Operating Systems:

Software in the Background

Wednesday, July 02, 1
2008

Softwares System Software

• Computer Program or Program • System Software
–Operates the computer.
• 2 Types of Software –Controls the hardware.
–Application Software –Interface between user,
application software and
–System Software
hardware.

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System Software System Software

(cont.) (cont.)
• 2 Types of System Software • Operating Systems
–Operating System –Coordinates the hardware
devices.
–Utility Programs
–Enables running of
application softwares.

• Software platform
–Cross-platform applications
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1
 System Software Operating System
(cont.) Objectives
• Utility Programs • Determines how valuable RAM is
allotted to programs
–Computer management
functions. • Performs tasks related to file
management
• Sets priorities for handling
tasks
• Manages the flow of
instructions, data, and
information to and from the
processor
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Operating System Operating System

Functions Functions (cont.)
• Staring a Computer • Accessing the Web
• The User Interface • Monitoring Performance
• Managing Programs • Providing Housekeeping
• Managing Memory Services
• Scheduling Jobs • Controlling a Network
• Configuring Devices • Administering Security
• Accessing the Web
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Starting a Computer
Staring a Computer
(cont.)
• Booting • When you boot, the kernel
–Process of staring or and other frequently used
restarting the computer. operating system
instructions are loaded
• 2 Types of Booting from the hard disk to the
–Cold Boot memory.
–Warm Boot

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 Starting a Computer Starting a Computer
(cont.) (cont.)
• Kernel 1. The power supply sends a
–Core of OS signal to the components
–Manages memory and devices in the system unit.
• Maintains the computer’s clock 2. The processor finds the
• Starts applications ROM chip(s) that contain
• Assigns computer resources the BIOS.
–Memory-resident

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Starting a Computer Starting a Computer

(cont.) (cont.)
BIOS-basic input/output 4. The results of the POST
system, contains the startup are compared with data in
instructions.
the CMOS chip.
3. The BIOS performs the
POST. CMOS chip-stores
configuration info about the
POST-power-on self test,
checks system computer.
components,LEDs
flicker,beeps sounds,
messages are displayed.
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2008 2008

Starting a Computer Starting a Computer

(cont.) (cont.)
5. The BIOS looks for the 7. The operating system loads
system files. configuration information
6. The system files and the and displays the desktop
kernel of the operating on the screen.
system load into memory Startup Folder-contains
from storage. programs that open
automatically when the
computer boots.
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 Starting a Computer
The User Interface
(cont.)
• Boot Drive • User Interface
–Drive where computer boots. –Controls data entry and
instructions.
• Recovery Disk –Display
–Emergency repair disk, boot
disk, rescue disk.

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2008 2008

The User Interface The User Interface

(cont.) (cont.)
• Text-Based Software • MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk
–Enter or “type” commands Operating System)
through a keyboard.

• Ex: c:\>copy c:\file.doc to a:

• Command-line interface
–Command language
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The User Interface Allocating System

(cont.) Resources
• Graphical User Interface • Single user/single tasking
–Interact using visual images
–Select commands by “pointing • Multiuser
and clicking” with a mouse.
• Icon – represents a program,
instruction, or some file.
–Select commands by “pointing
and clicking” with a mouse.
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 Allocating System Allocating System
Resources (cont.) Resources (cont.)
• Multitasking • Multithreading
–(Virtually) Concurrent –(Real-time) Concurrent
execution of program. execution of program
–Possible through difference
in speed peripheral devices.
• Multiprocessing
–Foreground –Fault-tolerant computers
• Lion’s share
–Background
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Managing Memory
Managing Memory
(cont.)
• Memory Management –Page – amount of data and
programs instructions that
–Optimize use of RAM can swap at a given time.

• Virtual Memory –Paging – technique of

–Portion of storage to swapping items between memory
function as memory (Swap of storage.
File)
–Thrashing
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Scheduling Jobs
Scheduling Jobs
(cont.)
• Job • Spooling
–Operation managed by the –Common for print jobs.
processor.
–Sends print jobs to a buffer,
rather than immediately to
• Buffer the printer.
–Segment of memory or storage
in which items are placed
while waiting to be –Queue – method in spooling
processed.
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 Configuring Devices
Configuring Devices
(cont.)
• Device Driver • IRQ
–Tells the OS how to –Interrupt request
communicate to a device. –Communication line between
the device and processor.
• Plug and Play
–Automatically installs
drivers.

