Chapter 1: Introduction
Operating System Concepts – 8th Edition Silberschatz, Galvin and Gagne ©2009
Chapter 1: Introduction
n What Operating Systems Do
n Computer-System Organization
n Computer-System Architecture
n Operating-System Structure
n Operating-System Operations
n Process Management
n Memory Management
n Storage Management
n Protection and Security
n Distributed Systems
n Special-Purpose Systems
n Computing Environments
n Open-Source Operating Systems
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Objectives
n To provide a grand tour of the major operating systems components
n To provide coverage of basic computer system organization
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What is an Operating System?
n A program that acts as an intermediary between a user of a computer
and the computer hardware
n Operating system goals:
l Execute user programs and make solving user problems easier
l Make the computer system convenient to use
l Use the computer hardware in an efficient manner
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Computer System Structure
n Computer system can be divided into four components:
l Hardware – provides basic computing resources
CPU, memory, I/O devices
l Operating system
Controls and coordinates use of hardware among various
applications and users
l Application programs – define the ways in which the system
resources are used to solve the computing problems of the
users
Word processors, compilers, web browsers, database
systems, video games
l Users
People, machines, other computers
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Four Components of a Computer System
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What Operating Systems Do
n Depends on the point of view
n Users want convenience, ease of use
l Don’t care about resource utilization
n But shared computer such as mainframe or minicomputer must keep all
users happy
n Users of dedicated systems such as workstations have dedicated
resources but frequently use shared resources from servers
n Handheld computers are resource poor, optimized for usability and battery
life
n Some computers have little or no user interface, such as embedded
computers in devices and automobiles
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Operating System Definition
n OS is a resource allocator
l Manages all resources
l Decides between conflicting requests for efficient and fair resource
use
n OS is a control program
l Controls execution of programs to prevent errors and improper use
of the computer
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Operating System Definition (Cont.)
n No universally accepted definition
n “Everything a vendor ships when you order an operating system” is
good approximation
l But varies wildly
n “The one program running at all times on the computer” is the
kernel. Everything else is either a system program (ships with the
operating system) or an application program.
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Computer Startup
n bootstrap program is loaded at power-up or reboot
l Typically stored in ROM or EPROM, generally known as firmware
l Initializes all aspects of system
l Loads operating system kernel and starts execution
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Computer System Organization
n Computer-system operation
l One or more CPUs, device controllers connect through common
bus providing access to shared memory
l Concurrent execution of CPUs and devices competing for
memory cycles
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Computer-System Operation
n I/O devices and the CPU can execute concurrently
n Each device controller is in charge of a particular device type
n Each device controller has a local buffer
n CPU moves data from/to main memory to/from local buffers
n I/O is from the device to local buffer of controller
n Device controller informs CPU that it has finished its operation by
causing an interrupt
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Interrupt Timeline
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I/O Structure
After I/O starts, control returns to user program only upon I/O
completion
After I/O starts, control returns to user program without waiting for
I/O completion
Wait instruction idles the CPU until the next interrupt
Wait loop
No simultaneous I/O processing
System call – request to the operating system to allow user to
wait for I/O completion
Device-status table contains entry for each I/O device
indicating its type, address, and state
Operating system indexes into I/O device table to determine
device status and to modify table entry to include interrupt
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Storage Structure
Main memory – only large storage media that the CPU can access
directly
Random access
Typically volatile
Secondary storage – extension of main memory that provides large
nonvolatile storage capacity
Magnetic disks – rigid metal or glass platters covered with magnetic
recording material
Disk surface is logically divided into tracks, which are subdivided
into sectors
The disk controller determines the logical interaction between the
device and the computer
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Storage Hierarchy
Storage systems organized in hierarchy
Speed
Cost
Volatility
Caching – copying information into faster storage system; main
memory can be viewed as a cache for secondary storage
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Storage-Device Hierarchy
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Operating System Structure
Multiprogramming needed for efficiency
Single user cannot keep CPU and I/O devices busy at all times
Multiprogramming organizes jobs (code and data) so CPU always has one
to execute (as a busy lawyer)
A subset of total jobs in system is kept in memory
One job selected and run via job scheduling
When it has to wait (for I/O for example), OS switches to another job
Timesharing (multitasking) is logical extension in which CPU switches jobs
so frequently that users can interact with each job while it is running, creating
interactive computing
Response time should be < 1 second
Each user has at least one program executing in memory process
If several jobs ready to run at the same time CPU scheduling
If processes don’t fit in memory, swapping moves them in and out to run
Virtual memory allows execution of processes not completely in memory
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End of Chapter 1
Operating System Concepts – 8th Edition Silberschatz, Galvin and Gagne ©2009
