A-LEVEL COMPUTER SCIENCE – YEAR 1

1.2.1 Operating Systems

• SECTION E - DISTRIBUTED, EMBEDDED, MULTI-TASKING, MULTI-USER AND REAL TIME OPERATING SYSTEMS
• SECTION A – THE NEED FOR, FUNCTION AND PURPOSE OF OPERATING SYSTEMS
• SECTION F - BIOS
• SECTION B – MEMORY MANAGEMENT (PAGING, SEGMENTATION AND VIRTUAL MEMORY).
• SECTION G – DEVICE DRIVERS
• SECTION C – INTERRUPTS, THE ROLE OF INTERRUPTS AND INTERRUPT SERVICE ROUTINES (ISR),
• SECTION H - VIRTUAL MACHINES, ANY INSTANCE WHERE SOFTWARE IS USED TO TAKE ON THE FUNCTION OF A MACHINE,
ROLE WITHIN THE FETCH DECODE EXECUTE CYCLE.

INCLUDING EXECUTING INTERMEDIATE CODE OR RUNNING AN OPERATING SYSTEM WITHIN ANOTHER.

• SECTION D – SCHEDULING: ROUND ROBIN, FIRST COME FIRST SERVED, MULTI-LEVEL FEEDBACK

QUEUES, SHORTEST JOB FIRST AND SHORTEST REMAINING TIME.

 Types of operating system
SECTION E - DISTRIBUTED, EMBEDDED, MULTI-TASKING, MULTI-USER AND REAL TIME OPERATING SYSTEMS

Multi-Tasking OS

• As already mentioned, multitasking is the ability to seemingly

perform multiple tasks at the same time
CPU
• In reality, the OS switches CPU time between different tasks so quickly that
there is little or no delay in servicing the different programs.
• The operating system is able to keep track of where you are in these
tasks and go from one to the other without losing information. Operating
System
• Almost all of today's operating systems can multitask. When you
open your web browser and then open a word processor at the
same time, you are causing the operating system to multitask.
• Being able to do multitasking doesn't mean that an unlimited Application Application
number of tasks can be juggled at the same time. Each task
consumes system storage and other resources.
• As more tasks are started, the system may slow down or begin
to run out of shared storage. Application Application
 Types of operating system
SECTION E - DISTRIBUTED, EMBEDDED, MULTI-TASKING, MULTI-USER AND REAL TIME OPERATING SYSTEMS

Multi-User OS
• Allows multiple users on different computers or
terminals to access a single system with one OS on it.
Mainframe
(OS Installed)
• These programs are often quite complicated and must
be able to properly manage the necessary tasks
required by the different users connected to it.
Terminal 1 Terminal 2

• The users will typically be at terminals or computers

that give them access to the system through a network,
as well as other machines on the system such as Terminal 3 Terminal 4
printers.

• A multi-user operating system differs from a single-user

system on a network in that each user is accessing the
same OS at different machines.

Note: This is not the same as having multiple accounts on one computer. Multi-User OS allows simultaneous use of
its resources to multiple terminals / computers via a network
 Types of operating system
SECTION E - DISTRIBUTED, EMBEDDED, MULTI-TASKING, MULTI-USER AND REAL TIME OPERATING SYSTEMS

Real Time OS

• Guarantees a certain capability within a specified time constraint.

• Usually a fraction of a second
• The time taken to respond to changes in the environment, detected by sensors, must be
strictly controlled.
• For this reason, most of the OS is always stored in RAM.
• The real-time system must be able to coordinate incoming data and manage processes so
that everything is ready within a fraction of a second.
• Such OS are used to control cars, medical systems and military weapons systems.
• Imagine a military drone under fire over hostile territory. Do you really want to wait for that
“loading” cursor to finish before you can engage hostiles?
• These OS are often embedded into larger system’s software – they will control a set of
specific functions for the system in use.
 Types of operating system
SECTION E - DISTRIBUTED, EMBEDDED, MULTI-TASKING, MULTI-USER AND REAL TIME OPERATING SYSTEMS

Distributed OS
• Runs on a collection of independent, networked, physically separate Computer 1 Computer 2 Computer 3
computers.
Application
Application 2
1
• Each individual computer holds a subset of the whole operating system, but
to the user, he/she sees the OS as a single entity operating on their PC.

Distributed System Layer

• The users of a true distributed system should not know, on which machine
their programs are running and where their files are stored.
• QUESTION: What computational method is this an example of?

Local OS 1 Local OS 2 Local OS 3

• Various parts of the network must communicate with each other to provide
services required by any particular user.

• The advantages of such a system are similar to distributed systems. Best use Network
is made of the all the hardware throughout the network to giver better
response times for each user.
 Types of operating system
SECTION E - DISTRIBUTED, EMBEDDED, MULTI-TASKING, MULTI-USER AND REAL TIME OPERATING SYSTEMS

Embedded OS

• Its not just the PC, laptop, server, etc which need an OS. Any system with a computer system embedded
into it will need an OS to run.
• TV, Washing Machine, Sat Nav, Fridge, etc

• Embedded systems have one purpose, they do not require multitasking or multi-user functionality
• Usually made using assembly language in order to really take advantage of the limited computing
resources, since it is the closest to machine language and is able to squeeze every drop of computing
power available.
• OS is optimized for whatever hardware it was developed for and will not be compatible with other
hardware systems with different configurations

• One single application is crucial to the device’s operation, so an embedded OS must be reliable and able
to run with constraints on memory, size and processing power.
 Types of operating system
SECTION E - DISTRIBUTED, EMBEDDED, MULTI-TASKING, MULTI-USER AND REAL TIME OPERATING SYSTEMS

Questions
• A standalone system for an accountant working from home, running such applications as a spreadsheet, Distributed OS
internet browser, word processor as well as specialist packages such as SAGE accounting.
• For the recording and processing of information gained from sensors to control the heating and
ventilation system in a large building. The heating and ventilation will respond to changes in the
environment and parameters such as maximum temperature are made, via the operating system, by the Embedded OS
heating engineer.
• An operating system to allow the user access to a sophisticated GPS system from a handheld device. This
is designed to be used in hostile environments such as jungles, desserts and tundra. It must be
completely reliable, robust and accurate. The device which will use the OS will also have other Multi-Tasking OS
capabilities such as transmitting SOS signals and sending out high-pitched sound waves.
• A large network of highly-trained software developers, spanning several cities. These users need access
to a range of applications, which will include specialist programming languages, graphics and animation
editors, software testing tools etc. The number and type of applications is very resource-intensive and the Multi-User OS
requirements for different applications will, to a degree, vary in each geographical area.
• An operating system for a network of business consultants, working from different locations throughout a
large city. These users regularly prepare collaborative documents for such purposes as raising finance for
large corporations, from banks and other lenders. There is central control of the network from Real Time OS
headquarters, where the main servers and technicians are located.
 Questions
SECTION E - DISTRIBUTED, EMBEDDED, MULTI-TASKING, MULTI-USER AND REAL TIME OPERATING SYSTEMS

Complete Section E on the worksheet 1.2.1 – Operating Systems

Extra:
• Read through page 21/22 of Revision Guide
• Answer questions 8 and 9

• Read through 1.2.2 – Revision Checklist: Section D and ensure you are
able to check off each point.
• Make a note of any areas you feel you need to work on