Unit 1:

Overview of Operating System (8 Marks)

Definition: Operating System can be defined as an interface between user and the hardware. It provides an
environment to the user so that, the user can perform its task in convenient and efficient way.
It is responsible for the execution of all the processes, Resource Allocation, CPU management, File
Management and many other tasks.

Components of Operating System:

The operating system manages resources of system software and computer hardware resources.

1. Process Management
2. File Management
3. Network Management
4. Main Memory Management
5. Secondary Storage Management
6. I/O Device Management
7. Security Management
8. Command Interpreter System

Process Management

The process management component is a procedure for managing many processes running simultaneously on
the operating system. Every running software application program has one or more processes associated with
them.

For example, when you use a search engine like Chrome, there is a process running for that browser program.

Functions of process management

o Process creation and deletion.

o Suspension and resumption.
o Synchronization process
o Communication process

File Management

A file is a set of related information defined by its creator. It commonly represents programs (both source and
object forms) and data. Data files can be alphabetic, numeric, or alphanumeric.
Function of file management

The operating system has the following important activities in connection with file management:

o File and directory creation and deletion.

o For manipulating files and directories.
o Mapping files onto secondary storage.
o Backup files on stable storage media.

Network Management

Network management is the process of administering and managing computer networks. It includes
performance management, provisioning of networks, fault analysis, and maintaining the quality of service.

Network management provides the following functions, such as:

o Distributed systems help you to various computing resources in size and function. They may involve
minicomputers, microprocessors, and many general-purpose computer systems.
o A distributed system also offers the user access to the various resources the network shares.
o It helps to access shared resources that help computation to speed up or offers data availability and
reliability.

Main Memory management

Main memory is a large array of storage or bytes, which has an address. The memory management process is
conducted by using a sequence of reads or writes of specific memory addresses.

An Operating System performs the following functions for Memory Management in the operating system:

o It helps you to keep track of primary memory.

o Determine what part of it are in use by whom, what part is not in use.
o In a multiprogramming system, the OS decides which process will get memory and how much.
o Allocates the memory when a process requests.
o It also de-allocates the memory when a process no longer requires or has been terminated.

Secondary-Storage Management

The most important task of a computer system is to execute programs. These programs help you to access the
data from the main memory during execution. This memory of the computer is very small to store all data and
programs permanently.

Here are some major functions of secondary storage management in the operating system:

o Storage allocation
 o Free space management
o Disk scheduling

I/O Device Management

One of the important use of an operating system that helps to hide the variations of specific hardware devices
from the user.

The I/O management system offers the following functions, such as:

o It offers a buffer caching system

o It provides general device driver code
o It provides drivers for particular hardware devices.
o I/O helps you to know the individualities of a specific device.

Security Management

The various processes in an operating system need to be secured from other activities. Therefore, various
mechanisms can ensure those processes that want to operate files, memory CPU, and other hardware resources
should have proper authorization from the operating system.

Criteria Kernel Mode User Mode

In user mode, the application

program do not have direct access to
In kernel mode, the program has direct and
system resources. In order to access
unrestricted access to system resources.
the resources, a system call must be
Access to Resources made.

In Kernel mode, the whole operating system In user mode, a single process fails if
Interruptions might go down if an interrupt occurs an interrupt occurs.

User mode is also known as the

Kernel mode is also known as the master
unprivileged mode, restricted mode,
mode, privileged mode, or system mode.
Modes or slave mode.

In kernel mode, all processes share a single In user mode, all processes get
Virtual address space virtual address space. separate virtual address space.

In kernel mode, the applications have more While in user mode the applications
Level of privilege privileges as compared to user mode. have fewer privileges.
 Criteria Kernel Mode User Mode

As kernel mode can access both the user While user mode needs to access
programs as well as the kernel programs kernel programs as it cannot directly
Restrictions there are no restrictions. access them.

Views of Operating System

The operating system may be observed from the point of view of the user or the system, and it is known as the
user view and the system view.

1. User View
2. System View

User View

The user view depends on the system interface that is used by the users. Some systems are designed for a single
user to monopolize the resources to maximize the user's task. In these cases, the OS is designed primarily for
ease of use, with little emphasis on quality and none on resource utilization.

1. Single User View Point

Most computer users use a monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, and other accessories to operate their computer
system. In some cases, the system is designed to maximize the output of a single user. As a result, more
attention is laid on accessibility, and resource allocation is less important.

2. Multiple User View Point

Another example of user views in which the importance of user experience and performance is given is when
there is one mainframe computer and many users on their computers trying to interact with their kernels over
the mainframe to each other.

