Revision no.

: PPT/2K804/04
PPT/2K403/02

Introduction to Operating System

 Revision no.: PPT/2K605/03

Operating System Basics

• Operating system is a program that acts as an intermediary

between a user of a computer and the computer hardware.
• Primary goal of an operating system is to make the computer
system convenient to use for the user and the secondary goal
is to use the computer hardware in an efficient manner.
• Operating system controls and co-ordinates the use of the
hardware among the various applications programs for the
various users.
• Operating system acts as the manager of the resources and
allocates them to specific programs and users as necessary
for tasks.
• It is the one program running at all times on the computer
(usually called the kernel), with all the other programs, being
application programs.
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 Revision no.: PPT/2K605/03

Functions of OS

• OS performs four basic functions.

– Communicates, or at least provides a method for other programs
to communicate, with the hardware of the PC.

– Creates a user interface and to enable users to manipulate the

user interface and thereby make changes to the computer.

– Must enable users to determine the available installed programs

and run, use, and shut down the program of their choice.

– Should enable users to add, move, and delete the installed

programs and data.

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 Revision no.: PPT/2K605/03

Operating Systems and BIOS

• Hardware organization and principle of operation of the PC is

common to all applications.

• Only the software differs from one application to another. In

most cases, the system software ie. OS used is the same and
the application software which differs.

• Hardware in a PC does not know the software and BIOS is the

interface between hardware and software.

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 Revision no.: PPT/2K605/03

Operating Systems and BIOS (contd.)

• BIOS is also called firmware due to its integration with

hardware.
• BIOS contains all the code required to control the keyboard,
display screen, disk drivers, serial communications and a
number of miscellaneous functions.
• BIOS is typically placed in a ROM chip that comes with the
computer it is often called a ROM BIOS which ensures that the
BIOS will always be available and will not be damaged by disk
failures.

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 Revision no.: PPT/2K605/03

Classification of Operating Systems

• Operating system is conceptually broken into two

components:
– Shell -an outer wrapper to the kernel which in turn talks directly to
the hardware.
– Kernel-the primary code of an operating system
• Based on the types of computers they control and the sort of
applications they support, OS’s are of the following types
• Single-user, Single task
– In this type, OS is designed to manage the computer so that only
one user can effectively do one thing at a time. Eg. DOS

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 Revision no.: PPT/2K605/03

Classification of Operating Systems (contd)

• Single-user, multi-tasking

– In this type, OS will let a single user have several programs in

operation at the same time. Eg. Windows 98

• Multi-user

– In this type, OS allows many different users to take advantage of

the computer's resources simultaneously. Egs. Unix, Windows

2000, Linux etc.

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 Revision no.: PPT/2K605/03

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CMS Institute, Design & Development Centre, CMS House, Plot No. 91, Street No.7,
MIDC, Marol, Andheri (E), Mumbai –400093.
www.cmsinstitute.co.in

© CMS INSTITUTE, 2006. All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced, stored or emailed without the prior permission of Programme Director, CMS Institute