Module 1

Fundamentals of Operating System

Topics:
Introduction to Operating Systems including Cloud-Based OS,
Containerized OS, and Edge Computing OS. Historical perspective, types,
functionalities, and their role in IT.
Agenda

1. Introduction to Operating Systems

2. Historical Perspective of Operating Systems
3. Types of Operating Systems
● Traditional OS
● Cloud-Based OS
● Containerized OS
● Edge Computing OS
4. Key Functionalities of Operating Systems
5. The Role of OS in IT Systems
6. Conclusion
Introduction to Operating Systems
● What is an Operating System (OS)?
○ The OS is the software that manages hardware resources and provides services for
computer programs.
○ It acts as an intermediary between users and hardware.

● Operating system goals:

○ Execute user programs and make solving user problems easier
○ Make the computer system convenient to use
○ Use the computer hardware in an efficient manner
 Computer System Structure
▪ Computer system can be divided into four components:
• Hardware – provides basic computing resources
CPU, memory, I/O devices
• Operating system
Controls and coordinates use of hardware among various applications and
users
• Application programs – define the ways in which the system resources are used
to solve the computing problems of the users
Word processors, compilers, web browsers, database systems, video games
• Users
People, machines, other computers
Abstract View of Components of Computer
Main Functions of OS

○ Process management
○ Memory management
○ File system management
○ Device management
○ Security.
 Process Management
▪ A process is a program in execution. It is a unit of work within the system.
Program is a passive entity; process is an active entity.
▪ Process needs resources to accomplish its task
• CPU, memory, I/O, files
• Initialization data
▪ Process termination requires reclaim of any reusable resources
▪ Single-threaded process has one program counter specifying location of next
instruction to execute
• Process executes instructions sequentially, one at a time, until completion
▪ Multi-threaded process has one program counter per thread
▪ Typically system has many processes, some user, some operating system
running concurrently on one or more CPUs
• Concurrency by multiplexing the CPUs among the processes / threads
 Memory Management
▪ To execute a program all (or part) of the instructions must be in memory
▪ All (or part) of the data that is needed by the program must be in memory
▪ Memory management determines what is in memory and when
• Optimizing CPU utilization and computer response to users
▪ Memory management activities
• Keeping track of which parts of memory are currently being used and by
whom
• Deciding which processes (or parts thereof) and data to move into and out
of memory
• Allocating and deallocating memory space as needed
 File-system Management
▪ OS provides uniform, logical view of information storage
• Abstracts physical properties to logical storage unit - file
• Each medium is controlled by device (i.e., disk drive, tape drive)
Varying properties include access speed, capacity, data-transfer rate, access
method (sequential or random)
▪ File-System management
• Files usually organized into directories
• Access control on most systems to determine who can access what
• OS activities include
Creating and deleting files and directories
Primitives to manipulate files and directories
Mapping files onto secondary storage
Backup files onto stable (non-volatile) storage media
 Mass-Storage Management
▪ Usually disks used to store data that does not fit in main memory or data that must be
kept for a “long” period of time
▪ Proper management is of central importance
▪ Entire speed of computer operation hinges on disk subsystem and its algorithms
▪ OS activities
• Mounting and unmounting
• Free-space management
• Storage allocation
• Disk scheduling
• Partitioning
• Protection
Key Functionalities of Operating Systems
Process Management:

● Controls the execution of programs, multitasking, and scheduling processes.

Memory Management:

● Manages the computer’s memory resources, ensuring efficient allocation and access.

File System Management:

● Organizes and manages data storage in files and directories.

Device Management:

● Manages input/output devices like printers, displays, and network devices.

Security & Access Control:

● Protects the system from unauthorized access, viruses, and malware.

User Interface:

● Provides a graphical (GUI) or command-line interface for users to interact with the system.
Dual Mode operations in OS

● There are two modes of operation in the operating system to make sure it works
correctly.
● These are user mode and kernel mode.

