Operatin

g
Systems: Lesson 2
Operating
System Overview
By Lawrence Njoroge
 Operating Systems:

Operating systems are those programs that interface the machine with
the applications programs. The main function of these systems is to
dynamically allocate the shared system resources to the executing
programs. As such, research in this area is clearly concerned with
the management and scheduling of memory, processes, and other
devices. But the interface with adjacent levels continues to shift with
time. Functions that were originally part of the operating system have
migrated to the hardware. On the other side, programmed functions
extraneous to the problems being solved by the application programs
are included in the operating system.

—WHAT CAN BE AUTOMATED?: THE COMPUTER SCIENCE AND

ENGINEERING RESEARCH STUDY,
MIT Press, 1980
 Operating System

 A program that controls the execution of application

programs
 An interface between applications and hardware
 Operating System is a software, which makes a computer to
actually work.
 It is the software the enables all the programs we use.
 The OS organizes and controls the hardware.
 OS acts as an interface between the application programs
and the machine hardware.
 Examples: Windows, Linux, Unix and Mac OS, etc.,
 What OS does?
An operating system performs basic tasks such as,

• controlling and allocating memory,

• prioritizing system requests,
• controlling input and output devices,
• facilitating networking and
• managing file systems.
Structure of Operating System
Application
Programs
System Programs
Software (Operating
System)

HARDWARE

(Contd
Structure of Operating System (Contd…):

 The structure of OS consists of 4 layers:

1. Hardware
Hardware consists of CPU, Main
memory, I/O Devices, etc,

2. Software (Operating System)

Software includes process
management routines, memory
management routines, I/O
control routines, file
management routines.
Structure of Operating System (Contd…):

3. System programs
This layer consists of compilers,
Assemblers, linker etc.

4. Application programs
This is dependent on users need. Ex.
Railway reservation system, Bank
database management etc.,
 Stand-Alone Operating
Systems
 A stand-alone operating system is a complete operating
system that works on a desktop computer, notebook computer,
or mobile computing device

Window Mac OS
s7 X

Page 412 UNIX Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 Linux 8

 Server Operating
Systems
Windows
Server 2008 UNIX

Linux Solaris
Pages 417 - 418 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 9
 Embedded Operating
Systems
 An embedded operating system resides on
a ROM chip on a mobile device or consumer
Windows
electronic device Windows
Embedded
CE Phone 7

iPhone
Palm OS
Pages 418 - 420 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 10
 Evolution of
Operating Systems
 A major OS will evolve over time
for a number of reasons:
Hardware upgrades

New types of hardware

New services

Fixes
 Evolution of OS:
 The evolution of operating systems went through
seven major phases.
 Six of them significantly changed the ways in
which users accessed computers through the
open shop, batch processing, multiprogramming,
timesharing, personal computing, and distributed
systems.
 In the seventh phase the foundations of
concurrent programming were developed and
demonstrated in model operating systems.
 Evolution of OS (contd..):

Major Phases Technical Innovations Operating Systems

Open Shop The idea of OS IBM 701 open shop

(1954)

Batch Processing Tape batching, BKS system (1961)

First-in, first-out
scheduling.
Multi- Processor multiplexing, Atlas supervisor
programming Indivisible operations, (1961),
Demand paging, Exec II system (1966)
Input/output spooling,
Priority scheduling, (Contd…)
Remote job entry
 Evolution of OS (contd..):
Timesharing Simultaneous user Multics file system (1965),
interaction, Unix (1974)
On-line file systems
Concurrent Hierarchical systems, RC 4000 system (1969),
Programming Extensible kernels, Parallel 13 Venus system (1972),
programming concepts, 14 Boss 2 system (1975).
Secure parallel languages

Personal Computing Graphic user interfaces OS 6 (1972)

Pilot system (1980)

Distributed Systems Remote servers WFS file server (1979)

Unix United RPC (1982)
24 Amoeba system (1990)
 Batch Processing:
 In Batch processing same type of jobs batch (BATCH- a
set of jobs with similar needs) together and execute at
a time.
 The OS was simple, its major task was to transfer
control from one job to the next.
 The job was submitted to the computer operator in
form of punch cards. At some later time the output
appeared.
 The OS was always resident in memory. (Ref. Fig. next
slide)
 Common Input devices were card readers and tape
 Batch Processing (Contd…):
 Common output devices were line printers, tape
drives, and card punches.
 Users did not interact directly with the computer
systems, but he prepared a job (comprising of the
program, the data, & some control information).
OS

User
progra
m area
 Multiprogramming:
 Multiprogramming is a technique to execute number of
programs simultaneously by a single processor.
 In Multiprogramming, number of processes reside in
main memory at a time.
 The OS picks and begins to executes one of the jobs in
the main memory.
 If any I/O wait happened in a process, then CPU
switches from that job to another job.
 Hence CPU in not idle at any time.
Multiprogramming (Contd…):
OS • Figure dipicts the layout of
multiprogramming system.
Job 1
• The main memory consists of
Job 2 5 jobs at a time, the CPU
executes one by one.
Job 3 Advantages:
• Efficient memory utilization
Job 4 • Throughput increases
Job 5 • CPU is never idle, so
performance increases.
 Time Sharing Systems:
 Time sharing, or multitasking, is a logical extension of
multiprogramming.
 Multiple jobs are executed by switching the CPU
between them.
 In this, the CPU time is shared by different processes,
so it is called as “Time sharing Systems”.
 Time slice is defined by the OS, for sharing CPU time
between processes.
 Examples: Multics, Unix, etc.,
 Types of OS:
Operating System can also be
classified as,-
 Single User Systems

 Multi User Systems

Single User Systems:

 Provides a platform for only one user at a

time.
 They are popularly associated with Desk Top
operating system which run on standalone
systems where no user accounts are
required.
 Example: DOS
 Multi-User Systems:

 Provides regulated access for a number of users

by maintaining a database of known users.
 Refers to computer systems that support two or
more simultaneous users.
 Another term for multi-user is time sharing
 Ex: All mainframes and are multi-user systems.
 Example: Unix
 Objectives of Operating System

 Convenience: makes computer user friendly.

