Basic Operating system

What is Operating System? Explain Types of OS, Features and Examples

What is an Operating System?
An Operating System (OS) is a software that acts as an interface between
computer hardware components and the user. Every computer system must have at
least one operating system to run other programs. Applications like Browsers, MS
Office, Notepad Games, etc., need some environment to run and perform its tasks.
The OS helps you to communicate with the computer without knowing how to speak
the computer’s language. It is not possible for the user to use any computer or
mobile device without having an operating system.

Introduction to Operating System

History Of OS
 Operating systems were first developed in the late 1950s to manage tape
storage
 The General Motors Research Lab implemented the first OS in the early 1950s
for their IBM 701
 In the mid-1960s, operating systems started to use disks
 In the late 1960s, the first version of the Unix OS was developed
 The first OS built by Microsoft was DOS. It was built in 1981 by purchasing the
86-DOS software from a Seattle company
 The present-day popular OS Windows first came to existence in 1985 when a
GUI was created and paired with MS-DOS.
Examples of Operating System with Market Share

Market Share of Operating Systems

Following are the Operating System examples with the latest Market Share

OS Name Share

Windows 40.34

Android 37.95

iOS 15.44

Mac OS 4.34

Linux 0.95

Chrome OS 0.14

Windows Phone OS 0.06

Types of Operating System (OS)

Following are the popular types of OS (Operating System):
 Batch Operating System
 Multitasking/Time Sharing OS
 Multiprocessing OS
  Real Time OS
 Distributed OS
 Network OS
 Mobile OS
Batch Operating System
Some computer processes are very lengthy and time-consuming. To speed the same
process, a job with a similar type of needs are batched together and run as a group.
The user of a batch operating system never directly interacts with the computer. In
this type of OS, every user prepares his or her job on an offline device like a punch
card and submit it to the computer operator.
Multi-Tasking/Time-sharing Operating systems
Time-sharing operating system enables people located at a different terminal(shell)
to use a single computer system at the same time. The processor time (CPU) which
is shared among multiple users is termed as time sharing.
Real time OS
A real time operating system time interval to process and respond to inputs is very
small. Examples: Military Software Systems, Space Software Systems are the Real
time OS example.
Distributed Operating System
Distributed systems use many processors located in different machines to provide
very fast computation to its users.
Network Operating System
Network Operating System runs on a server. It provides the capability to serve to
manage data, user, groups, security, application, and other networking functions.
Mobile OS
Mobile operating systems are those OS which is especially that are designed to
power smartphones, tablets, and wearables devices.
Some most famous mobile operating systems are Android and iOS, but others
include BlackBerry, Web, and watchOS.

