Chapter 6

Using Operating Systems

• An operating system (OS) is an example of system software—software
that controls the system's hardware and that interacts with the user
and application software.
• In short, the operating system is the computer's master control
program.
• When you issue a command, the OS translates it into code that the
machine can use.
• The OS ensures that the results of your actions are displayed on
screen, printed, and so on.
• The operating system also acts as the primary controlling mechanism
for the computer's hardware.
• The operating system performs the following functions:
» Displays the on-screen elements with which you interact—the user
interface.
» Loads programs (such as word processing and spreadsheet programs)
into the computer’s memory so that you can use them.
» Coordinates how programs work with the computer's hardware and
other software.
» Manages the way information is stored on and retrieved from disks.
Types of Operating Systems
• Operating systems can be organized into four major types:
real-time,
single user/single-tasking,
single-user/multitasking, and
multi-user/multitasking.
Real-time Operating System
• Very fast small OS
• Built into a device and are not loaded from a disk drive
• Respond quickly to user input
• MP3 players, Medical devices
Single User/Single Tasking OS
• Allows a single user to perform just one task at a time.
• To a user, a "task" is a function such as printing a document, writing a
file to disk, editing a file, or downloading a file from a network server.
• To the operating system, a task is a process.
• 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
Single User/Multitasking OS
• Allows a single user to perform two or more functions at once.
• Most common form of OS
• Microsoft Windows and the Macintosh Operating System.
• Greatly increased the productivity of people in a large variety of jobs.
• Require expensive computers
• Tend to be complex
Multi User/Multitasking OS
• Allows multiple users to use programs that are simultaneously running on a
single network server; called a terminal server.
• This is not at all the same as connecting to a network server for the sake of
accessing files and printers.
• Each user’s applications run within their user session on the server
separate from all other user sessions.
• Examples of multi-user OSs include UNIX, VMS, and mainframe operating
systems such as MVS.
• Advantage is managed by simply making changes to one server, rather than
to many desktop computers.
• Disadvantage is if the network connection to the server is broken, the user
cannot do any work in the applications on the server.
Multi user/Multi tasking OS
Providing a User Interface
• How a user interacts with a computer
• When you work on a computer; you see and use a set of items on the
screen.
• Taken together; these items are called the user interface.
• The two most common types of user interfaces are
• graphical and
• command line.
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• Most current operating systems provide a graphical user interface
(GUI, pronounced GOO-ee).
• Graphical user interfaces are so called because you use a mouse (or
some other pointing device) to work with graphical objects such as
windows, menus, icons, buttons, and other tools.
• The GUI enables you to issue commands to the computer by using
visual objects instead of typing commands.
• Background of the GUI is said to be a desktop.
• The small pictures on the desktop are called shortcuts. Shortcuts are
often called icons.
• Certain elements always appear on the Windows desktop.
• The taskbar appears at the bottom of the Windows desktop; it is used
to launch and manage programs.
• The Start button is a permanent feature of the taskbar; click it to
open the Start menu.
• Shortcuts can be added to the desktop, the Start menu, and other
areas.
• When you launch a program, it is loaded into memory and begins to
run.
• A graphical operating system lets you have multiple programs and
resources running at the same time, but you can work in only one
window at a time.
Graphical User Interface
Command Line Interfaces
• Older operating systems
• MS-DOS, UNIX and Linux
• Uses typewritten commands—rather than graphical objects—to
execute tasks.
Command Line Interface
Running Programs
• The operating system provides a consistent interface between application
programs and the user.
• Some other services of operating system are
» Saving the contents of files to a disk.
» Reading the contents of a file from disk into memory.
» Sending a document to the printer and activating the printer.
» Providing resources that let you copy or move data from one document to
another, or from one program to another.
» Allocating RAM among the running programs.
» Recognizing keystrokes or mouse clicks and displaying characters or
graphics on the screen.
• Sharing information between program
Managing Hardware
• The OS is the intermediary between programs and hardware.
• Processing Interrupts The operating system responds to requests to
use memory and other devices, keeps track of which programs have
access to which devices, and coordinates everything the hardware
does so that various activities do not overlap causing the computer to
become confused and stop working.
• Working with Device Drivers provides programs for working with
special devices such as printers. These programs are called drivers.
Most new software you buy will work with your printer; monitor; and
other equipment without requiring you to install any special drivers.
Enhancing an OS with Utility Software
• Operating systems are designed to let you do most of the tasks you
normally would want to do with a computer, such as managing files,
loading programs, printing documents, and so on.
• But software developers are constantly creating new programs—
called utilities—that enhance or extend the operating system’s
capabilities, or that simply offer new features not provided by the
operating system itself.
• There are thousands of different utility programs, and you can find
many on the Internet—some free and some at a price ranging from
very inexpensive to hundreds of dollars.
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
• Help to recover data that has been lost because of a virus.
• 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
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
• No built-in support for networking, and users had to manually install drivers
any time they added a new hardware component to their PC.
• Limited in the amount of RAM and storage space it could support.
• Single user single-tasking OS
• Command line interface
• 16-bit OS
• Does not require much memory or storage space for the system
• Fast
• MS-DOS
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DOS Application

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PC Operating Systems
• Windows NT (New Technology)
• Designed for a powerful system
• 32-bit OS (1993)
• 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

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

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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

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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

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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

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PC Operating Systems
• Macintosh operating systems
• OS X
• Based on FreeBSD Linux
• Very stable and easy to configure
• Only runs on Mac hardware

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OS X Desktop

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Embedded Operating Systems
• Devices have EOS built in
• Cell phones, PDAs, medical equipment
• Stable and fast

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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

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

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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

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