 Efficiency: allows computer to use resources efficiently.
 Ability to evolve: constructed in a way to permit
effective development, testing and introduction of new
functions without interfering with service
 Basic functions of the
operating system
Device configuration
Controls peripheral devices connected to the computer

File management
Transfers files between main memory and secondary
storage, manages file folders, allocates the secondary
storage space, and provides file protection and
Operating recovery
System
Memory management
Allocates the use of random access memory (RAM) to
requesting processes

Interface platform
Allows the computer to run other applications
 Other function of Operating System

 Best use of the computer resources

 Provide a background for user’s programs to execute
 Display and deal with errors when it happens
 Control the selection and operation of the peripherals
 Act as a communication link between users
 System protection
Type of Operating System

 Batch processing
 Real time processing
 Time sharing processing
 Batch Processing
 Jobs, together with input data, are fed into the system in
a batch.
 The jobs are then run one after another.
 No job can be started until previous job is completed
 Real time
processing
 Immediate response is needed.
 For example
 anti-missile defense system
 airplane landing control system
 interrupt error in computer system
 Time sharing
processing
 Each user is given a time slice to interact with the CPU.
 The size of the time slice will depend on the system.
 Each user is served in sequence.
Special Features of OS
 multi-tasking
 multi-programming
 parallel processing
 buffering
 spooling
Multi-tasking
 to handle 2 or more programs at the same
time from a single user ‘s perception
 CPU can only perform one task at a time,
however, it runs so fast that 2 or more jobs
seem to execute at the same time
Multi-programming
 2 or more programs store in the main
memory at the same time
 when one job reeds to wait (e.g. I/O
operation), CPU switch to another job to
execute
 when the first job finishes waiting, CPU will
get back the first job to execute
 Parallel Processing
 use 2 or more CPUs to handle jobs
 computer networking without
multiprocessing
with multiprocessing Job
4
Job
Job 3
4 Job
tim Job tim
e e 2
3 Job
Job Job
1
1 2
CPU 1 CPU 2 CPU 1
 Buffering
 a temporary storage area (buffers) to read
data from input device or send data to the
output device
 keep CPU busy
 because I/O operation is slow
 Spooling
 a larger buffer from hard disk
 buffer store the data through I/O operation
 because I/O operation is slow and CPU
operation is fast
 Characteristics of Modern
Operating Systems
 Microkernel architecture-assigns only a few essential
functions to the kernel, including address spaces,
interprocess communication, and basic scheduling.
 Multithreading- the process is divided into threads that can
run simultaneously
 Thread- dispatchable unit of work. It includes a processor
context program counter and stack pointer and its own data
storage for the stack. It executes sequentially and is
interruptable
 Process- collection of one or more threads and associated
system resources.
 Characteristics of Modern Operating
Systems
 Symmetric multiprocessing- standalone computer with
multiple processors that share the same memory and I/O
facilities connected by a communication bus. All processors
can perform the same functions
 Distributed operating systems - provide the illusion of a
single main memory and single secondary memory space.
Used for distributed file system
 Object-oriented design - used for adding modular
extensions to a small kernel. Enables programmers to
customize an operating system without disrupting system
integrity
 Providing a User
Interface
 User interface
 How a user interacts with a computer
 Require different skill sets
 Providing a User
Interface
 Graphical user interface (GUI)
 Most common interface
 Windows, OS X, Gnome, KDE
 Uses a mouse to control objects
 Uses a desktop metaphor
 Shortcuts open programs or documents
 Open documents have additional objects
 Task switching
 Dialog boxes allow directed input
Graphical User
Interface
 Providing a User
Interface
 Command line interfaces
 Older interface
 DOS, Linux, UNIX
 User types commands at a prompt
 User must remember all commands
 Included in all GUIs
Command Line
Interface
Running Programs
 Many different applications supported
 System call
 Provides consistent access to OS features

 Share information between programs

 Copy and paste
 Object Linking and Embedding
Managing Hardware
 Programs need to access hardware
 Interrupts
 CPU is stopped
 Hardware device is accessed

 Device drivers control the hardware

Organizing Files and
Folders
 Organized storage
 Long file names
 Folders can be created and nested
 All storage devices work consistently
 Enhancing an OS
 Utilities
 Provide services not included with OS
 Goes beyond the four functions
 Firewall, anti-virus and compression
 Prices vary
 Enhancing an OS
 Backup software
 Archives files onto removable media
 Ensures data integrity
 Most OS include a backup package
 Many third party packages exist
Backup Software
 Enhancing an OS
 Anti-virus software
 Crucial utility
 Finds, blocks and removes viruses
 Must be updated regularly
 McAfee and Norton Anti-Virus
 Enhancing an OS
 Firewall
 Crucial utility
 Protects your computer from intruders
 Makes computer invisible to hackers
 Zone Labs is a home firewall
 Cisco sells hardware firewalls
 Enhancing an OS
 Intrusion detection
 Often part of a firewall package
 Announces attempts to breach security
 Snort is a Linux based package
 Enhancing an OS
 Screen savers
 Crucial utility for command line systems
 Prevents burn in
 Merely fun for GUI systems
 Screen saver decorates idle screens