Chapter 1: Introduction

What is an Operating System?

Mainframe Systems

Desktop Systems

Multiprocessor Systems

Distributed Systems

Clustered System

Real -Time Systems

Handheld Systems

Computing Environments

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 1. What is an Operating System?

A program that acts as an intermediary between a user of

a computer and the computer hardware (a program that
manage the computer 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.

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 1. Computer System Components

1. Hardware – provides basic computing resources (CPU,

memory, I/O devices).
2. Operating system – controls and coordinates the use of
the hardware among the various application programs for
the various users.
3. Applications programs – define the ways in which the
system resources are used to solve the computing
problems of the users (compilers, database systems,
video games, business programs).
4. Users (people, machines, other computers).

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 1. Abstract View of System Components

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 1. Operating System Definitions

1.1 User View

The used interface (from simple keys to the keyboard and
monitor)

In the PC the OS is designed for ease of use with some
attention paid to performance

In Mainframes or minicomputers the OS focus on
resource utilization

In Workstations (network computers) the OS is designed
to compromise between individual usability and resource
utilization

In handheld computers the OS is designed for individual
usability, and the performance per amount of battery life

Some Imbedded systems OS are designed to run without
user environment (just few indicator lights and may be a
keypad)

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 Operating System Definitions

1.2 System View

Resource allocator – manages and allocates resources.

Control program – controls the execution of user
programs and operations of I/O devices, to prevent errors
and improper use of the computer.

Kernel – the one program running at all times (all else
being application programs). (the USA department of
justice against Microsoft case: “Microsoft included too
much functionality in its OS and thus preventing
competition from application vendors”)

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 Operating System Definitions
1.3 System Goals
Easer to Define the OS by what it DOES than what it is.

Convenience for the user (small computers)

Efficiency (large, shared, and multi-user systems)
These two goals are sometimes contradictory

The relationship between the computer architecture and the

OS (the OS must evolve to facilitate the use of the new
hardware)

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 2. Mainframe Systems

2.1 Batch Systems

Reduce setup time by batching similar jobs

Automatic job sequencing – automatically transfers
control from one job to another.

Resident monitor
 initial control in monitor
 control transfers to job
 when job completes control transfers pack to monitor

The CPU is often idle

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 Memory Layout for a Simple Batch System

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 2.2 Multi-programmed Systems

Several jobs are kept in main memory at the same time, and the
CPU is multiplexed among them (CPU utilization is increased).

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 OS Features Needed for Multiprogramming

Multi-programming is the first instance where the OS must

make decisions for the user.

Memory management – the system must allocate the

memory to several jobs.

CPU scheduling – the system must choose among
several jobs ready to run.

Allocation of devices.

Inter-process communication and protection

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 2.3 Time-Sharing Systems–Interactive Computing

The CPU is multiplexed among several jobs that are kept

in memory and on disk (the CPU is allocated to a job only
if the job is in memory).

A job swapped in and out of memory to the disk.

On-line communication between the user and the system
is provided; when the operating system finishes the
execution of one command, it seeks the next “control
statement” from the user’s keyboard.

Sophisticated system, it need fast response time for every
process.

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 3. Desktop Systems

Personal computers – computer system dedicated to a

single user.

I/O devices – keyboards, mice, display screens, small
printers.

User convenience and responsiveness.

Can adopt technology developed for larger operating
system’ often individuals have sole use of computer and
do not need advanced CPU utilization and protection
features.

May run several different types of operating systems
(Windows, MacOS, UNIX, Linux)

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 4. Multiprocessors (Parallel) Systems

Multiprocessor systems with more than on CPU in close

communication.

Also called “Tightly coupled system” – processors share
memory and a clock; communication usually takes place
through the shared memory.

Advantages of parallel system:
 Increased throughput (less than N due to: overhead,and
share resources)
 Economical
 Increased reliability
 graceful degradation (fault tolerant system)

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 Parallel Systems (Cont.)

Symmetric multiprocessing (SMP)
 Each processor runs and identical copy of the operating system.
(processors are peers)
 Many processes can run at once without performance
deterioration.
 I/O must be carefully controlled (data reached the appropriate
processor)
 Most modern operating systems support SMP

Asymmetric multiprocessing
 Each processor is assigned a specific task; master processor
schedules and allocated work to slave processors.
 More common in extremely large systems
The difference between symmetric and asymmetric will be a result of
hardware or software (SunOs v4 provide asymmetric while v5
provide symmetric on the same hardware)
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 5. Distributed Systems

Via network, Distribute the computation among several physical

processors.

Loosely coupled system – each processor has its own local
memory; processors communicate with one another through
various communications lines, such as high-speed buses or
telephone lines.

Advantages of distributed systems.
 Resources Sharing
 Computation speed up – load sharing
 Reliability
 Communications

Requires networking infrastructure.

Local area networks (LAN) or Wide area networks (WAN)

May be either client-server or peer-to-peer systems.

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 General Structure of Client-Server

•Compute- server system (client send request to server to

process and return the result)
•File-server system (client can access files on the server)
Peer-to-Peer Systems
WWW and the individual productivity
PCs are loosely coupled systems
NOS features (sharing network resources)

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 6. Clustered Systems

Clustering allows two or more systems to share storage.
(coupled together via LAN)

Provide high Availability (cluster software run in each cluster
node)

Provides high reliability. (the system is monitored to recover
from failure)

Asymmetric clustering: one server runs the application while
other servers standby.

Symmetric clustering: all N hosts are running the application.

Parallel clusters allow multiple hosts to access the same data
on the shared resource (ex. Oracle Parallel server )

Cluster technology is rapidly changing, Global cluster (use of
WAN)

Expand to the SAN which allow easy attachment of multiple
hosts to multiple storage units

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 7. Real-Time Systems

Often used as a control device in a dedicated application

such as controlling scientific experiments, medical
imaging systems, industrial control systems, and some
display systems.

Well-defined fixed-time constraints.

Real-Time systems may be either hard or soft real-time.

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 Real-Time Systems (Cont.)

Hard real-time: guarantees that critical tasks be completed

on time (all delays will be bounded, no virtual memory.
Conflict with the time-sharing)
 Secondary storage limited or absent, data stored in short
term memory, or read-only memory (ROM)
 Conflicts with time-sharing systems, not supported by
general-purpose operating systems.

Soft real-time: critical-time tasks gets priority over other

tasks
 Limited utility in industrial control of robotics
 Useful in applications (multimedia, virtual reality) requiring
advanced operating-system features.

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 Handheld Systems

Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)

Cellular telephones

Issues:
 Limited memory
 Slow processors
 Small display screens.

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 Migration of Operating-System Concepts and Features

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 Computing Environments

Traditional computing
PC with file and print server, changed to laptop and
handheld systems , Portals and network computers (Thin
Clients), wireless networks adds the mobility

Web-Based Computing
new category of services like Load Balancing

Embedded Computing
Embedded real time OS
Thin Clients

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