I N T R O D U C T I O N TO O S

B Y: Aniruddha Halder

Wo m e n ’s P o l y t e c h n i c , C h a n d a n n a g a r

Courtesy: https://www.tutorialspoint.com/operating_system/
https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/
 What is Operating System?
• An Operating System (OS) is an interface between a computer user and
computer hardware.
• An operating system is a system software which performs all the basic tasks
like file management, memory management, process management, handling
input and output, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and
printers.
• Some
Definition:
popular Operating Systems include Linux Operating System,
AnWindows Operating
operating system is a System, VMS, Unix, OS/400, AIX, z/OS, Mac etc.
program (system
software) that acts as an interface between
the user and the computer hardware and
controls the execution of all kinds of
programs.
 Function of Operating System
Following are some of important 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
 Evolutions & Generations of OS
Operating Systems have evolved over the years. So, their evolution through the years can be
mapped using generations of operating systems. There are four generations of operating
systems.
• The First Generation ( 1945 - 1955 ): Vacuum Tubes
and Plugboards:
Calculating
• The Second engines with mechanical
Generation ( 1955 - 1965 relays were built &
): Transistors at that time. However, the mechanical relays were very
slow and were
Batch later replaced with vacuum tubes. These machines were enormous but were still very slow.
Systems:
These Theearly
•TransistorsThird computers
ledGeneration were
( 1965designed,
to the development - 1980 built and maintained
): Integrated
of the computer systems that bycould
a single group of people.
be manufactured Programming
and sold to paying
languages were
Circuits These
customers. unknown
& Multi and
Programming:
machines there were no operating systems so all the programming
were known as mainframes and were locked in air-conditioned computer was done in machine
rooms
language.
with staff Alloperate
to the problems
them. were simple numerical calculations. By the 1950’s punch cards were introduced and
Until the 1960’s, there were two types of computer systems i.e the scientific and the commercial computers.
•thisThe Fourththe
improved Generation
computer( 1980
system. – Present
InsteadDay ): plugboards, programs were written on cards and read into
of using
These were combined by IBM in the System/360.
The Batch System was introduced to reduce the wasted This usedtimeintegrated circuits A
in the computer. and provided
tray full of ajobs
major
wasprice and
collected
the Personal
system. Computers:
performance
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Personal advantage
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Computers over
wereread the
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intotothe
creategeneration
magnetic
with the systems.
tape. After that, the
development tape was rewound
of large-scale andcircuits.
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These tape
drive.containing
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batch operating system was
of transistors on a loaded
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The
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them.were
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output tape was printed.its I/O operation. Another job was scheduled on the processor so that its
time would not be wasted.
The advent of personal computers also led to the growth of networks. This created network operating systems and distributed
operating systems. The users were aware of a network while using a network operating system and could log in to remote
machines and copy files from one machine to another.
 FOCUS of OS
• Convenience: An OS makes a computer more convenient to use.
• Efficiency: An OS allows the computer system resources to be used efficiently.

• Ability to Evolve: An OS should be constructed in such a way as to permit the effective

development, testing, and introduction of new system functions at the same time without
interfering with service.
• Throughput: An OS should be constructed so that It can give
maximum throughput(Number of tasks per unit time).
 Mainframe Operating Systems
• These computers are those elephant-sized machines found on major corporate data centers. A mainframe
system has huge specifications and is generally used for tons of input-output operations done together.

• It requires an operating system that is different from what we use every day for this purpose.

• Batch Operating System- Sequence of jobs in a program on a computer without manual interventions.

• Time-sharing operating System- allows many users to share the computer resources. (Max utilization of
the resources).

• Distributed operating System- Manages a group of different computers and makes appear to be a single
computer.
• Network operating system- computers running in different operating systems can participate in a
common network (It is used for security purposes).

• Real-time operating system – meant applications to fix the deadlines.

 Multitasking Vs Multiprogramming
• CPU is a super fast device and keeping it occupied for a single task is never a good idea. Considering the huge
differences between CPU speed and IO speed, many concepts like multiprogramming, multitasking, multithreading,
etc have been introduced to make better CPU utilization .
Multi programming:
Multi-programming increases CPU utilisation by organizing jobs
(code and data) so that the CPU always has one to execute. The idea
is to keep multiple jobs in main memory. If one job gets occupied
with IO, CPU can be assigned to other job. 

