OPERATING SYSTEM

What is an Operating System

(OS)?
 A program that acts as an intermediary between
a user of a computer and the computer
hardware.
 A set of programs that coordinates all activities
among computer hardware resources.
 Operating system goals:
 Execute user programs and make solving user
problems easier.
 Make the computer system convenient to use.
 Use the computer hardware in an efficient
manner.
Operating System history
 Early History: The 1940s and 1950s
 Operating systems evolved through
several phases
 1940s
 Early computers did not include operating
systems
 1950s
 Executed one job at a time
 Included technologies to smooth job-to-job
transitions
 Single-stream batch-processing systems
 Programs and data submitted consecutively on tape
 1960s
 Still batch-processing systems
 Process multiple jobs at once
 Multiprogramming
 One job could use processor while other jobs used peripheral devices
 Advanced operating systems developed to service multiple interactive
users
 1964
 IBM announced System/360 family of computers
 1970s
 Primarily multimode timesharing systems
 Supported batch processing, timesharing and real-time
applications
 Department of Defense develops TCP/IP
 Standard communications protocol
 Widely used in military and university settings
 Security problems
 Growing volumes of information passed over vulnerable
communications lines.
 1980s
 Decade of personal computers and workstations
 Computing distributed to sites at which it was
needed
 Personal computers proved relatively easy to learn
and use
 Graphical user interfaces (GUI)
 Transferring information between computers via
networks became more economical and practical
 Client/server computing model became
widespread
 Clients request various services
 Servers perform requested services
 The 1990s
 Operating systems became increasingly
user friendly
 GUI features pioneered by Apple widely
used and improved
 “Plug-and-play” capabilities built into
operating systems
 Enable
users to add and remove hardware
components dynamically
 No need to manually reconfigure operating
system
 2000 and Beyond
 Middleware
 Links two separate applications
 Oftenover a network and between incompatible
machines
 Particularly important for Web services
 Simplifies
communication across multiple
architectures

 Web services
 Encompass set of related standards
 Ready-to-use pieces of software on the
Internet
Functions of Operating
Systems
 Provide a user interface
 Run programs
 Manage hardware devices
 Organized file storage
Types of Operating
Systems
 Real-time operating system
 Very fast small OS
 Built into a device
 Respond quickly to user input
 MP3 players, Medical devices
Types of Operating
Systems
 Single user/Single tasking OS
 One user works on the system
 Performs one task at a time
 MS-DOS and Palm OS
 Take up little space on disk
 Run on inexpensive computers
Types of Operating
Systems
 Single user/Multitasking OS
 User performs many tasks at once
 Most common form of OS
 Windows XP and OS X
 Require expensive computers
 Tend to be complex
Types of Operating
Systems
 Multi user/Multitasking OS
 Many users connect to one computer
 Each user has a unique session
 UNIX, Linux, and VMS
 Maintenance can be easy
 Requires a powerful computer
 System Software
What is system software?

Programs that control Two types are

or maintain operation operating systems
of computer and utility programs

Operating system (OS)

(sometimes called the platform)
coordinates all activities
among computer
hardware
resources
 Operating Systems
What are the functions of an operating system?
 Operating Systems
What is a cross-platform application?

 Runs the same on multiple operating systems

Application

Operating System/ Operating System/ Operating System/ Operating System/

Platform A Platform B Platform C Platform D

Next
 Operating System Functions
What is booting?
 Process of starting or restarting a computer
 Cold boot Turning on
computer that has been
powered off
 Warm boot Restarting
computer that is
powered on.
 BOOTING OF A
COMPUTER
 Operating System Functions
How does a personal computer boot up?
Step 1. Power supply
sends signal to com-
ponents in system unit
Step 2. Processor
accesses BIOS to start
computer
Step 3. BIOS runs tests,
called the POST, to
check components such
as mouse, keyboard,
and adapter cards
Step 4. Results of POST are
compared with data in CMOS chip
Step 5. BIOS looks for system files
on a USB flash drive or CD/DVD
drive, and then drive C (hard disk)
Step 6. Kernel (core) of operating
system loads into RAM
Step 7. Operating system loads
configuration information and
displays desktop on screen
Operating System Functions

What is a boot disk?

 Contains system files that will start computer when

computer cannot boot
 Also called recovery disk

Next
 Operating System Functions
What is a user interface?