User Mode
● The system is in user mode when the operating system is running a user application
such as handling a text editor.
● The transition from user mode to kernel mode occurs when the application requests
the help of operating system or an interrupt or a system call occurs.
● The mode bit is set to 1 in the user mode. It is changed from 1 to 0 when switching
from user mode to kernel mode.
Kernel Mode
● The system starts in kernel mode when it boots and after the operating system is loaded,
it executes applications in user mode. There are some privileged instructions that can only
be executed in kernel mode.
● These are interrupt instructions, input output management etc. If the privileged
instructions are executed in user mode, it is illegal and a trap is generated.
● The mode bit is set to 0 in the kernel mode. It is changed from 0 to 1 when switching from
kernel mode to user mode.
● In the above image, the user process executes in the user mode until it gets a
system call.
● Then a system trap is generated and the mode bit is set to zero.
● The system call gets executed in kernel mode.
● After the execution is completed, again a system trap is generated and the
mode bit is set to 1.
● The system control returns to kernel mode and the process execution
continues.
Historical Perspective of Operating Systems

1. Pre-1950s:
○ No Operating Systems: Early computers ran individual programs without an OS.
2. 1950s-1960s:
○ Batch Processing: Early OS like IBM's mainframe systems handled batch jobs in sequences.
3. 1960s-1970s:
○ Time-Sharing OS: OS such as MULTICS allowed multiple users to interact with a single
machine (e.g., UNIX).
4. 1980s:
○ Personal Computers: Introduction of GUI-based systems like MS-DOS, early Windows, and
Apple's Macintosh.
5. 1990s-Present:
○ Modern OS: Evolved into multi-tasking, virtualized, and networked environments (e.g., Linux,
macOS, Windows).
Types of Kernels

There are five types of kernels :

● A Microkernel, which only contains basic functionality

● A Monolithic Kernel, which contains many device drivers
● Hybrid Kernel
● Exokernel
● Nanokernel
What is Micro-Kernel?

● The kernel manages the operations of the computer,

● In microkernel, the user services and kernel services are implemented in different
address spaces.
● The user services are kept in the user address space, and kernel services are kept
under the kernel address space.
● A microkernel is a minimalistic approach to designing an operating system.
● In a microkernel architecture, only the most essential functions are included in the
kernel, such as basic communication between hardware and software, and simple
process management.
● Other services like device drivers, file systems, and network protocols are run in
user space as separate processes.
What is Monolithic Kernel?

● In a Monolithic kernel, the entire operating system runs as a single program in kernel
mode.
● The user services and kernel services are implemented in the same address space.
● A monolithic kernel is a type of operating system architecture where the entire operating
system, including core functions like memory management, process management, device
drivers, and file systems, is integrated into a single large block of code running in a single
address space.
● This design can make the system faster because all components can interact directly, but
it can also make the system more complex and harder to maintain, as a bug in one part of
the kernel can potentially affect the entire system.
Types of OS

Batch operating system

Time-sharing operating systems

Distributed operating System

Network operating System

Real Time operating System

Batch operating system
This type of operating system do not interact with the computer directly.

There is an operator which takes similar jobs having same requirement and group
them into batches.

It is the responsibility of operator to sort the jobs with similar needs.

 Time-Sharing Operating Systems
Each task has given some time to execute, so that all the tasks work

smoothly.

These systems are also known as Multitasking Systems.

The task can be from single user or from different users also.
 Distributed Operating System
Various autonomous interconnected computers communicate each other using a
shared communication network.

Independent systems possess their own memory unit and CPU. These are referred
as loosely coupled systems or distributed systems.
Network Operating System
These systems runs on a server and provides the capability to manage data, users,
groups, security, applications, and other networking functions.

These type of operating systems allows shared access of files, printers, security,
applications, and other networking functions over a small private network.
Real-Time Operating System
Real-time systems are used when there are time requirements are very strict like
missile systems, air traffic control systems, robots etc.

Hard Real-Time Systems:

These OSs are meant for the applications where time constraints are very strict
and even the shortest possible delay is not acceptable.

