Operating

System
Fundamentals
Operating System

-system software that allows users or the

application programs they are using to
interact with the computer hardware in an
easy and convenient manner
Major functions of an operating system:

• It creates a virtual machine interface

between the user/application program and
the hardware.

• It acts as the computer’s resource

manager or resource allocator.
 
• It functions as the program launcher.
Two parts of an operating system:

• Kernel – is the heart and soul of the

operating system
 
• Shell – is the part of the operating system
that serves as the interface between users
and the kernel
Two kinds of shell:

Command-line Interface
- requires users to type the commands at a
prompt
Two kinds of shell:

Graphical user interface (GUI) 

- users enter commands by either using
drop-down menus or by clicking on icons
using a mouse pointer
Services provided by an operating system:

• Program execution
• Access to I/O devices  
• File system management
• System access
• Error handling
• Communication
Core components of an operating system:

• Process manager
• Memory manager
• File manager  
• I/O manager
 History of 
Operating Systems

Serial processing (first generation) 

• There were no operating systems, so
these computers were “bare” machines.

• Computers can only be used by one

person at a time.
 History of 
Operating Systems

• There were no keyboards during this time

so user commands are entered by using
toggle switches.
 
• High-level programming languages were
developed and entered into the computer
by using punched cards.
 History of 
Operating Systems

Batch systems (second generation)

• Similar jobs are grouped together and
processed as a batch.
 History of 
Operating Systems

Multiprogrammed systems (third generation) 

• Multiprogramming, which means concurrent
execution of two or more programs by a
single CPU, was implemented.
 History of 
Operating Systems

Time-sharing systems (fourth generation) 

• Operating systems during this time were
designed to be time-sharing or multitasking
operating systems.
Two kinds of multiprocessor systems:
• Symmetric multiprocessors (SMP)
• Asymmetric multiprocessors (AMP)
 History of 
Operating Systems
Networked and distributed systems
• Network operating systems allow the
sharing of resources among computers
connected in a network.
• In distributed systems, there is a high level
of transparency in such a way that the entire
system is perceived by a user as one big,
powerful computing machine instead of
several cooperating computers.
 Goals of a distributed operating system:

• Transparency
• Parallelism
• Reliability
 History of 
Operating Systems
Real-time systems
• These are computers that operate on a very
strict time constraint.
Handheld systems 
• These are characterized by being battery
powered, having slower processors
compared to PCs, and having smaller
memory.