 Controls how you enter data and instructions and how

information displays on screen
 Operating System Functions
What is a graphical user
interface (GUI)?
 User interacts with
menus and visual
images such as buttons
and other graphical
objects
 Basic Interface
 Windows Aero
Interface
Running Programs

 Many different applications supported

 System call
 Provides consistent access to OS features
 Share information between programs
 Copy and paste
 Object Linking and Embedding
Managing Hardware

 Programs need to access hardware

 Interrupts
 CPU is stopped
 Hardware device is accessed
 Device drivers control the hardware
Organizing Files and
Folders
 Organized storage
 Long file names
 Folders can be created and nested
 All storage devices work consistently
 Operating System Functions
What are other program management features of operating
systems?

Enables two or
multiprocessing more users to
run programs
simultaneously
Can support two
or more processors
running programs multiuser
at same time
Has duplicate
components such as
processors, memory,
fault-tolerant computer
and disk drives
Continues to
operate when one
of its components
fails
 Operating System Functions
What is memory management?
 Optimizing use of random access memory (RAM)
 With virtual memory (VM), portion of hard disk is
allocated to function as RAM
Operating System Functions

How does an operating system schedule jobs?

Adjusts schedule
based on Sending
Receiving data
job’s priority information
from input device
to output device

A job is an operation Transferring items

Processing
the processor manages between storage
instructions
and memory
 Operating System Functions
What is spooling?

 Sending print jobs to buffer instead of directly

to printer
 Print jobs line up in queue
 Operating System Functions
What is a device driver?

Program that With Plug and Play,

tells operating system operating system
how to communicate
Device
automatically configures
with device Driver new devices as you
Also called driver install them
Operating System Functions
How do you install a device driver?

Step 3. Click the Step 4. Click the Add

Step 1. Open Control
Panel window. Point to
Hardware and Sound link.
Scanners and Cameras Device button to start
Step 2. Click the Hardware
link to display the the Scanner and
and Sound link to display
Scanners and Cameras Camera Installation
the Hardware and Sound
dialog box. Point to Wizard. Point to the
options. Point to the
the Add Device button. Next button.
Scanners and Cameras link.

Step 5. Click the Next button to proceed with the wizard.

Select the correct manufacturer and model of scanner or
camera. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete
installation of the necessary driver files for the selected
device.
 Operating System Functions
How do you establish an Internet connection?

 Windows Vista includes

Connect to a network
wizard
 Guides user through setting up
connection between computer and
Internet service provider
 Operating System Functions
How does an operating system monitor performance?

 Provides program, called performance monitor,

that assesses and reports information about
system resources
and devices
 Operating System Functions

What is a network operating system?

 Allows users to share resources on a

network
 Administers security
by establishing user
name and password for
each user
Operating System Utility Programs
What is a utility program?

 System software that performs

maintenance-type tasks
 Also called
utility

Enhancing an OS
Operating System Utility Programs
What is a file manager?
 Performs functions related to file management
 Search utility
attempts to
locate files on
your computer
 Image viewer
displays, copies,
and prints
contents of
graphics file

Enhancing an OS
Operating System Utility Programs
What is a personal firewall?
 Detects and protects a personal computer from
unauthorized intrusions
 Windows Vista
automatically
enables the built-
in personal
firewall upon
installation

Enhancing an OS
Next
Operating System Utility Programs
What is an uninstaller?

Removes a In Windows Vista,

program and uninstaller is available through
all associated files the Uninstall a program command
in the Control Panel

Next
Operating System Utility Programs
What is a disk scanner?

 Searches for and removes

unnecessary files
 Windows Vista includes
Disk Cleanup
Operating System Utility Programs
What is a disk defragmenter?

 Reorganizes files and unused space on hard

disk so that programs run faster
Operating System Utility Programs
What is a diagnostic utility?

 Compiles technical information about

hardware and some software
 Prepares report outlining problems

Enhancing an OS
 Operating System Utility Programs
What is a backup utility?

 Copies selected files or entire hard disk onto

another storage medium

 Most compress files

during backup to
require less storage
space

Enhancing an OS
Operating System Utility Programs
What is a screen saver?

 Causes monitor’s screen to display moving

image or blank screen if there is no activity
for a specified time
 To secure computer,
user configures screen
saver to require
password to
deactivate

Enhancing an OS