Multi Tasking:
Multi-tasking is a logical extension of multiprogramming.
Multitasking is the ability of an OS to execute more than
one task simultaneously on a CPU machine. These multiple tasks
share common resources (like CPU and memory). In multi-tasking
systems, the CPU executes multiple jobs by switching among them
typically using a small time quantum, and the switches occur so
quickly that the users feel like interact with each executing task at
the same time. 
 OS TYPES CONTINUED…….
Batch Operating System
This type of operating system does not interact with the
computer directly. There is an operator which takes similar
jobs having the same requirement and group them into
batches. It is the responsibility of the operator to sort jobs
with similar needs. 
Time-Sharing Operating Systems
Each task is given some time to execute so that all the
tasks work smoothly. Each user gets the time of CPU as
they use a single system. These systems are also known
as Multitasking Systems. The task can be from a single
user or different users also. The time that each task gets
to execute is called quantum. After this time interval is
over OS switches over to the next task. 

Examples of Time-Sharing OS are: Multics, Unix etc. 

 OS TYPES
Distributed Operating System
CONTINUED…….
These types of the operating system is a recent advancement
in the world of computer technology and are being widely
accepted all over the world and, that too, with a great pace.
Various autonomous interconnected computers communicate
with each other using a shared communication network.
Independent systems possess their own memory unit and
CPU. These are referred to as loosely coupled systems or
distributed systems. These system’s processors differ in size
and function. The major benefit of working with these types
of the operating system is that it is always possible that one
user can access the files or software which are not actually
present on his system but some other system connected within
this network i.e., remote access is enabled within the devices
connected in that network. 

Examples of Distributed Operating System are:  LOCUS, etc. 

 OS TYPES CONTINUED…….
Network (Clustered) Operating System
These systems run on a server and provide the capability to
manage data, users, groups, security, applications, and other
networking functions. These types of operating systems allow
shared access of files, printers, security, applications, and
other networking functions over a small private network. One
more important aspect of Network Operating Systems is that
all the users are well aware of the underlying configuration,
of all other users within the network, their individual
connections, etc. and that’s why these computers are
popularly known as tightly coupled systems. 

Examples of Network Operating System are: Microsoft

Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows Server 2008,
UNIX, Linux, Mac OS X, Novell NetWare, and BSD, etc.
 OS TYPES CONTINUED…….
Real-Time Operating System (RTOS)
Real-time systems are used when there are time requirements that are very
strict like missile systems, air traffic control systems, robots, etc. 

The time interval required to process and respond to inputs is very small. This
time interval is called response time. 
Two types of Real-Time Operating System:
1. Hard Real-Time Systems:  2. Soft Real-Time Systems: 
These OS(s) are meant for applications where time constraints are very strict
and even the shortest possible delay is not acceptable. These systems are built
for saving life like automatic parachutes or airbags which are required to be
readily available in case of any accident. Virtual memory is rarely found in
these systems.

These OS(s) are for applications where for time-constraint is less strict.
Examples of Real-Time Operating Systems are: Scientific experiments, medical imaging systems, industrial
control systems, weapon systems, robots, air traffic control systems, etc.
 OS TYPES CONTINUED…….
Multi Processor System
Multiprocessor OS refers to the use of two or more central
processing units within a single computer system. These multiple
CPUs are in a close communication sharing
the computer bus, memory and other peripheral devices. These
systems are referred as tightly coupled systems.

These types of systems are used when very high speed is required to process a large volume of data. These
Multiprocessing system
systems are generally is in
used based on the symmetric
environment multiprocessing
like satellite control, weathermodel, in which
forecasting etc.  each processor runs an
identical copy of OS and these copies communicate with each other. In this system processor is assigned a
specific task. A master processor controls the system. This scheme defines a master-slave relationship. These
systems can save money in compare to single processor systems because the processors can share peripherals,
power supplies and other devices. The main advantage of multiprocessor system is to get more work done in a
shorter period of time. Moreover, multiprocessor systems prove more reliable in the situations of failure of one
processor. In this situation, the system with multiprocessor will not halt the system; it will only slow it down.
 OS TYPES CONTINUED…….
Open Source Operating System
Open source refers to the computer software or applications where the owners or copyright holders allow the
users or third party to see, use and provide the right to modify the source code of the product.

An Open-source Operating System is the Operating System in which source code is visible publically and
editable.  The generally known Operating Systems like Microsoft’s Windows, Apple’s ios and Mac OS, are
closed Operating system.
There are many types of Operating systems that differ
between them based on their goal and purpose. While
some of them, like Linux Based – Ubuntu, Linux
Mint.
Elementary OS focus on simplicity,
Some like Tails focus on security.