BBA-5

Computer Application
[BBA-N506]

Unit – 4

Dr. Aditya Kumar Gupta

Associate Professor
 Operating System

An operating system acts as an intermediary between the user of a computer and computer
hardware. The purpose of an operating system is to provide an environment in which a user
can execute programs conveniently and efficiently.
An operating system is software that manages computer hardware. The hardware must
provide appropriate mechanisms to ensure the correct operation of the computer system and
to prevent user programs from interfering with the proper operation of the system.

Operating System

 An operating system is a program that controls the execution of application programs

and acts as an interface between the user of a computer and the computer hardware.
 A more common definition is that the operating system is the one program running at all
times on the computer (usually called the kernel), with all else being application
programs.
 An operating system is concerned with the allocation of resources and services, such as
memory, processors, devices, and information. The operating system correspondingly
includes programs to manage these resources, such as a traffic controller, a scheduler, a
memory management module, I/O programs, and a file system.

Features of Operating System:

1. Convenience: An OS makes a computer more convenient to use.

2. Efficiency: An OS allows the computer system resources to be used efficiently.

3. 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.

4. Throughput: An OS should be constructed so that It can give maximum throughput

(Number of tasks per unit time).

Computer Application [BBA-N-506]

Major Functionalities of Operating System:

 Resource Management: When parallel accessing happens in the OS means when

multiple users are accessing the system the OS works as Resource Manager, Its
responsibility is to provide hardware to the user. It decreases the load in the system.
 Process Management: It includes various tasks like scheduling and termination of
the process. It is done with the help of CPU Scheduling algorithms.
 Storage Management: The file system mechanism used for the management of the
storage. NIFS, CFS, CIFS, NFS, etc. are some file systems. All the data is stored in
various tracks of Hard disks that are all managed by the storage manager. It
included Hard Disk.
 Memory Management: Refers to the management of primary memory. The operating
system has to keep track of how much memory has been used and by whom. It has to
decide which process needs memory space and how much. OS also has to allocate and
de-allocate the memory space.
 Security/Privacy Management: Privacy is also provided by the Operating system by
means of passwords so that unauthorized applications can’t access programs or data. For
example, Windows uses Kerberos authentication to prevent unauthorized access to
data.

Conceptual view of a Computer System

The process operating system as User Interface:
1. User
2. System and application programs
3. Operating system
4. Hardware

Every general-purpose computer consists of hardware, an operating system(s), system

programs, and application programs. The hardware consists of memory, CPU, ALU, I/O
devices, peripheral devices, and storage devices. The system program consists of compilers,
loaders, editors, OS, etc. The application program consists of business programs, and
database programs.

Computer Application [BBA-N-506]

 (Fig: Conceptual view of a computer system)

Every computer must have an operating system to run other programs. The operating
system coordinates the use of the hardware among the various system programs and
application programs for various users. It simply provides an environment within which
other programs can do useful work.
The operating system is a set of special programs that run on a computer system that allows
it to work properly. It performs basic tasks such as recognizing input from the keyboard,
keeping track of files and directories on the disk, sending output to the display screen, and
controlling peripheral devices.

The Operating system must support the following tasks. The tasks are:

Provides the facilities to create and modify of programs and data files using an editor.
1. Access to the compiler for translating the user program from high-level language to
machine language.
2. Provide a loader program to move the compiled program code to the computer’s
memory for execution.
3. Provide routines that handle the details of I/O programming

Computer Application [BBA-N-506]

History of Operating System:

The operating system has been evolving through the years. The following table shows the
history of OS.

Generation Year Electronic device used Types of OS Devices

First 1945-55 Vacuum Tubes Plug Boards
Second 1955-65 Transistors Batch Systems
Third 1965-80 Integrated Circuits(IC) Multiprogramming
Fourth Since 1980 Large Scale Integration PC

Examples of Operating Systems are:

 Windows (GUI-based, PC)
 GNU/Linux (Personal, Workstations, ISP, File and print server, Three-tier client/Server)
 macOS (Macintosh), used for Apple’s personal computers and workstations (MacBook,
iMac).
 Android (Google’s Operating System for smartphones/tablets/smartwatches)
 iOS (Apple’s OS for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch)

Computer Application [BBA-N-506]

 Types of Operating System

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.

Advantages of Batch Operating System:

 It is very difficult to guess or know the time required for any job to complete.
Processors of the batch systems know how long the job would be when it is in queue
 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

Computer Application [BBA-N-506]

2. 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.

Advantages of Time-Sharing OS:

 Each task gets an equal opportunity

 Fewer chances of duplication of software
 CPU idle time can be reduced

Disadvantages of Time-Sharing OS:

 Reliability problem
 One must have to take care of the security and integrity of user programs and data
 Data communication problem

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

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3. Distributed Operating System: These types of the operating system are 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.

Advantages of Distributed Operating System:

 Failure of one will not affect the other network communication, as all systems are
independent from each other
 Electronic mail increases the data exchange speed
 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 which is used are 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 System are- LOCUS, etc.

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4. 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 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.

