OPERATING SYSTEM

As written by

Masemo Kinyota Banda Timothee

MMC,Ded,DipEd
 Definition of Operating system
An operating system is the main program that controls
the execution of user applications and enables the user
to access hardware and software resources of a
computer.
Importances of Operating System
•Without operating system we can barely do nothing on
the computer.
•It acts as the interface/mediator between the user and
the computer hardware.
•User application programs do not directly communicate
with hardware devices instead they send messages via
the operating system which has the capability to give
instructions to hardware to perform a particular task.
 Study this…..
User
(Runs application programs)

Application Software
(sends users requests to O.s)

Operating System
(Receivers and executes requests)

Hardware
(Receives and does OS commands)
 Types of Operating System
Classified according to …

1. Number of Tasks (work they can perform

at a time)
2. Number of users (people/accounts they
can accommodate)
3. User interface (how to enter though it)
 Number of Tasks
Single program operating system: allows processing
of one application at a time in the main memory. It
means that the user can only run one interactive
program at a time. The user must exit from the
program before loading and running another
program.
Example: Ms DOS
Multitasking operating system: allows a single CPU to
execute more than one application program
apparently at the same time. This is done through
processor scheduling, operating system allocates a
time slice to each ready task.
 Number of Users
Single – user operating system: is designed for use by
only one person. It cannot support more than one
person and runs only one user application program at
a time. Example: Palm O.S and Ms – DOS

Multi – user operating system: allows more that one

user to interactively use a computer.
Example: server o.s such as windows 2003 , they can
at the same time be installed on a computer that is
accessed by all users in an organisation. Other
examples: Unix, Novell, windows NT/2000 and Linux.
 User Interface
Refers to the interaction between the user and a
computer.
Command – line based operating system: lets the
user type a command at a command prompt.
Examples: REN, DEL, CHKDSK, etc…

Menu driven interface operating system: provide the

user with a list of options to choose from. The
interface is suitable for beginners who may have
difficulties in recalling the commands.
The Graphical user interface(GUI)
Is the latest effort to make the user interface more
user-friendly.
Apart from menus, GUI makes use of rectangular
work area known as “windows”, graphical objects
called “Icons” and most commands are executed
using a pointing device.
All these are given a simple name as WIMP which
stand for “windows, icons, menus and pointer”.

Examples: Microsoft windows versions 2000, XP and

Vista; Apple Mac OS and various distributions of
Linux.
 Functions of Operating Systems
An operating system consists of 2 main parts
Shell and Kernel.
Shell: is the outer part of the operating system used
to interact with the operating system.
and
Kernel is the core of the operating system
responsible for managing and controlling computer
resources such as the processor, main memory,
storage devices, input and output devices and
communication devices.
 Job/Processor scheduling
Refers to allocating each job, waiting for execution,
processor time at each given interval.
It is the operating system that determines which task
will be processed first.

The operating system schedules jobs according to

priorities.

The higher the priority, the higher the likelihood of

being allocated CPU time.
Resource allocation
Each available resource in a computer is given a
unique identification number that called “Interrupt
Request”(IRQ) number. The operating systems uses
the IQR number to identify the resource being
requested.
 Poor resource allocation would result to an
undesirable condition referred to as a deadlock.
Deadlockis a situation where a particular
job holds a requested resource and to
release it, yet it is requesting for a
resource held by the other job.
Memory management
Data and instructions entered into the computer are
temporarily held in the main memory before and
processing. However, since RAM is a scarce resource,
the os determines which task remains in memory
awaiting for execution and which one will be kicked
out back to secondary storage.
In this the os may organise the main memory into
blocks of sizes called page frames. Processes are
divided into pieces that can fit into frames called
pages.
 To manage memory, the os swaps pages between the
main memory and the secondary storage.
 Therefore,
in terms of memory management, the hard disk
where pages are held, is referred to as virtual memory.
Input/Out management
Like a skilled traffic officer, the os coordinates
between the various I/O and other peripheral
devices such auxiliary storage devices, making sure
that data is transmitted securely.
e.g , when printing, the CPU directs its attention
to the printing function. The os searches for a
printer, chooses the correct on, translates the name
for CPU and finally CPU sends the document to
the printer.
This makes the CPU available for other activities.
Communication control and management
The os is as well responsible for managing various
communication devices and provides an
environment within which communication
protocols operates.
 Protocol: the rules that govern communication
between devices on a network.
Modern os come with network management
utilities that provide external communication by
connecting to a communication system using an
interface cable or through wireless interface such
as Bluetooth and infrared.
Error handling
The os has many ways of alerting the user of
errors that may rise out illegal operations,
hardware or software failure.
Most os express what the error is, and where
possible make suggestions on how to correct
the error.
The os does this by monitoring the status of
the computer system and performing and
checks on users, hardware and software.
Interrupt handling
Interrupt is a break from the normal
sequential processing of instructions in a
program.
Note: a critical request causes the
processor to stop executing the current
process to attend to it, before returning
the control back to the process that was
initially interrupted.
Factors to consider when choosing an operating system:
1. The hardware configuration of the computer
such as the memory capacity, processor speed
and hard disk capacity.
2. The computer size and make (some earlier
Apple Computers, would not run on Ms.
operating systems).
3. The application software intended for the
computer.
4. User- friendly of the os
5. The documentation available (availability of os)
6. The cost of os
7. Reliability and security
provided by the os
8. The number of processor and
hardware it can support.
9. The number of users it can
support.
 Mind Check Questions
Discuss the following….
1. Describe 4 functions of os
2. What is interrupt?
3. What are the advantages of GUI based
operating system over the command-line?
4. What is deadlock in reference to os?
5. Outline factors you would consider if you were
to buy an os?
6. Give example (2) multi –user and (1) single user
os?
By MKB Timothee
How do operating systems organise information
Modern os differ in terms of look and feel BUT
They basically handle information in the same way.
Most os organise information in three - tier
hierarchy
Such as
1. drives
2. folders or directories
3. files
Information organisation tree in windows os

C:\>

Folder 1 or Folder 2 or Folder 3 or

Directory 1 Directory 2 Directory 3

Subfolder 1 Subfolder 3
or Subfolder 4 or
Subfolder 2or or
subdirectory subdirectory 4
Subdirectory 2 subdirectory
1 3

File 3
File 1 File 2
Files
Is a collection of related data given a unique name
for ease of access, manipulation and storage on a
backing storage.
e.g
 Contents of a file
Every file has the following details…
1. A unique name and an optional extension. The
name and extension are separated by a period(.)
e.g JUNE. DOC.
JUNE = file name
DOC = extension
 Extensions are used to identify the type of file.
 doc is a word processor file
 txt is a plain text file
 Sys is a system file.
2. The size, date, and time the file was created of
modified.
Types of File
File has 3 types namely ….
a. system
b. application
c. Data files
System files contain information that is critical for the
operation of the computer
Application files holds programs and are executable.

Data files contain user specific data.

Examples of files, whether data, system or application file.
Extension File Type Description

.doc data A Ms. word document file

.txt Data A plain text file created using note pad or DOS editor

.tif Data A graphic file created using application such as adobe

Photoshop.

.exe Application file The file that launches a particular application – e. g

winword.exe , MP.70.exe. etc…..

.bat System file File containing a series of commands loaded during

boot up.

.sys System file System files that perform fundamental operations in a

computer