Introduction

An Operating System (OS) is a collection of

software that manages computer hardware
resources and provides common services for
computer programs. When you start using a
Computer System then it's the Operating System
(OS) which acts as an interface between you and
the computer hardware.
operating system controls tasks like managing
memory, handling input and output devices (like
keyboards and printers), scheduling tasks for the
CPU, and providing a user interface for
interacting with the computer.
 What is 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.
 cont..
Operating Systems available in the market
which include paid and unpaid (Open
Source). Following are the examples of the
few most popular Operating Systems:
Windows
Linux
Unix
MacOS
Andriod
 Windows OS
Developer : Microsoft
Key Features : User-friendly interface, software compatibility,
hardware support, Strong gaming support.
Advantages : Easy to use for most users, Broad support from third-
party applications ,Frequent updates and support.
Typical Use Cases : Personal computing, Business environment,
Gaming.
MacOS
Developer : Apple.
Key Features : Sleek, intuitive user interface, Strong integration
with other Apple products, Robust security features, High
performance and stability.
Advantages : Optimized for Apple hardware, Seamless experience
across Apple ecosystem, Superior graphics and multimedia
capabilities.
Typical Use Cases : Creative industries (design, video editing, music
production), Personal computing, Professional environments.
 Linux
Developer : Community-driven (various distributions).
Key Features : Open-source and highly customizable, Robust security
and stability, Lightweight and can run on older hardware, Large
selection of distributions (e.g., Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian).
Advantages : Free to use and distribute, Strong community support,
Suitable for servers and development environments.
Typical Use Cases : Servers and data centers, Development and
programming, Personal computing for tech enthusiasts.
Unix
Developer: Originally AT&T Bell Labs, various commercial and open-
source versions available
Key Features: Multiuser and multitasking capabilities, Strong security
and stability, Powerful command-line interface, Portability across
different hardware platforms
Advantages: Reliable and robust performance, Suitable for high-
performance computing and servers, Extensive support for networking
Typical Use Cases: Servers and workstations, Development
environments, Research and academic settings
Operating System - Functions
Process Management
I/O Device Management
File Management
Network Management
Main Memory Management
Secondary Storage Management
Security Management
Command Interpreter System
Control over system performance
Job Accounting
Error Detection and Correction
Coordination between other software and users
Device Management: The operating system keeps
track of all the devices. So, it is also called the
Input/Output controller that decides which process
gets the device, when and for how much time.
File Management: It allocates and de-allocates the
resources and also decides who gets the resource.
Job Accounting: It keeps track of time and
resources used by various jobs or users.
Error-detecting Aids: These contain methods that
include the production of dumps, traces, error
messages and other debugging and error-detecting
methods.
Processor Management: It allocates the
processor to a process and then de-allocates
the processor when it is no longer required or
the job is done.
Security: It prevents unauthorized access to
programs and data using passwords or some
kind of protection technique.
Memory Management: It is responsible for
managing the primary memory of a computer,
including what part of it are in use by whom
also check how much amount free or used and
allocate process
 components of an OS
There are two basic components of an
Operating System.
Shell is the outermost layer of the Operating
System and it handles the interaction with
the user. It interprets input for the OS and
handles the output from the OS.
Kernel is the core component of operating
system. The kernel is the primary interface
between the Operating system and Hardware.
Kernel in Operating System
A kernel is the core part of an operating system. It acts
as a bridge between software applications and the
hardware of a computer.
The kernel manages system resources, such as the
CPU, memory and devices, ensuring everything works
together smoothly and efficiently.
It handles tasks like running programs, accessing files
and connecting to devices like printers and keyboards.
An Operating System includes the kernel as its core,
but also provides a user interface, file system
management, network services and various utility
applications that allow users to interact with the
system
 Cont…
Facilitates communication between
hardware and user applications.
Ensures efficient and secure multitasking.
Manages system stability and prevents
unauthorized resource access.
Functions of Kernel
 Working of Kernel

A kernel loads first into memory when an

operating system is loaded and remains in
memory until the operating system is shut
down again. It is responsible for various tasks
such as disk management, task management
and memory management.
The kernel has a process table that keeps track
of all active processes
The process table contains a per-process
region table whose entry points to entries in
the region table.
The kernel loads an executable file into
memory during the 'exec' system call'.
It decides which process should be allocated
to the processor to execute and which process
should be kept in the main memory to
execute. It basically acts as an interface
between user applications and hardware. The
major aim of the kernel is to manage
communication between software i.e. user-
level applications and hardware i.e., CPU and
disk memory.
 History
The first Operating System was created by
General Motors in 1956 to run a single IBM
mainframe computer, its name was the IBM
704. IBM was the first computer
manufacturer to develop operating systems
and distribute them in its computers in the
1960s.
Stanford Research Institute developed the oN-
Line System (NLS) in the late 1960s, which
was the first operating system that resembled
the desktop operating system we use today.
Microsoft bought QDOS (Quick and Dirty
Operating System) in 1981 and branded it as
Microsoft Operating System (MS-DOS). As of
1994, Microsoft had stopped supporting MS-
DOS.
Unix was developed in the mid-1960s by the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, AT&T
Bell Labs, and General Electric as a joint effort.
Initially it was named MULTICS, which stands
for Multiplexed Operating and Computing
System.
FreeBSD is also a popular UNIX derivative,
originating from the BSD project at Berkeley.
All modern Macintosh computers run a
modified version of FreeBSD (OS X).
Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical
user interface-based operating system built on
top of MS-DOS. It was released on August 24,
1995 by Microsoft as part of its Windows 9x
family of operating systems.
Solaris is a proprietary Unix operating system
originally developed by Sun Microsystems in
1991. After the Sun acquisition by Oracle in
2010 it was renamed Oracle Solaris.
 Types of OS
Multi-Programing Operating Systems −
A multiprogramming operating system allows a
single CPU to execute multiple programs by
keeping several programs in main memory at the
same time and quickly switching the CPU
between them. When one program is waiting for
an input/output (I/O) operation, the CPU can
execute another program instead of remaining
idle, leading to more efficient use of system
resources and increased throughput compared to
single-program systems.
CPU can be allocated to one process at a one
time
 Multitasking operating system
Multitasking operating system (OS) enables a
computer to run and manage multiple
programs or tasks concurrently, creating the
illusion that they are executing
simultaneously. It achieves this by rapidly
switching the Central Processing Unit (CPU)
between different tasks in short time intervals
called quanta, saving the status of a task
before moving to the next.
 Multi-Processing Operating Systems
− Multiprocessing operating system is desinged to
have more than one processor which work
simultaneously in a single computer system to
perform the required operations. It allows the
multiple processors, and they are connected with
physical memory, computer buses, clocks, and
peripheral devices.
Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) − A real-
time operating system (RTOS) is a special kind of
operating system designed to handle tasks that need
to be completed quickly and on time.
 Eg- airline traffic control systems, Command Control Systems, airline
reservation systems, Heart pacemakers, Network Multimedia Systems,
robots,
Most Secure Operating System
The security of an operating system depends on various
factors, including its design, implementation, and the
measures taken to protect it from vulnerabilities and
threats. While no operating system can be considered
entirely immune to security risks, some operating systems
are known for their robust security features and practices.
For example, macOS, developed by Apple, is often praised
for its strong security architecture, regular security
updates, and built-in security features like Gatekeeper and
FileVault. Similarly, some Linux distributions, such as
Ubuntu and Fedora, are highly regarded for their security
measures, including timely security patches and a strong
emphasis on open-source security practices.