Soft Real-Time Systems:

These OSs are for applications where for time-constraint is less strict.
Types of Operating Systems
1. Traditional OS:
○ Examples: Windows, Linux, macOS
○ Use Cases: Desktop computers, laptops, servers.
2. Cloud-Based OS:
○ Examples: Google Chrome OS, AWS OS
○ Use Cases: Cloud computing environments, virtualized services.
3. Containerized OS:
○ Examples: Docker, Kubernetes
○ Use Cases: Microservices architecture, cloud-native applications, DevOps.
4. Edge Computing OS:
○ Examples: Windows IoT, EdgeX Foundry
○ Use Cases: IoT devices, real-time data processing at the network edge.
 Cloud-Based Operating Systems
Definition: Operating systems designed specifically for cloud computing environments.

● The cloud OS is a browser-based operating system that works for real-time

support.
● It is developed for visualization in cloud computing.
● It provides a virtualized environment that runs on cloud computing.
● It helps to manage the machines, processes of virtual servers, execution, and
infrastructure.
● It also manages software and back-end hardware resources. Although, the
features of the cloud OS differs depending on the virtual environment and
cloud services used.
● It is a lightweight OS that stores data and connects to a remote server to access
web-based apps.
Cloud-Based Operating Systems

Advantages
1. Cost-Effective
2. No risk of viruses
3. Easy Software upgrades
4. High Speed

Disadvantages
1. It provides limited features.
2. Cloud operating system hardware failure may cause a loss in data.
3. It needs an internet connection continuously.
4. It doesn't perform on a low-speed connection.
Cloud-Based Operating Systems

Key Features:

● Multi-tenancy: Supports multiple users in isolated environments.

● Scalability: Can scale resources up or down based on demand.
● Automated Provisioning: Services are automatically managed and deployed.

Examples:

● Google Chrome OS: A cloud-centric OS optimized for web apps.

● AWS OS: Custom OS designed to run on Amazon Web Services infrastructure.
Containerized Operating Systems

Definition: Operating systems optimized to run applications in containers (isolated

environments).

● Containerization is the packaging of software code with just the operating system (OS)
libraries and dependencies required to run the code to create a single lightweight
executable—called a container—that runs consistently on any infrastructure.
● Containerization allows developers to create and deploy applications faster and more
securely.
Containerized Operating Systems

Key Features:

● Lightweight: Reduced resource overhead compared to traditional VMs.

● Portability: Can run on any platform supporting containers.
● Rapid Deployment: Fast and scalable application deployment.

Examples:

● Docker: A containerization platform allowing developers to package applications.

● Kubernetes: An orchestration platform to manage containerized applications.
Edge Computing Operating Systems
Definition: Operating systems tailored for edge devices that process data closer to the source of
generation (e.g., IoT devices).

● Edge computing allows devices in remote locations to process data at the "edge" of
the network, either by the device or a local server. And when data needs to be
processed in the central datacenter, only the most important data is transmitted,
thereby minimizing latency.
● To make real-time functionality possible for smart apps and IoT sensors, edge computing
solves three interrelated challenges:
○ Connecting a device to a network from a remote location.

○ Slow data processing due to network or computing limitations.

○ Edge devices causing network bandwidth issues.

Edge Computing Operating Systems
Key Features:

● Real-time processing and low-latency capabilities.

● Focus on efficiency and optimization for limited resources.
● Integration with IoT devices and sensor networks.

Examples:

● Windows IoT: An OS for IoT devices and embedded systems.

● EdgeX Foundry: An open-source platform for edge computing that provides an ecosystem
for device management.
Role of OS in IT Systems
Resource Management: Efficiently allocates and manages CPU, memory, storage, and
networking.

Virtualization: Facilitates cloud-based services and supports containerized and edge computing
environments.

Security: Protects systems through encryption, authentication, and authorization.

Scalability & Flexibility: Supports IT growth through cloud, containers, and edge systems.

Automation & Efficiency: Enables the automation of tasks, reducing manual intervention.

Interoperability: Ensures that different software and hardware components work together
seamlessly.
Conclusion

● Operating systems are foundational to modern IT infrastructure.

● The evolution from traditional OS to cloud, containerized, and edge computing
OS has been driven by the need for scalability, efficiency, and real-time
processing.
● Understanding the various types of OS is crucial for selecting the right
platform for specific IT needs.