3. Handled User View Point

Moreover, the touchscreen era has given you the best handheld technology ever. Smartphones interact via
wireless devices to perform numerous operations, but they're not as efficient as a computer interface, limiting
their usefulness.

4. Embedded System User View Point

Some systems, like embedded systems that lack a user point of view. The remote control used to
turn on or off the tv is all part of an embedded system in which the electronic device communicates with
another program where the user viewpoint is limited and allows the user to engage with the application.
System View

The OS may also be viewed as just a resource allocator. A computer system comprises various sources, such as
hardware and software, which must be managed effectively. The operating system manages the resources,
decides between competing demands, controls the program execution,

1. Resource Allocation

The hardware contains several resources like registers, caches, RAM, ROM, CPUs, I/O interaction, etc. These
are all resources that the operating system needs when an application program demands them.

2. Control Program

The control program controls how input and output devices (hardware) interact with the operating system. The
user may request an action that can only be done with I/O devices; in this case, the operating system must also
have proper communication, control, detect, and handle such devices.

Types of Operating Systems

There are several types of Operating Systems which are mentioned below.

 Batch Operating System

 Multi-Programming System
 Multi-Processing System
 Time-Sharing Operating System
 Distributed Operating System
 Network Operating System

1. 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 groups them into batches.
 It is the responsibility of the operator to sort jobs with similar needs.
 Batch Operating System is designed to manage and execute a large number of jobs efficiently by
processing them in groups.
 In Batch operating system, access is given to more than one person; they submit their respective jobs to
the system for the execution.

Advantages of Batch Operating System

 Multiple users can share the batch systems.
 The idle time for the batch system is very less.
 It is easy to manage large work repeatedly in batch systems.

Disadvantages of Batch Operating System

 The computer operators should be well known with batch systems.
 Batch systems are hard to debug.
 It is sometimes costly.
 The other jobs will have to wait for an unknown time if any job fails.
 In batch operating system the processing time for jobs is commonly difficult to accurately predict while
they are in the queue.
 It is difficult to accurately predict the exact time required for a job to complete while it is in the queue.

Examples of Batch Operating Systems: Payroll Systems, Bank Statements, etc.

2. Multi-Programming Operating System:

 Multiprogramming Operating Systems can be simply illustrated as more than one program is present
in the main memory and any one of them can be kept in execution. This is basically used for better
execution of resources.
 Multiprogramming is an extension to batch processing where the CPU is always kept busy. Each process
needs two types of system time: CPU time and IO time.
 when a process does its I/O, The CPU can start the execution of other processes. Therefore,
multiprogramming improves the efficiency of the system.

Advantages of Multi-Programming Operating System

 Multi Programming increases the Throughput of the
System.
 It helps in reducing the response time.

Disadvantages of Multi-Programming Operating System

 There is not any facility for user interaction of system

resources with the system.
 3. Multi-Processing Operating System

 Multi-Processing Operating System is a type of Operating System in which more than one CPU is
used for the execution of resources. It betters the throughput of the System.
 Multiprogramming is an extension to batch processing where the CPU is always kept busy. Each process
needs two types of system time: CPU time and IO time.
 In Multiprocessing, Parallel computing is achieved. There are more than one processors present in the
system which can execute more than one process at the same time. This will increase the throughput of
the system.
 Increased reliability: Due to the multiprocessing system, processing tasks can be distributed among
several processors. This increases reliability as if one processor fails, the task can be given to another
processor for completion.
 Increased throughout: As several processors increase, more work can be done in less.

Advantages of Multi-Processing Operating System

 It increases the throughput of the system.
 As it has several processors, so, if one processor fails, we can proceed with another processor.
Disadvantages of Multi-Processing Operating System
 Due to the multiple CPU, it can be more complex and somehow difficult to understand.

4. Time Sharing Operating System:

 In the Time Sharing operating system, computer resources are allocated in a time-dependent
fashion to several programs simultaneously
 . Thus it helps to provide a large number of user's direct access to the main computer. It is a
logical extension of multiprogramming.
 In time-sharing, the CPU is switched among multiple programs given by different users on a
scheduled basis.
  Each task is given some time to execute so that all the tasks work smoothly. Each user gets the
time of the 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.

A time-sharing operating system allows many users to be

served simultaneously, so sophisticated CPU scheduling
schemes and Input/output management are required.

Time-sharing operating systems are very difficult and

expensive to build.

Advantages of Time Sharing Operating System

o The time-sharing operating system provides
effective utilization and sharing of resources.
o This system reduces CPU idle and response time.

