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PART

I
Chapters
1. System Unit
2. Specialized Application Software
3. System Software

Chapter 3
System Software

Ralph El Khoury, Wajdi Abboud

 Outline
• System software: definition and types
• Booting procedure
• Operating systems
– Definition, functions, features and categories
– Types: Windows, Mac OS, Unix/Linux
• Utilities

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 System software
Definition and types
• It is a collection or a system of programs that handle hundreds
of technical details with little or no user intervention.

• There are 4 types of programs that makeup system software

1. Operating systems (OS) - coordinate computer resources, provide an
interface between users and the computer, and run applications.
2. Utilities - perform specific tasks related to managing computer
resources.
3. Device drivers - specialized programs that allow particular input or
output devices to communicate with the rest of the computer system.
4. Language translators - convert the programming instructions written
by programmers into a language that computers understand and
process.

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 Booting procedure
• Bootstrap program
– transfers the operating system from mass storage into main memory

• BIOS (Basic Input Output System)

– A collection of software functions for diagnostic operations while
booting
• i.e., that verify the good operation of physical devices connected to the
computer while booting. E.g., keyboard, screen, mass storage

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 Operating Systems
Definition and functions
• An operating system is a collection of programs that handle
many of the technical details related to using a computer.
• An operating system is the most important type of computer
program.
Main Functions
1. Managing resources
– memory, processes, storage, and devices such as printers and
monitors.
2. Provide user interface
– Almost all newer operating systems use a graphical user interface
(GUI).
3. Running applications
– load and run applications and support multitasking

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 Operating Systems
Functions
1. Managing resources
a. Memory management
• Charged with the task of coordinating the machine's use of main
memory
– E.g., allocating and managing space for data and programs
– E.g., attribute a virtual memory when there is no memory space available
b. File management
• Organizes file storage on the mass storage
– Folders are organized in a hierarchical tree
– Create a table to store the information about files. E.g. FAT32, NTFS…
• Allows the access to files: copying, moving, renaming, erasing, reading
and writing
c. Process management
• scheduler: determines which activities are to be considered for
execution
• dispatcher: controls the allocation of time to these activities

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 Operating Systems
Functions
d. Use of device drivers to control the communication with devices
• Drivers control terminals (printer, USB key, mouse)
• Drivers are loaded into memory when the computer starts
• Each terminal has its own driver
2. Provide user interface (part of the resource manager)
– Allows the user to communicate with OS
• Graphical User Interface (GUI)
– window manager (a component of the OS) allocates blocks of space on the
screen and keeps track of which application is associated with each window
• Command terminal
– where a user can write commands to communicate with the OS
3. Running applications (part of the process manager)
– load on RAM, run and close applications such as word processors
– Control the execution of applications (step by step)
– Most operating systems support multitasking:
• work with many programs in the same time (seems to user)
• the ability to switch between different applications stored in memory.

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 Operating Systems
Features
1. Booting : the process of starting up or restarting the
operating system.
– Warm boot occurs when the computer is already on, and you restart
it without turning off the power.
– Cold boot is starting the computer when it is turned off.
2. Desktop: a place which provides access to computer
resources.
– Icons: graphic representations for a program or function.
– Pointer: controlled by a mouse and changes shape depending upon
its current function.
– Windows: rectangular areas for displaying information and running
programs.
– Menus: provide a list of options or commands.
– Dialog boxes: provide information or request input.
– Help: provides online assistance for operating system functions and
procedures.

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 Operating Systems
Features
3. File management system
– Organizes file storage on the hard disk
• Folders are organized in a hierarchical tree
• Create a table to store the information about files. E.g. FAT32,
NTFS…
– Allows the access to files: copying, moving, renaming,
erasing, reading and writing
4. Device adaptation
– "plug and play" standard
• the device is quickly recognized by the OS without the
intervention of the user (or with a minimum intervention)
5. Communication management in a network
– using communication protocols such as TCP/IP
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 Operating Systems
Features
6. Sharing resources between many programs together and
many users together
– Multiprogramming or multitasking or time-sharing system
• "the illusion of" more than one task are performed simultaneously
– one processor for many programs
– Multiprocessing
• Parallel execution of many tasks by many processors
– Many processors for many processes
– Multiuser
• many users work in the same time at the same machine
7. Reliability
– ability to give a good operation of the system and to manage all kind
of errors
8. Portability
– ability to use the OS on different type of hardware
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 Operating Systems
Categories
• Embedded operating systems are used for handheld computers
and smaller devices like PDAs.
– The operating system programs are permanently stored on ROM
• Network (or server) operating systems (NOS) are used to
control and coordinate computers that are networked or linked
together.
– Typically located on one of the connected computers hard disks, called
the network server,
• this computer coordinates all communication between the other computers.
• Stand-alone operating systems, also called desktop operating
systems,
– control a single desktop or notebook computer.
– Often desktop computers and notebooks are part of a network and are
referred to as the client operating system.

