What is an operating system
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An operating system is a program that manages a computer's hardware and software resources and provides common services for computer programs. The main functions of an operating system include managing hardware and software resources, providing a consistent interface for applications, and serving users by allowing interaction and keeping up with changing needs. Common types of operating systems include single-user systems, multi-user systems, single-tasking systems, and multi-tasking systems.
What is an operating system
- 1. What is an Operating System? An operating system is a program designed to run other programs on a computer .
- 2. An operating system creates the ability to: serve a variety of purposes interact with users in more complicated ways keep up with needs that change over time
- 3. Most Common Operating System Windows family of operating systems Macintosh operating systems UNIX family of operating systems
- 4. In any device that has an operating system, there's usually a way to make changes to how the device works one of the reasons operating systems are made out of portable code rather than permanent physical circuits is so that they can be changed or modified without having to scrap the whole device.
- 5. Operating System Functions It manages the hardware and software resources of the system. It provides a stable, consistent way for applications to deal with the hardware without having to know all the details of the hardware.
- 6. The first task, managing the hardware and software resources operating system plays the role of the good parent, making sure that each application gets the necessary resources while playing nicely with all the other applications as well as husbanding the limited capacity of the system to the greatest good of all the users and applications
- 7. The second task, providing a consistent application interface, is especially important if there is to be more than one of a particular type of computer using the operating system, or if the hardware making up the computer is ever open to change.
- 8. Types of Operating Systems Real-time operating system (RTOS) Single-user, single task Single-user, multi-tasking Multi-user
- 9. Real-time operating system (RTOS) Real-time operating systems are used to control machinery, scientific instruments and industrial systems. RTOS typically has very little user-interface capability, and no end-user utilities, since the system will be a "sealed box" when delivered for use.
- 10. Single-user, single task designed to manage the computer so that one user can effectively do one thing at a time. The Palm OS for Palm handheld computers is a good example of a modern single-user, single-task operating system.
- 11. Single-user, multi-tasking most people use on their desktop and laptop computers today Microsoft's Windows and Apple's MacOS platforms are both examples of operating systems that will let a single user have several programs in operation at the same time.
- 12. Multi-user allows many different users to take advantage of the computer's resources simultaneously The operating system must make sure that the requirements of the various users are balanced, and that each of the programs they are using has sufficient and separate resources so that a problem with one user doesn't affect the entire community of users
- 13. Unix, VMS and mainframe operating systems, such as MVS , are examples of multi-user operating systems. VMS (Virtual Memory System) is an operating system from the Digital Equipment Corporation ( DEC ) that runs in its older mid-range computers. MVS (Multiple Virtual Storage) is an operating system from IBM that continues to run on many of IBM's mainframe and large server computers.
- 14. Unix is an operating system that originated at Bell Labs in 1969 as an interactive time-sharing system.
- 15. Computer Operating Systems When you turn on the power to a computer, the first program that runs is usually a set of instructions kept in the computer's read-only memory (ROM). This code examines the system hardware to make sure everything is functioning properly.
- 16. Power-on self test (POST) checks the CPU, memory , and basic input-output systems (BIOS) for errors and stores the result in a special memory location. Once the POST has successfully completed, the software loaded in ROM (sometimes called the BIOS or firmware ) will begin to activate the computer's disk drives.
- 17. when the computer activates the hard disk drive, it finds the first piece of the operating system: the bootstrap loader .
- 18. bootstrap loader The bootstrap loader is a small program that has a single function: It loads the operating system into memory and allows it to begin operation the bootstrap loader sets up the small driver programs that interface with and control the various hardware subsystems of the computer
- 19. It sets up the divisions of memory that hold the operating system, user information and applications It establishes the data structures that will hold the myriad signals, flags and semaphores that are used to communicate within and between the subsystems and applications of the computer Then it turns control of the computer over to the operating system.
- 20. The operating system's tasks, fall into six categories: Processor management Memory management Device management Storage management Application interface User interface