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Operating system features(1)
4.1 WHAT IS AN OPERATING SYSTEM?

An operating system or OS is a software installed on a computer's hard drive that enables the computer hardware to
communicate and operate with the computer software. It is the most important software that runs on a computer. It
manages the computer's memory and processes, as well as all of its software and hardware. The OS helps the user to
communicate with the computer without knowing how to speak the computer’s language. It is not possible for the user
to use any computer or mobile device without having an operating system.
Characteristics of Operating System Here is a list of some of the most prominent characteristic features of Operating
Systems:
1. Memory Management − keeps track of the primary memory, i.e., what part of it is in use by whom, what part is not in
use, etc., and allocates the memory when a process or program requests it.
2. Processor Management − allocates the processor (CPU) to a process and deallocates the processor when it is no
longer required.
3. Device Management − keeps track of all the devices. This is also called the I/O controller that decides which process
gets the device, when, and for how much time.
4. File Management − allocates and de-allocates the resources and decides who gets the resources.
5. Security − prevents unauthorized access to programs and data by means of passwords and other similar techniques.
6. Job Accounting − keeps track of time and resources used by various jobs and/or users.
7. Control Over System Performance − records delays between the request for a service and from the system.
8. Interaction with the Operators − Interaction may take place via the console of the computer in the form of
instructions. The Operating System acknowledges the same, does the corresponding action and informs the operation
by a display screen.
9. Error-detecting Aids − Production of dumps, traces, error messages, and other debugging and error-detecting
methods.
10. Coordination Between Other Software and Users − Coordination and assignment of compilers, interpreters,
assemblers, and other software to the various users of the computer systems.
Objectives of the Operating System

The objectives of the operating system are:
• To hide the details of the hardware resources from the users.
• To make the computer system convenient to use in an efficient manner.
• To provide users a convenient interface to use the computer system.
• To act as an intermediary between the hardware and its users, making it easier for the users to access and use other
resources.
• To manage the resources of a computer system.
• To keep track of who is using which resource, granting resource requests, and mediating conflicting requests from
different programs and users.
• To provide efficient and fair sharing of resources among users and programs.
4.2Types of Operating System(2)
Within the broad family of operating systems, there are generally four types, categorized based on the types of
computers they control and the sort of applications they support.
The categories are:
1. Real-time operating system (RTOS) Real-time operating systems are used to control machinery, scientific instruments,
and industrial systems. An RTOS typically has the very little user-interface capability, and no end-user utilities since the
system will be a "sealed box" when delivered for use. A very important part of an RTOS is managing the resources of the
computer so that a particular operation executes in precisely the same amount of time, every time it occurs. In a
complex machine, having a part move more quickly just because system resources are available may be just as
catastrophic as having it not move at all because the system is busy.
2. Single-user, single task As the name implies, this operating system is designed to manage the computer so that one
user can effectively do one thing at a time. The Palm OS for Palm handheld computers is a good example of a modern
single-user, single-task operating system.
3. Single-user, multi-tasking This is the type of operating system most people use on their desktop and laptop computers
today. Microsoft's Windows and Apple's macOS platforms are both examples of operating systems that will let a single
user have several programs in operation at the same time. For example, it's entirely possible for a Windows user to be
writing a note in a word processor while downloading a file from the Internet while printing the text of an e-mail
message.
4. Multi-user A multi-user operating system allows many different users to take advantage of the computer's resources
simultaneously. The operating system must make sure that the requirements of the various users are balanced, and that
each of the programs they are using has sufficient and separate resources so that a problem with one user doesn't affect
the entire community of users. Unix, VMS, and mainframe operating systems, such as MVS, are examples of multi user
operating systems.
It's important to differentiate between multi-user operating systems and single-user operating systems that support
networking. Windows 2000 and Novell Netware can each support hundreds or thousands of networked users, but the
operating systems themselves aren't true multi-user operating systems. The system administrator is the only "user" for
Windows 2000 or Netware. The network support and all of the remote user logins the network enables are, in the
overall plan of the operating system, a program being run by the administrative user.
4.3 The Five Most Popular Operating Systems(3)
There are five main types of operating systems. These five OS types are likely what run your phone, computer, or other
mobile devices like a tablet. Whether you’re just a normal computer and phone user or someone hoping to get involved
in an IT career, knowledge of applications and system types will help you maintain security and user access, perform
routine operations, and much more.
5. Online help functions(4)
6. Application programs installation procedure

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Operating system features(1)

4.1 WHAT IS AN OPERATING SYSTEM?

Objectives of the Operating System

6. Application programs installation procedure

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