Disadvantages of Time Sharing Operating System

o Data transmission rates are very high in
comparison to other methods.
o Security and integrity of user programs loaded in
memory and data need to be maintained as many
users access the system at the same time.
o
o Examples of Time-Sharing OS :IBM VM/CMS, Windows Terminal Services

5. Distributed Operating System:

 The Distributed Operating system is not
installed on a single machine, it is divided
into parts, and these parts are loaded on
different machines.
 A part of the distributed Operating system
is installed on each machine to make their
communication possible.
 Distributed Operating systems are much
more complex, large, and sophisticated
than Network operating systems because
they also have to take care of varying networking protocols.
  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.

Advantages of Distributed Operating System

 Failure of one will not affect the other network communication, as all systems are independent of each
other.
 Electronic mail increases the data exchange speed.
 Since resources are being shared, computation is highly fast and durable.
 Load on host computer reduces.
 These systems are easily scalable as many systems can be easily added to the network.
 Delay in data processing reduces.
Disadvantages of Distributed Operating System
 Failure of the main network will stop the entire communication.
 To establish distributed systems the language is used not well-defined yet.
 These types of systems are not readily available as they are very expensive. Not only that the underlying
software is highly complex and not understood well yet.

Examples of Distributed Operating Systems are LOCUS, etc.

6. Network 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 to 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 .

Advantages of Network Operating System

 Highly stable centralized servers.
 Security concerns are handled through servers.
 New technologies and hardware up-gradation are easily integrated into the system.
 Server access is possible remotely from different locations and types of systems.
Disadvantages of Network Operating System
 Servers are costly.
 User has to depend on a central location for most operations.
 Maintenance and updates are required regularly.
Examples of Network Operating Systems are Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows Server
2008, UNIX, Linux, Mac OS X, Novell NetWare, BSD, etc.

Real-Time Operating System

 These types of OSs serve real-time systems. The time interval

required to process and respond to inputs is very small.
 This time interval is called response time. Real-time systems are
used when there are time requirements that are very strict like
missile systems, air traffic control systems, robots, etc.

 Types of Real-Time Operating Systems

 Hard Real-Time Systems: Hard Real-Time OSs 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 an accident. Virtual memory is
rarely found in these systems.
 Soft Real-Time Systems: These OSs are for applications where
time-constraint is less strict.

Advantages of RTOS

 Maximum Consumption: Maximum utilization of devices and systems, thus more output from all the
resources.
 Task Shifting: The time assigned for shifting tasks in these systems is very less. For example, in older
systems, it takes about 10 microseconds in shifting from one task to another, and in the latest systems, it
takes 3 microseconds.
 Error Free: These types of systems are error-free.
 Memory Allocation: Memory allocation is best managed in these types of systems.

Disadvantages of RTOS
 Limited Tasks: Very few tasks run at the same time and their concentration is very less on a few
applications to avoid errors.
 Use heavy system resources: Sometimes the system resources are not so good and they are expensive as
well.
 Complex Algorithms: The algorithms are very complex and difficult for the designer to write on.

Examples of Real-Time Operating Systems are scientific experiments, medical imaging systems, industrial
control systems, weapon systems, robots, air traffic control systems, etc.
Mobile Operating System

A mobile operating system is an operating system that helps to run other application software on mobile
devices. It is the same kind of software as the famous computer operating systems like Linux and Windows, but
now they are light and simple to some extent.

The operating systems found on smartphones include Symbian OS, iPhone OS, RIM's
BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Palm WebOS, Android, and Maemo. Android, WebOS, and Maemo are all
derived from Linux. The iPhone OS originated from BSD and NeXTSTEP, which are related to Unix.

It combines the beauty of computer and hand use devices. It typically contains a cellular built-in modem and
SIM tray for telephony and internet connections. If you buy a mobile, the manufacturer company chooses the
OS for that specific device.

Popular platforms of the Mobile OS

1. Android OS: The Android operating system is the most popular operating system today. It is a mobile OS
based on the Linux Kernel and open-source software. The android operating system was developed
by Google. The first Android device was launched in 2008.

2. Bada (Samsung Electronics): Bada is a Samsung mobile operating system that was launched in 2010. The
Samsung wave was the first mobile to use the bada operating system. The bada operating system offers many
mobile features, such as 3-D graphics, application installation, and multipoint-touch.

3. BlackBerry OS: The BlackBerry operating system is a mobile operating system developed by Research In
Motion (RIM). This operating system was designed specifically for BlackBerry handheld devices. This
operating system is beneficial for the corporate users because it provides synchronization with Microsoft
Exchange, Novell GroupWise email, Lotus Domino, and other business software when used with the
BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

4. iPhone OS / iOS: The iOS was developed by the Apple inc for the use on its device. The iOS operating
system is the most popular operating system today. It is a very secure operating system. The iOS operating
system is not available for any other mobiles.

