Chapter 7A

Operating System Basics

Functions of Operating
Systems
• Provide a user interface
• Run programs
• Manage hardware devices
• Organized file storage

Types of Operating Systems

• Real-time operating system
– Very fast small OS
– Built into a device
– Respond quickly to user input
– MP3 players, Medical devices

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 Types of Operating Systems
• Single user/Single tasking OS
– One user works on the system
– Performs one task at a time
– MS-DOS and Palm OS
– Take up little space on disk
– Run on inexpensive computers

Types of Operating Systems

• Single user/Multitasking OS
– User performs many tasks at once
– Most common form of OS
– Windows XP and OS X
– Require expensive computers
– Tend to be complex

Types of Operating Systems

• Multi user/Multitasking OS
– Many users connect to one computer
– Each user has a unique session
– UNIX, Linux, and VMS
– Maintenance can be easy
– Requires a powerful computer

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 Multi user/Multi tasking OS

Providing a User Interface

• User interface
– How a user interacts with a computer
– Require different skill sets

Early Apple and DOS GUI’

GUI’s

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

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 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

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 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

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 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

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 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
–Symantec
–http://www.symantec.com/home_homeoffice/
products/category.jsp?pcid=is

Enhancing an OS
• Intrusion detection
– Often part of a firewall package
– Announces attempts to breach security
– Snort is a Linux based package
– http://www.snort.org/

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 Enhancing an OS
• Screen savers
– Crucial utility for command line systems
• Origibnally used to prevents burn in (though not
a problem with new displays)
– fun for GUI systems
– Screen saver decorates idle screens
– Can be dangerous!

Screensavers
• 5 million screensaver web searches
each month
• Some screensavers are scams for
adware and worse
• Check a suspicious site here :
– http://www.siteadvisor.com/

Below is the result from entering ScreenSaver.com at

McAffe Site advisor
22 total suspicious downloads associated with their
screensavers

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 Chapter 7A

End of Chapter

Chapter 7B

Survey of PC and Network

Operating Systems

PC Operating Systems
• Microsoft Windows is the most popular
– Installed more than other OS combined
– Installed on about 95% of computers
– Apple and Linux represent the other 5%

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 PC Operating Systems
• DOS
– Disk Operating System
– Single user single-tasking OS
– Command line interface
– 16-bit OS
– Powerful
– Fast
– Supports legacy applications

DOS Application

PC Operating Systems
• Windows NT
– Designed for a powerful system
– 32-bit OS
– Very stable
– Windows NT Workstation
• Single user multi tasking OS
– Windows NT Server
• Multi user multi tasking OS
• Network operating system

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 PC Operating Systems
• Windows 9x
– 95, 98, and Millennium Edition (Me)
– 32-bit OS
• Supported 16-bit programs well
– Very pretty not stable OS
– Still found in large corporations
– 95 introduced the Start button
– 98 introduced active desktop
– Me improved multimedia software

PC Operating Systems
• Windows 2000
– Look of 9x with NT stability
– Optimized for office and developers
– Application software ran very well
– Entertainment software ran very poorly

PC Operating Systems
• Windows XP
– Microsoft’s newest desktop product
– Different look from 2000
– Many different versions
– Digital multimedia support was enhanced
– Communications was enhanced
– Mobile computing became a priority
– Can only run on Intel machines

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 The Next Windows OS

Available soon?

PC Operating Systems
• UNIX
– Runs on all computer types
– 32- or 64-bit
– Very stable and fast
– Command-line interface
– Can cost thousands of dollars

PC Operating Systems
• Linux
– Free or inexpensive version of UNIX
– 32-bit OS
– Very stable and fast
– Most flavors are open source
– X Windows GUI
• Command line interface is available

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 Linux Desktop

Sun Solaris 10

PC Operating Systems
• Macintosh operating systems
– OS X
– Based on FreeBSD Linux
– Very stable and easy to configure
– Runs on Apple Hardware
– New Intel Macs run Apple and Windows
software

OS X Desktop
http://www.apple.com/macosx/leopard/timemachine.html
Take a peek at the new Mac OSX - Leopard

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 NOS Features
• Network operating system
• Fast and stable
• Runs on servers
• Multi-user and multitasking OS
• 32- or 64-bit

NOS Features
• File and print sharing
– Users access the same files
– Hundreds of users use a printer
– Different OS can interact

NOS Features
• Data integrity
– Backups copies data onto tape
– RAID copies data onto other drives
• Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks
• Relies on two or more hard drives
• May speed access to data
• http://www.raid-arrays.net/

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 NOS Features
• Data security
– Access to data can be restricted
– Access to server resources is controlled
– Audits can be kept

Networking Operating
Systems
• NT Server
– Same core as NT Workstation
– Security added
– Multi user capability added
– RAID support included

Networking Operating
Systems
• Windows 2000 Server
– Same technology as 2000 workstation
– Active Directory (AD)
• Central database of server resources
• Simplifies network management
– Distributed programs supported
– Server Standard Edition
– Advanced Server Edition
– Data Center Edition

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 Networking Operating
Systems
• Windows 2003 Server
– Designed to compete with UNIX
– XP like interface
– Better support for XP computers
– MS .NET framework supported
– Distributed programs are supported
– Server Standard Edition
– Data Center Edition

Networking Operating
Systems
• UNIX for servers
– Oldest NOS in widespread use
– Stable secure and fast
– Main OS for Internet and Web
– Large organizations depend on UNIX

Networking Operating
Systems
• Linux for servers
– Popular in small businesses
– Stable, fast and inexpensive
– Linux’s popularity is growing

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 Networking Operating
Systems
• Xserve
• Stable OSX server
• Unix Based
• Runs at up to 3.0GHz

Embedded Operating
Systems

• Devices have EOS built in

• Cell phones, PDAs, medical equipment
• Stable and fast

Embedded Operating
Systems

• Windows XP embedded
– Based on Windows XP
– Customized for each device

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 Embedded Operating
Systems
• Windows CE
– Not based on a desktop OS
– Customized for each device
– PDA and cell phones
– Microsoft Automotive will run in cars

Embedded Operating
Systems
• Palm OS
– Standard on Palm PDA
– First PDA OS for consumers
– Can be found on cell phones

Embedded Operating
Systems
• Pocket PC
– Developed to compete with Palm
– Not customizable
– Interacts securely with business networks
– Can control PCs through PC

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 Embedded Operating
Systems
• Symbian
– Found in smart cell phones
– Games, Instant Messaging, Internet
– Full color display

Chapter 7B

End of Chapter

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