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 System are: Microsoft Windows Server 2003,

Microsoft Windows Server 2008, UNIX, Linux, Mac OS X, Novell NetWare, etc.

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5. 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.

Advantages of RTOS:
 Maximum Consumption: Maximum utilization of devices and system, thus more
output from all the resources
 Task Shifting: The time assigned for shifting tasks in these systems are very less. For
example, in older systems, it takes about 10 microseconds in shifting one task to
another, and in the latest systems, it takes 3 microseconds.
 Focus on Application: Focus on running applications and less importance to
 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 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.
 Device driver and interrupt signals: It needs specific device drivers and interrupts
signals to respond earliest to interrupts.

Examples of Real-Time Operating Systems are: Scientific experiments, medical imaging

systems, industrial control systems, weapon systems, robots, air traffic control systems, etc.

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 Disk Operating System

Any operating system which runs from the hard disk drive is termed a Disk Operating System
(D.O.S). This also refers to the specific family of disk operating systems known as MS-DOS or
Microsoft disk operating system. Anything that commands and controls the computer’s hardware and
peripheral devices with control over the program, and its functionality is known as the operating
system. This operating system which runs through the hard disk is known as a disk operating system.
For the first time, It was introduced for IBM by Microsoft, known as IBM PC DOS, in 1981.

It was the first operating system used by IBM-compatible computers. It was first available in two
different versions that were typically the same but marketed and controlled under two different
brands. MS-DOS was the framework behind Windows operating systems until Windows XP.

“PC-DOS” was the version of dos developed by IBM and sold to the first IBM-compatible
manufactured computers. “MS-DOS” was the version of dos that Microsoft bought the rights and
patents and was merged with the first versions of Windows. Command-line was used by DOS, or
text-based interface, that typed command allowed by the users. By giving simple instructions such as
pwd (print working directory) and cd(change directory), the user can open files or run the program or
browse the files on the hard drive.

Features of DOS:
 It is a 16-bit operating system.
 The mouse cannot be used to operate it e, Input in it is through basic system commands.
 It uses a text-based interface and requires text and codes to operate.
 It does not support a graphical interface.
 It is a single-user operating system.
 It is a Character-Based interface system.
 It helps make file management, e.g., creating, editing, deleting files, etc.

Advantages of DOS

 We have direct access to the BIOS and its underlying hardware.

 Its size will “boot” much faster than any windows version.
 It is very lightweight, so it does not have the overhead of the multitasking operating system.

Disadvantages of DOS
 No multi-tasking supported by the OS.
 Difficulty in memory access when addressing more than 640 MB of RAM.
 Interrupt levels for hardware needs to be managed by our self.
 The OS does not support automatic IRQ ordering.
Computer Application [BBA-N-506]
 Windows Operating System

With the introduction of Windows 95, It was used for bootstrapping, troubleshooting, and
backwards-compatibility with its old software, particularly games, and no longer released as
a standalone product. So it was the whole overview of MS DOS. So, in the end, I would like
to say that it has a vide element of exposure so it can never be outdated. So people working
on it will always be profitable as it is free and it has the whole feature compared to the paid
version of any operating systems such as IOS, Windows 10, etc. Apart from that, it’s a
licensed OS from Microsoft, so we can trust it as it is one of the biggest software company.

Features of Windows 98

1. Windows 98 is presented as one of the fastest working operating systems along with
being application software. It loads much faster than other operating systems and is
similarly closed at speed.

2. The computer directly displays the Windows 98 desktop by not booting up and
displaying Dos Prompt. Various desired and necessary programs as Icons on the huge
desktop of Windows 98 can be implemented at a very fast speed. These icons are
called shortcuts of the program.

3. Windows 98 uses computer memory with more capacity; therefore, the work related to
it is done at a much faster pace than expected.

4. In Windows 98, when the monitor and hard disk do not work, after a certain time,
they automatically go to sleep and are reactivated only by pressing the Enter key when
needed.

5. Windows 98 has done a commendable job of aligning with new technologies. The use
of Universal Serial Bus Uncharted (USB), DVD, AGP with Three Dimensional
Graphics etc. are included in Windows 98.

6. Microsoft Corporation also includes a web-based update feature in Windows 98.

Through these, Windows 98 keeps updating itself automatically. Windows 98 includes
an Internet browser.

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Features of Windows XP

It is the most popular version of Microsoft Windows, after Windows 2000 and Windows
Millennium. Windows XP combines Windows 98 features with the key strengths of
Windows 2000, making this operating system the most powerful operating system ever.
Windows XP is built on the modern code of Windows 2000. There are different types of
versions available that are useful for both home users and business users, such as Windows
XP, Home Edition and Windows XP Professional.

1. Fast switching facility for multiple users on the computer.

2. Windows XP has new visual styles and themes that use 24-bit color icons and
different colors for each task.

3. Re-creation of Start Menu.

4. Windows XP has made the task of searching much simpler, for that all the
functions which are associated with the search are put in the search companion.

5. Windows XP has simplified the task of managing the taskbar by grouping multiple
instances of a single application into one.