Functions of Operating System

Some typical operating system functions may include managing memory, files,
processes, I/O system & devices, security, etc.
Below are the main functions of Operating System:
Functions of Operating System
In an operating system software performs each of the function:
1. Process management: Process management helps OS to create and delete
processes. It also provides mechanisms for synchronization and
communication among processes.
2. Memory management: Memory management module performs the task of
allocation and de-allocation of memory space to programs in need of this
resources.
3. File management: It manages all the file-related activities such as
organization storage, retrieval, naming, sharing, and protection of files.
4. Device Management: Device management keeps tracks of all devices. This
module also responsible for this task is known as the I/O controller. It also
performs the task of allocation and de-allocation of the devices.
5. I/O System Management: One of the main objects of any OS is to hide the
peculiarities of that hardware devices from the user.
6. Secondary-Storage Management: Systems have several levels of storage
which includes primary storage, secondary storage, and cache storage.
Instructions and data must be stored in primary storage or cache so that a
running program can reference it.
7. Security: Security module protects the data and information of a computer
system against malware threat and authorized access.
8. Command interpretation: This module is interpreting commands given by
the and acting system resources to process that commands.
 9. Networking: A distributed system is a group of processors which do not
share memory, hardware devices, or a clock. The processors communicate
with one another through the network.
10.Job accounting: Keeping track of time & resource used by various job and
users.
11.Communication management: Coordination and assignment of compilers,
interpreters, and another software resource of the various users of the
computer systems.
Features of Operating System (OS)
Here is a list important features of OS:
 Protected and supervisor mode
 Allows disk access and file systems Device drivers Networking Security
 Program Execution
 Memory management Virtual Memory Multitasking
 Handling I/O operations
 Manipulation of the file system
 Error Detection and handling
 Resource allocation
 Information and Resource Protection
Advantage of Operating System
 Allows you to hide details of hardware by creating an abstraction
 Easy to use with a GUI
 Offers an environment in which a user may execute programs/applications
 The operating system must make sure that the computer system convenient
to use
 Operating System acts as an intermediary among applications and the
hardware components
 It provides the computer system resources with easy to use format
 Acts as an intermediator between all hardware’s and software’s of the system
Disadvantages of Operating System
 If any issue occurs in OS, you may lose all the contents which have been
stored in your system
 Operating system’s software is quite expensive for small size organization
which adds burden on them. Example Windows
 It is never entirely secure as a threat can occur at any time
What is Kernel in Operating System?
The kernel is the central component of a computer operating systems. The only job
performed by the kernel is to the manage the communication between the software
and the hardware. A Kernel is at the nucleus of a computer. It makes the
communication between the hardware and software possible. While the Kernel is the
innermost part of an operating system, a shell is the outermost one.

Int
roduction to Kernel
Features of Kernel
 Low-level scheduling of processes
 Inter-process communication
 Process synchronization
 Context switching
Types of Kernel
There are many types of kernels that exists, but among them, the two most popular
kernels are:
1. Monolithic
A monolithic kernel is a single code or block of the program. It provides all the
required services offered by the operating system. It is a simplistic design which
creates a distinct communication layer between the hardware and software.
2. Microkernels
Microkernel manages all system resources. In this type of kernel, services are
implemented in different address space. The user services are stored in user
address space, and kernel services are stored under kernel address space. So, it
helps to reduce the size of both the kernel and operating system.
 Difference between Firmware and Operating System
Below are the Key Differences between Firmware and Operating System:

Firmware Operating System

Define Operating System: OS

Define Firmware: Firmware is one kind of programming
provides functionality over and
that is embedded on a chip in the device which controls
above that which is provided by
that specific device.
the firmware.

Firmware is programs that been encoded by the OS is a program that can be

manufacture of the IC or something and cannot be installed by the user and can be
changed. changed.

It is stored on non-volatile memory. OS is stored on the hard drive.

Difference between 32-Bit and 64-Bit Operating System

Parameters 32. Bit 64. Bit

Architecture and Allow 32 bit of data processing Allow 64 bit of data

Software simultaneously processing simultaneously

32-bit applications require 32-bit OS and 64-bit applications require a

Compatibility
CPUs. 64-bit OS and CPU.

All versions of Windows 8, Windows 7,

Systems Windows XP Professional,
Windows Vista, and Windows XP, Linux,
Available Vista, 7, Mac OS X and Linux.
etc.

64-bit systems allow a

32-bit systems are limited to 3.2 GB of
Memory Limits maximum 17 Billion GB of
RAM.
RAM.

Summary
 What is OS (Operating System definition) and its Types: An operating system
is a software which acts as an interface between the end user and computer
hardware. Different categories of Operating System in computer and other
devices are: Batch Operating System, Multitasking/Time Sharing OS,
Multiprocessing OS, Real Time OS, Distributed OS, Network OS & Mobile OS
 Personal Computer Operating Systems were first developed in the late 1950s
to manage tape storage
 Explain Operating System working: OS works as an intermediate between the
user and computer. It helps the user to communicate with the computer
without knowing how to speak the computer’s language.
 The kernel is the central component of a computer operating systems. The
only job performed by the kernel is to the manage the communication
between the software and the hardware
 Two most popular kernels are Monolithic and MicroKernels
 Process, Device, File, I/O, Secondary-Storage, Memory management are
various functions of an Operating System