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Monitoring
Accessing the Web
Performance
• Web browser • Performance Monitor
–Browsing –Assesses and reports
–Chatting information about various
–E-mailing system resources and devices.

–Task Manager
• On-Line

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Providing Providing
Housekeeping Housekeeping
Services Services (cont.)
• Organizing, copying, renaming,
• File Manager
deleting, moving, and sorting
–Performs functions related to files; creating shortcuts.
storage and file management. Shortcuts – are icons on the desktop that
runs a program when you click it.
• Formatting or copying disks
• Displaying files
• Checking used or free space

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 Providing
Controlling a
Housekeeping
Network
Services (cont.)
• Formatting • Network Operating System
–Process of preparing a disk –Operating system that
for reading and writing. supports a network.
• Server – controls access to the
• File Allocation Table (FAT) HW and SW on the network.
–Table of information that the • Clients – other computers on a
network.
OS uses to locate files on a
disk.
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Administering Administering
Security Security (cont.)
• Log-on • Passwords
– Combination of characters
associated with the username that
• Usernames
allows access to computer
–Unique combination of resources.
characters that identifies
one specific user.
• Asterisks (*)

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Types of Operating
Stand-alone OS
Systems
1. Stand-Alone Operating • Works on desktops and
Systems notebooks
2. Network Operating Systems
3. Embedded Operating Systems • Also called client
operating systems.

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 Stand-alone OS Stand-alone OS
(cont.) (cont.)
• DOS • Windows XP
• Windows 3.x • MAC OS
• Windows NT Workstation • OS/2 Warp Client
• Windows 98
• Windows 2000 Professional
• Windows Millennium Edition

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Network OS Network OS (cont.)

• Supports a network • Netware
• Typically resides on a • Windows NT Server
server. • Windows 2000 Server
• Windows .Net Server
• OS/2 Warp Server for E-
Business

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Network OS (cont.) Embedded OS

• Unix • Operating systems on most
• Linux handheld devices.
• Solaris
• Resides on the ROM chip.

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 Embedded OS (cont.) Utility Programs
• Windows CE • Referred to as utilities.
• Pocket PC 2002 • Performs tasks related to
managing the computer,
• Palm OS
devices, or programs.

• Utility Programs – several

utility programs in one
package.
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Functions of
File Viewer
Utility Programs
• Viewing Files • Allows you to display and
• Compressing Files copy contents of a file
• Diagnosing Problems
• Uninstalling Software
• Picture and Fax Viewer
• Scanning Disks
• Defragmenting Disks
• Backing up Files and Disks
• Displaying Screen Savers
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File Compression Diagnostic Utility

• Shrinks the size of a file. • Compiles technical
• Helps free up room on information and prepares
storage media. reports for identified
problems.
• Zipped Files -> .zip / .rar

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 Uninstaller Disk Scanner
• Removes installed • Detects and corrects both
applications. physical and logical
problems on disk.
• Removes associated files in
system. • Searches for and removes
unnecessary files.

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Disk Scanner
Disk Defragmenter
(cont.)
• Physical Problem • Reorganizes the files and
–One with the media such as unused space on disks,
scratches on disk surface. which allows faster access
to data.
• Logical Problem
–Problem with data such as • Arranges files in
corruption or cyclic contiguous sectors.
redundancy checks.
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Disk Defragmenter
Backup Utility
(cont.)
• When the contents of a file • Allows you to copy, or
are scattered across two or backup, selected files or
more noncontiguous sectors, entire disk onto another.
the file is Fragmented.
• During backup, it monitors
• Fragmentation slows down progress and alerts if
disk access. additional space.
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 Backup Utility
Screen Saver
(cont.)
• Some backup programs, • Causes a monitor’s screen
compress files. to display multimedia or a
blank screen during idle
• Restore Program time.
–Returns backed up files to
their original form. • Originally invented to
prevent ghosting.
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2008 2008

Screen Savers
(cont.)
• Ghosting
–Problem with monitors during
the old days.
–Permanently etched images on
a monitor’s screen.

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