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 Operating Systems
Types
• An OS is also called a platform or software
environment
– Almost all application programs are designed to
run with a specific platform.
• The most popular OS are:
1. Windows
2. Mac OS,
3. Unix and Linux

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 Windows
• The most used system in the world
– Around 90% of the market
• More application programs are
developed to run under Windows
than any other operating system.
• Use Intel and Intel-compatible
processors
• Versions: Windows 95, 98, 2000,
Me, XP, Vista and Windows 7
• In fact, we distinguish 2 main types
of Windows
– For personal use: Windows Home and
Professional
– For enterprise: Windows Server
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 Windows
• Windows Vista features
– Advanced system security to guard against
malicious files and programs, including spyware.
– Three-dimensional workspace capable of
displaying transparent cascading windows.
– New file system called WinFS (Windows Future
Storage)
• It keeps track of files stored on your computer system so
• It is possible to locate files based on a description of
their content.

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 Windows
• Some other features
– Conviviality, uniform GUI, use plug and play
– Multitasking, multiprocessing, multiuser
– Network configuration and management (Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth, LAN)
– Reliability, security (firewall, permissions…)
• Remark: we can find similar features in MAC
OS and Linux systems

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 MAC OS
• Designed to run with Apple
computers.
• Mac is the abbreviation of
Macintosh
• Not popular as Windows
• Fewer application programs
have been written for it.
• The last version is Mac OS X
• One of the most innovative
operating systems.
• Known for its high quality GUI
and multimedia applications

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 Unix and Linux
• Unix • Linux
– Designed to work on powerful – Not proprietary, free,
computers and networks downloadable from the Web
• E.g., for network – Open source: all the codes
administration, Web servers implementation are known
– It has many versions of OS – Invented at the University of
• Linux is one of these Helsinki by Linus Torvalds in
versions 1991
• Linux and Unix can be – One of the most popular and
installed on many different powerful alternatives to the
hardware Windows operating system.
– Modifications and
improvements to the OS is
encouraged.
– Use a GUI not so convivial
– Robust reliable for network
usage and administration

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 Utilities
• Computers may have a problem at any time!
– Hard disk failure, freezing, running slow, virus
infection
• Utilities are (specialized) service programs to
– Avoid OS problems
– Assist users in case of problem
– Reduce the effect of problems

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 Utilities
Essential programs
1. Troubleshooting (or diagnostic programs)
• recognize and correct problems, ideally before they become serious.
– E.g., Windows diagnostic tool, Norton diagnostic program
2. Antivirus programs
– protect your computer system against viruses or other damaging
programs that can invade your computer system.
3. Uninstall programs
– allow you to safely and completely remove unneeded programs and
related files from your hard disk.
4. Backup programs
– make copies of files (in an external disk) to be used in case the
originals are lost or damaged.
5. File compression programs
– reduce the size of files so they require less storage space and can be
sent more efficiently over the Internet. E.g., WinZip, WinRar
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 Utilities
Essential programs
6. Disk Cleanup
– identifies and eliminates nonessential files.
– This frees up valuable disk space and improves system
performance.
– E.g., eliminate temporary downloaded files (from the
Internet), erase residual files from uninstalled programs
7. Disk Defragmenter
– locates and eliminates unnecessary fragments and
– rearranges files and unused disk space to optimize
operations. E.g., file access becomes faster
• Remark: many utilities as backup program, disk
cleanup, disk defragmenter, … comes with window
and can be found in the "Accessories">"System
Tools"
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 References
• Book
– Computing essentials 2008, O'leary, O'leary
• Web Sites
– http://www.c2imes.org
– http://www.commentcamarche.net/
– http://www.vulgarisation-informatique.com/
– http://www.ybet.be/
– Encyclopedia: Wikipedia
– Notes : Architecture des ordinateurs, T. Dumartin

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