Kernel Diagram of Windows Operating System

A case study presented in partial fulfilment of Task Performance in Operating System of

Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering 301

Alcaraz, Cedric P.

Lutero, Josh Alan T.

Pesquisa, Jaybee P.

Solo, Maristela M.

Taguinod, Marence G.

Case Study
 I. Introduction

Operating System (OS) has a big role in the concept of interaction between the user

and a computer, also in the communication between software and hardware. OS is the main

requirement in terms of the perfect combination of the software-hardware processes.

Many of us may know the different and the variety of operating system but in the

case of "do we all truly know the concept and the processes inside the OS? It is like in the

scenario in which you will go to a particular country that you've never been to, their

language you can hear it but you don't actually know what it is all about, so you need a

translator to discover and know the meaning of it. Just like in a computer OS is the

translator, it helps the software and hardware to function well.

II. Background

There are only plenty of people who have the knowledge about how the operating

system really works. But in the other side if we know how it really works, we can notice

that it has a main role in computing and role that helps for the interaction of hardware and

the software. In this case study we are going to elaborate the things that operating system

really does. The main topic of this is how the Kernel Diagram of an Operating system

works. And it will be tackled the way how operating system interacts with the different

software and the hardware.

The operating system code runs in privileged processor mode which is also known

as protected mode or kernel mode. In kernel mode, it provides direct access to the memory

of the system and to its other hardware. Applications run in user mode have no direct

hardware access. Applications must use the system calls called the API or Applications

Programing Interface, and the operating system to perform tasks such as reading or writing

to memory or to the screen.

Kernel is responsible for memory management, process and task management, and

disk management. The kernel connects the system hardware to the application software.

Every operating system has a kernel.

The diagram interfaces between 3 major computer hardware components this

provide services between the application or the user interface and to the CPU, memory and

other hardware I/O devices

IV. Recommendation

The Windows NT can be upgraded to become a more faster and user-friendly

Operating System. Some interface in Windows NT can be improved and can add some

more features to it so that if the user executes it in User mode or kernel mode, he/she have

more options to choose and he/she can control, access and see the full status of the hardware

or the system. Windows NT can still run by many computers up to this date, but it is

recommended that the user use newer Operating System like the Windows 10 because it is

more advanced, user-friendly and more choices that can be made to the computer.
Terms and Definitions

System Support Processes

Service Control Manager - is a special process under the Windows NT family of

operating systems that starts and stops Windows processes, including device drivers and startup

programs.

Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS) - is a process in Microsoft

Windows operating systems that is responsible for enforcing the security policy on the system.

Winlogon - is the component of Microsoft Windows operating systems that is

responsible for handling the secure attention sequence, loading the user profile on logon, and

optionally locking the computer when a screensaver is running (requiring another authentication

step).

Session Manager - provides secure and auditable instance management without

the need to open inbound ports, maintain bastion hosts, or manage SSH keys.

Service Processes

Svchost.exe (Generic Host Process for Win32 Services) - is an integral part of

Windows OS. It cannot be stopped or restarted manually. This process manages system services

that run from dynamic link libraries (files with extension .dll).

Winmgmt is the WMI service within the SVCHOST process running under the

"LocalSystem" account.
 Spooler is a special process that manages access to printers by multiple users.

Applications

Task Manager is a Windows feature that provides details about programs and

processes running on your computer. It also displays the most commonly used performance

measures for processes.

Windows Explorer is the file management application in Windows. Windows

Explorer can be used to navigate your hard drive and display the contents of the folders and

subfolders you use to organize your files on your hard drive. Windows Explorer is automatically

launched any time you open a folder in Windows XP.

Environment Subsystems

POSIX stands for Portable Operating System Interface and is an IEEE standard designed

to facilitate application portability.

Win32 - Alternatively referred to as the Windows API and WinAPI, Win32 is the main set

of Microsoft Windows APIs used for developing 32-bit applications.

References:

https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/securing-windows-nt2000/1565927680/ch01s03.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iocgVBWj7Vk&feature=share

https://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~rwest/wikispeedia/wpcd/wp/a/Architecture_of_Windows_NT.htm
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