Operating System
An Operating System (OS) is an interface between a computer user and computer
hardware.
An operating system is a software which performs all the basic tasks like file
management, memory management, process management, handling input and output,
and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.
Some popular Operating Systems include Linux Operating System, Windows
Operating System etc.
Following are some of important functions of an operating System.
Memory Management
Processor Management
Device Management
File Management
Security
Control over system performance
Job accounting
Error detecting aids
Coordination between other software and users
Memory Management
Memory management refers to management of Primary Memory or Main Memory.
Main memory is a large array of words or bytes where each word or byte has its own
address.
Main memory provides a fast storage that can be accessed directly by the CPU. For a
program to be executed, it must in the main memory. An Operating System does the
following activities for memory management −
Keeps tracks of primary memory, i.e., what part of it are in use by whom, what part
are not in use.
In multiprogramming, the OS decides which process will get memory when and how
much.
Allocates the memory when a process requests it to do so.
De-allocates the memory when a process no longer needs it or has been terminated.
Processor Management
In multiprogramming environment, the OS decides which process gets the processor
when and for how much time. This function is called process scheduling. An
Operating System does the following activities for processor management −
Keeps tracks of processor and status of process.
Allocates the processor (CPU) to a process.
De-allocates processor when a process is no longer required.
Device Management
An Operating System manages device communication via their respective drivers. It
does the following activities for device management −
Keeps tracks of all devices.
Decides which process gets the device when and for how much time.
Allocates the device in the efficient way.
De-allocates devices.
File Management
A file system is normally organized into directories for easy navigation and usage.
These directories may contain files and other directions.
An Operating System does the following activities for file management −
Keeps track of information, location, uses, status etc. The collective facilities are often
known as file system.
Decides who gets the resources.
Allocates the resources.
De-allocates the resources.
Other Important Activities
Following are some of the important activities that an Operating System performs −
Security − Prevents unauthorized access to programs and data.
Control over system performance − Recording delays between request for a service
and response from the system.
Job accounting − Keeping track of time and resources used by various jobs and
users.
Error detecting aids − Production of dumps, traces, error messages, and other
debugging and error detecting aids.
Coordination between other softwares and users − Coordination and assignment of
compilers, interpreters, assemblers and other software to the various users of the
computer systems.
