Introduction to

Introduction to Operating Systems

Definition and Purpose:
1. What is an Operating System (OS)?
o An operating system is a software layer
that sits between hardware and
applications, managing hardware
resources and providing services to
software applications.
o Role in a Computer System:
▪ Resource Management: Controls and
allocates hardware resources like CPU,
memory, storage, and I/O devices.
▪ Process Management: Manages
processes and their execution,
including process scheduling,
creation, and termination.
 ▪ Memory Management: Handles
memory allocation, deallocation, and
virtual memory to efficiently utilize
system memory.
▪ File System Management: Provides a
way to store, retrieve, and organize
files on storage devices.
▪ User Interface: Offers interfaces
(command-line or graphical) for users
to interact with the system and
applications.
▪ Security and Access Control: Ensures
the security of the system by
managing user permissions and
protecting against unauthorized
access.
History and Evolution:
1. Early Operating Systems:
o Batch Processing Systems: The earliest
operating systems that managed jobs
submitted in batches. Users would submit
jobs, and the OS would execute them
 sequentially without user interaction
during execution.
o Mainframe Era: In the 1950s and 1960s,
batch processing systems evolved to
manage larger mainframes, improving job
scheduling and resource management.
2. Time-Sharing Systems:
o Introduction: Emerged in the 1960s to
allow multiple users to interact with the
system simultaneously, sharing system
resources in real time.
o Concept: Enabled users to perform tasks
interactively and run multiple programs
concurrently.
3. Multitasking and Multiuser Systems:
o 1970s: Development of multitasking
systems, allowing multiple processes to
run concurrently. Examples include Unix,
which introduced concepts of multitasking
and multiuser capabilities.
 o Multiuser Systems: Supported multiple
simultaneous users, with each user having
a separate account and access privileges.
4. Modern Operating Systems:
o Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs): The
introduction of GUIs in the 1980s made
operating systems more user-friendly.
Examples include Windows, macOS, and
modern Unix-based systems.
o Networked and Distributed Systems:
Evolution to handle networked
environments and distributed computing,
improving connectivity and resource
sharing across systems.
5. Mobile and Embedded Systems:
o 1990s-Present: The rise of mobile
operating systems (like Android and iOS)
and embedded systems for specialized
devices (e.g., IoT devices, automotive
systems) has expanded the role and
functionality of operating systems.
Types of Operating Systems:
1. Batch Operating Systems:
o Description: Processes jobs in batches
without user interaction during execution.
Suitable for systems that perform
repetitive tasks.
o Example: Early IBM mainframe systems.
2. Time-Sharing Operating Systems:
o Description: Allows multiple users to
access and use the computer system
simultaneously by rapidly switching
between tasks. Focuses on responsiveness
and interactive use.
o Example: Unix, early versions of MULTICS.
3. Distributed Operating Systems:
o Description: Manages a network of
computers to appear as a single cohesive
system to users, handling tasks such as
resource sharing and communication
between machines.
o Example: Distributed versions of Unix,
modern cloud computing environments.
4. Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS):
o Description: Designed to handle time-
critical tasks with deterministic response
times, where timely processing is crucial
for system functionality.
o Example: VxWorks, QNX, used in
embedded systems, robotics, and
automotive applications.
5. Mobile Operating Systems:
o Description: Optimized for mobile devices
with touch interfaces and power
efficiency. Manages apps, hardware, and
connectivity in portable devices.
o Example: Android, iOS.