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Classification of Operating Systems

Operating systems can be classified in several ways: - Single-user vs multi-user: single-user OS allows only one user at a time while multi-user OS allows multiple simultaneous users. Windows XP is an example of a single-user OS while Windows Server 2003 is multi-user. - Single-task vs multi-task: single-task OS runs one program at a time while multi-task OS runs multiple programs simultaneously. Palm OS is an example of a single-task OS while Windows and Mac OS are multi-task. - Timesharing OS and real-time OS: timesharing OS uses algorithms to share CPU time between processes to simulate multi-tasking while real-

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285 views2 pages

Classification of Operating Systems

Operating systems can be classified in several ways: - Single-user vs multi-user: single-user OS allows only one user at a time while multi-user OS allows multiple simultaneous users. Windows XP is an example of a single-user OS while Windows Server 2003 is multi-user. - Single-task vs multi-task: single-task OS runs one program at a time while multi-task OS runs multiple programs simultaneously. Palm OS is an example of a single-task OS while Windows and Mac OS are multi-task. - Timesharing OS and real-time OS: timesharing OS uses algorithms to share CPU time between processes to simulate multi-tasking while real-

Uploaded by

crystal_143_2006
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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CLASSIFICATION OF OPERATING SYSTEMS

Operating systems are classified based on various parameters like the number of users that can
simultaneously use the system, the number of processes (or tasks that the operating system can perform at
a time), number of threads that the operating system can handle etc. Most current operating systems are
multi-user, multi-process and multi-threaded.

Single-User and Multi-User OS

Based on number of users that can use the operating system simultaneously operating systems are
classified into single-user and multi-user operating systems.

• In a single-user operating system only one user can be logged on to the computer at a given point
in time. Windows XP and Windows Vista are examples of single-user operating systems. As
against this a multi-user operating system allows many different users to take advantage of the
computer's resources simultaneously.
• A multi-user operating system must make sure that the requirements of the various users are
balanced, and that each of the programs they are using has sufficient and separate resources so
that a problem with one user doesn't affect the entire community of users. Windows Server 2003
and Unix are examples of multi-user operating systems.

Single-Task and Multi-Task OS

On basis of number of tasks the computer can handle at a time the operating systems can be classified into
single-task or multi-tasking (also referred to as multi-programming) operating system.

• A single-task the name implies, this operating system is designed to manage the computer so that
one user can effectively do one thing at a time. The Palm OS for Palm handheld computers is a
good example of a modern single-user, single-task operating system.
• Multi-tasking operating systems are most commonly used by people on their desktop and laptop
computers today. Microsoft's Windows and Apple's Mac OS platforms are both examples of
operating systems that will let a single user have several programs in operation at the same time.
For example, it's entirely possible for a Windows user to be writing a note in a word processor while
downloading a file from the Internet while printing the text of an e-mail message. This is made
possible either by using multiple CPUs or timesharing or a mix of both.

Timesharing and Real-time OS

• Timesharing operating system – A time sharing operating system uses different algorithms to
share the CPU time with more than one process. This allows a computer with only one CPU to give
the illusion that it is running more than one program at the same time.
• Real-time operating system (RTOS) – Real-time operating systems are used to control
machinery, scientific instruments and industrial systems. A very important part of an RTOS is
managing the resources of the computer so that a particular operation executes in precisely the
same amount of time, every time it occurs.

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