6. With the help of Windows XP, you can keep track of your files. You can also put
your files in Group.

7. Windows XP uses web view technology, with the help of which we can manage
files and file namespaces better.

Computer Application [BBA-N-506]

 Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected governmental, academic, corporate, public,
and private computer networks. It is based on the networking technologies of the Internet
Protocol Suite. It is the successor of the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network
(ARPANET) developed by DARPA of the United States Department of Defense. The
Internet is also the communications backbone underlying the World Wide Web (WWW).

An intranet is a set of networks, using the Internet Protocol and IP-based tools such as web
browsers and file transfer an application, which is under the control of a single administrative
entity. That administrative entity closes the intranet to all but specific, authorized users. Most
commonly, an intranet is the internal network of an organization. A large intranet will
typically have at least one web server to provide users with organizational information.

Web browser: A web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and
traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource is
identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) and may be a web page, image, video, or
other piece of content. Hyperlinks present in resources enable users to easily navigate their
browsers to related resources. Although browsers are primarily intended to access the World
Wide Web, they can also be used to access information provided by web servers in private
networks or files in file systems. The major web browsers are Windows Internet Explorer,
Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Google Chrome, and Opera

Functions of Web Browser: The primary purpose of a web browser is to bring

information resources to the user. This process begins when the user inputs a Uniform
Resource Locator (URL). The most commonly used kind of URL starts with http: and
identifies a resource to be retrieved over the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

In the case of http, https, file, and others, once the resource has been retrieved the web
browser will display it. HTML is passed to the browser's layout engine to be transformed
from markup to an interactive document. Aside from HTML, web browsers can generally
display any kind of content that can be part of a web page. Most browsers can display
images, audio, video, and XML files, and often have plug-ins to support Flash applications.
Information resources may contain hyperlinks to other information resources. Each link
contains the URL of a resource to go to. When a link is clicked, the browser navigates to the
resource indicated by the link's target URL, and the process of bringing content to the user
begins again

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Features of Web Browser

Most major web browsers have these user interface elements in common:

 Back and forward buttons to go back to the previous resource and forward again.
 A refresh or reload button to reload the current resource.
 A stop button to cancel loading the resource. In some browsers, the stop button is
often merged with the reload button.
 A home button to return to the user's home page
 An address bar to input the Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) of the desired resource
and display it.
 A search bar to input terms into a search engine
 A status bar to display progress in loading the resource and also the URI of links when
the cursor hovers over them, and page zooming capability.

Major browsers also possess incremental find features to search within a web page.

Web Search Engine

A web search engine is designed to search for information on the World Wide Web and FTP
servers. The search results are generally presented in a list of results and are often called hits.
The information may consist of web pages, images, information and other types of files.
Some search engines also mine data available in databases or open directories. Unlike web
directories, which are maintained by human editors, search engines operate algorithmically or
are a mixture of algorithmic and human input

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How web search engines work

Web search engines work by storing information about many web pages, which they retrieve
from the html itself. The contents of each page are then analyzed to determine how it should
be indexed (for example, words are extracted from the titles, headings, or special fields called
meta tags). Data about web pages are stored in an index database for use in later queries. A
query can be a single word. The purpose of an index is to allow information to be found as
quickly as possible. Some search engines, such as Google, store all or part of the source page
(referred to as a cache) as well as information about the web pages, whereas others, such as
AltaVista, store every word of every page they find. This cached page always holds the
actual search text since it is the one that was actually indexed, so it can be very useful when
the content of the current page has been updated and the search terms are no longer in it. This
satisfies the principle of least astonishment since the user normally expects the search terms
to be on the returned pages. Increased search relevance makes these cached pages very
useful, even beyond the fact that they may contain data that may no longer be available
elsewhere.

(High-level architecture of a standard Web crawler)

A search engine operates, in the following order

1. Web crawling
2. Indexing
3. Searching.

Computer Application [BBA-N-506]

 Electronic Mail

Electronic mail, commonly called email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital

messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet
or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the
recipient both be online at the same time, a la instant messaging. Email servers accept,
forward, deliver and store messages. Neither the users nor their computers are required to be
online simultaneously; they need connect only briefly, typically to an email server, for as
long as it takes to send or receive messages.

An email message consists of three components, the message envelope, the message header,
and the message body. The message header contains control information, including,
minimally, an originator's email address and one or more recipient addresses. Usually
descriptive information is also added, such as a subject header field and a message
submission date/time stamp.

The history of modern, global Internet email services reaches back to the early ARPANET.
Standards for encoding email messages were proposed as early as 1973 (RFC 561).
Conversion from ARPANET to the Internet in the early 1980s produced the core of the
current services. An email sent in the early 1970s looks quite similar to a basic text message
sent on the Internet today.

Network-based email was initially exchanged on the ARPANET in extensions to the File
Transfer Protocol (FTP), but is now carried by the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP),
first published as Internet standard 10 (RFC 821) in 1982. In the process of transporting
email messages between systems, SMTP communicates delivery parameters using a message
envelope separate from the message (header and body) itself.

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 Happy Learning

End of the Unit-4

Computer Application [BBA-N-506]