• Control Program – controls execution of user programs and operation
of I/O devices
• Kernel – The program that executes forever (everything else is an
application with respect to the kernel)
Functions of an Operating System
• Memory Management
• Processor Management
• Device Management
• File Management
• Security
• Control over system performance
• Job Accounting
• Error detecting aids
• Coordination between other software and users
Memory Management
• Management of Primary Memory (Main Memory)
• The main memory provides fast storage that can be accessed directly
by the CPU
• OS keep track of primary memory i.e. what part of it are in use by
whom, what part are not in use
• In multiprogramming environment, OS decides which process will get
memory when and how much
• Allocates the memory when the process requests it to do so
• De-allocates the memory when the process no longer needs it or has
been terminated
Processor Management
• OS decides which process gets the services of the proessor, when and
how much time – Process scheduling
• OS keeps track of processor and status of process using traffic
controller
• It allocates the processor (CPU) to a process
• De-allocate processor when processor is no longer required
Device Management
• OS manages communication through their respective drivers
• It keeps track of all devices using I/O controller
• Decides which process gets the device when and for how much time
• Allocates the device in the most efficient way
• De-allocate devices
File Management
• Files are generally organized into directories for easy navigation and
usage
• OS keeps track of information, location, uses, status etc – File system
• It decides who get the resources
• Allocate and de-allocates the resources
• Security – Prevents unauthorized access to programs and data
through the use of password and other authentication techniques
• Control over system Performance – Recording delays between
request for a service and response from the system
• Job Accounting – Keeping track of time and resources used by various
jobs and users
• Error detecting aids – Production of dumps, traces, error messages
and other debugging and error detecting aids
• Coordination between other software and users – Assignment of
compilers, interpreters, assemblers and other software to the various
users of the computer system