Differences

Sr.no Multiprogramming Multi-tasking

It includes the single CPU to execute the

1. It uses multiple tasks for the task allocation.
program.

2. Concept of Context Switching is used. Concept of Context Switching and Time Sharing is
Sr.no Multiprogramming Multi-tasking

used.

In multiprogrammed system, the operating The processor is typically used in time sharing mode.
system simply switches to, and executes, Switching happens when either allowed time expires
3.
another job when current job needs to or where there other reason for current process needs
wait. to wait (example process needs to do IO).

Multi-programming increases CPU In multi-tasking also increases CPU utilization, it

4.
utilization by organizing jobs . also increases responsiveness.

The idea is to reduce the CPU idle time for The idea is to further extend the CPU Utilization
5.
as long as possible. concept by increasing responsiveness Time Sharing.

It uses job scheduling algorithms so that

Time sharing mechanism is used so that multiple
6. more than one program can run at the
tasks can run at the same time.
same time.

In community edition, personalized Promotions, personalized shopping experiences can

7.
shopping experiences is not created. be displayed in enterprise edition products.

8. Execution of process takes more time. Execution of process takes less time.

S.No. TIME SHARING MULTIPROGRAMMING

Time Sharing is the logical extension of

multiprogramming, in this time sharing Multiprogramming operating system allows
Operating system many users/processes are to execute multiple processes by monitoring
allocated with computer resources in their process states and switching in between
01. respective time slots. processes.

02. Processors time is shared with multiple users Processor and memory underutilization
that’s why it is called as time sharing problem is resolved and multiple programs
 runs on CPU that’s why it is called
operating system. multiprogramming.

In this process, two or more users can use a In this, the process can be executed by a
03. processor in their terminal. single processor.

Multi-programming OS has no fixed time

04. Time sharing OS has fixed time slice. slice.

In multi-programming OS system before

In time sharing OS system, execution power is finishing a task the execution power is not
05. taken off before finishing of execution. taken off.

Here the system works for the same or less Here the system does not take same time to
06. time on each processes. work on different processes.

In Multiprogramming OS, system depends on

In time sharing OS system depends on time to devices to switch between tasks such I/O
07. switch between different processes. interrupts etc.

System model of time sharing system is System model of multiprogramming system is

08. multiple programs and multiple users. multiple programs.

Multiprogramming system maximizes

09. Time sharing system minimizes response time. processor use.

S.NO Time Sharing Operating System Real-Time Operating System

While in real time operating system ,

In time sharing operating system , quick
1. computation tasks are emphasized
response is emphasized for a request.
before its nominative point.

In this operating While in this operating

2. system Switching method/function is system Switching method/function is not
available. available.

3. In this operating system any modification While in this modification does not take
S.NO Time Sharing Operating System Real-Time Operating System

in the program can be possible. place.

In this OS, computer resources are But in this OS, computer resources are
4.
shared to the external. not shared to the external.

It deals with more than processes or Whereas it deals with only one process
5.
applications simultaneously. or application at a time.

While in real time OS, the response is

In this OS, the response is provided to
6. provided to the user within time
the user within a second.
constraint.

In time sharing system, high priority tasks

Real time operating systems, give users
can be preempted by lower priority tasks,
the ability to prioritize tasks so that the
7. making it impossible to guarantee a
most critical task can always take control
response time for your critical
of the process when needed.
applications.

S.NO CLI GUI

1. CLI is difficult to use. Whereas it is easy to use.

CLI operating system needs only a While GUI operating system needs both
5. keyboard. a mouse and keyboard.

CLI’s appearance can not be modified or While its appearance can be modified or
6. changed. changed.

In CLI, input is entered only at a While in GUI, the input can be entered
7. command prompt. anywhere on the screen.
S.NO CLI GUI

In CLI, the information is shown or While in GUI, the information is shown or

presented to the user in plain text and presented to the user in any form such
8. files. as: plain text, videos, images, etc.

9. In CLI, there are no menus provided. While in GUI, menus are provided.

10. There are no graphics in CLI. While in GUI, graphics are used.

While it uses pointing devices for

CLI do not use any pointing devices.
11. selecting and choosing items.

In CLI, spelling mistakes and typing Whereas in GUI, spelling mistakes and
12. errors are not avoided. typing errors are avoided.

Some command-line environments

GUI enables a user to easily observe
provide multitasking but it is complicated
and operate various things at once.
13. to see several things on one screen.