‭ perating System‬‭(OS) is an interface between a computer‬‭user and computer‬

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‭hardware. An operating system is a software which performs all the basic tasks‬
‭like file management, memory management, process management, handling‬
‭input and output, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and‬
‭printers.‬

‭Architecture‬
‭ e can draw a generic architecture diagram of an Operating System which is as‬
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‭follows:‬

‭Memory Management‬
‭ emory management refers to management of Primary Memory or Main‬
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‭Memory. Main memory is a large array of words or bytes where each word or‬
‭byte has its own address.‬

‭ ain memory provides fast storage that can be accessed directly by the CPU. For‬
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‭a program to be executed, it must be in the main memory. An Operating System‬
‭does the following activities for memory management −‬

‭ .Keeps track of primary memory, i.e., what part of it is in use by whom, what‬
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‭part is not in use.‬

‭ .In multiprogramming, the OS decides which process will get memory when‬
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‭and how much.‬
‭3.Allocates the memory when a process requests it to do so.‬

‭ .De-allocates the memory when a process no longer needs it or has been‬

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‭terminated.‬

‭Processor Management‬
I‭ n multiprogramming environment, the OS decides which process gets the‬
‭processor when and for how much time. This function is called‬‭process‬
‭scheduling‬‭. An Operating System does the following‬‭activities for processor‬
‭management −‬

‭ .Keeps tracks of processor and status of process. The program responsible for‬
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‭this task is known as‬‭traffic controller‬‭.‬

‭2.Allocates the processor (CPU) to a process.‬

‭3.De-allocates processors when a process is no longer required.‬

‭Device Management:‬

‭ n Operating System manages device communication via their respective‬

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‭drivers. It does the following activities for device management −‬

‭ .Keeps tracks of all devices. Program responsible for this task is known as the‬
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‭I/O controller‬‭.‬

‭2.Decides which process gets the device when and for how much time.‬

‭3.Allocates the device in the efficient way.‬

‭4.De-allocates devices.‬

‭File Management:‬

‭ file system is normally organized into directories for easy navigation and‬
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‭usage. These directories may contain files and other directions.‬

‭An Operating System does the following activities for file management −‬

‭ .Keeps track of information, location, uses, status etc. The collective facilities‬
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‭are often known as‬‭file system‬‭.‬

‭2.Decides who gets the resources.‬

‭3.Allocates the resources.‬

‭4.De-allocates the resources.‬

‭Types of Operating System‬

‭ perating systems are there from the very first computer generation and they‬
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‭keep evolving with time. In this chapter, we will discuss some of the important‬
‭types of operating systems which are most commonly used.‬

‭Batch operating system:‬

‭ he users of a batch operating system do not interact with the computer directly.‬
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‭Each user prepares his job on an off-line device like punch cards and submits it‬
‭to the computer operator. To speed up processing, jobs with similar needs are‬
‭batched together and run as a group. The programmers leave their programs‬
‭with the operator and the operator then sorts the programs with similar‬
‭requirements into batches.‬

‭The problems with Batch Systems are as follows −‬

‭ ack of interaction between the user and the job.‬

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‭CPU is often idle, because the speed of the mechanical I/O devices is‬
‭slower than the CPU.‬
‭Difficult to provide the desired priority.‬

‭Time-sharing operating systems‬

‭ ime-sharing is a technique which enables many people, located at various‬
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‭terminals, to use a particular computer system at the same time. Time-sharing‬
‭or multitasking is a logical extension of multiprogramming. Processor's time‬
‭which is shared among multiple users simultaneously is termed as time-sharing.‬

‭ he main difference between Multiprogrammed Batch Systems and Time-Sharing‬

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‭Systems is that in case of Multiprogrammed batch systems, the objective is to‬
‭maximize processor use, whereas in Time-Sharing Systems, the objective is to‬
‭minimize response time.‬

‭ ultiple jobs are executed by the CPU by switching between them, but the‬
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‭switches occur so frequently. Thus, the user can receive an immediate response.‬
‭For example, in a transaction processing, the processor executes each user‬
‭program in a short burst or quantum of computation. That is, if‬‭n‬‭users are‬
‭present, then each user can get a time quantum. When the user submits the‬
‭command, the response time is in few seconds at most.‬

‭ he operating system uses CPU scheduling and multiprogramming to provide‬

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‭each user with a small portion of a time. Computer systems that were designed‬
‭primarily as batch systems have been modified to time-sharing systems.‬

‭Advantages of Timesharing operating systems are as follows −‬

 ‭ rovides the advantage of quick response.‬
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‭Avoids duplication of software.‬
‭Reduces CPU idle time.‬

‭Disadvantages of Time-sharing operating systems are as follows −‬

‭ roblem of reliability.‬
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‭Question of security and integrity of user programs and data.‬
‭Problem of data communication.‬

‭Distributed operating System‬

‭ istributed systems use multiple central processors to serve multiple real-time‬
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‭applications and multiple users. Data processing jobs are distributed among the‬
‭processors accordingly.‬

‭ he processors communicate with one another through various communication‬

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‭lines (such as high-speed buses or telephone lines). These are referred as‬
‭loosely coupled systems‬‭or distributed systems. Processors‬‭in a distributed‬
‭system may vary in size and function. These processors are referred as sites,‬
‭nodes, computers, and so on.‬

‭The advantages of distributed systems are as follows −‬

‭ ith resource sharing facility, a user at one site may be able to use the‬
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‭resources available at another.‬
‭Speedup the exchange of data with one another via electronic mail.‬
‭If one site fails in a distributed system, the remaining sites can potentially‬
‭continue operating.‬
‭Better service to the customers.‬
‭Reduction of the load on the host computer.‬
‭Reduction of delays in data processing.‬

‭Network operating System‬

‭ Network Operating System runs on a server and provides the server the‬
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‭capability to manage data, users, groups, security, applications, and other‬
‭networking functions. The primary purpose of the network operating system is to‬
‭allow shared file and printer access among multiple computers in a network,‬
‭typically a local area network (LAN), a private network or to other networks.‬

‭ xamples of network operating systems include Microsoft Windows Server 2003,‬

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‭Microsoft Windows Server 2008, UNIX, Linux, Mac OS X, Novell NetWare, and‬
‭BSD.‬

‭The advantages of network operating systems are as follows −‬

 ‭ entralized servers are highly stable.‬
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‭Security is server managed.‬
‭Upgrades to new technologies and hardware can be easily integrated into‬
‭the system.‬
‭Remote access to servers is possible from different locations and types of‬
‭systems.‬

‭The disadvantages of network operating systems are as follows −‬

‭ igh cost of buying and running a server.‬

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‭Dependency on a central location for most operations.‬
‭Regular maintenance and updates are required.‬

‭Real Time operating System‬

‭ real-time system is defined as a data processing system in which the time‬
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‭interval required to process and respond to inputs is so small that it controls the‬
‭environment. The time taken by the system to respond to an input and display‬
‭of required updated information is termed as the‬‭response‬‭time‬‭. So in this‬
‭method, the response time is very less as compared to online processing.‬

‭ eal-time systems are used when there are rigid time requirements on the‬
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‭operation of a processor or the flow of data and real-time systems can be used‬
‭as a control device in a dedicated application. A real-time operating system must‬
‭have well-defined, fixed time constraints, otherwise the system will fail. For‬
‭example, Scientific experiments, medical imaging systems, industrial control‬
‭systems, weapon systems, robots, air traffic control systems, etc.‬

‭There are two types of real-time operating systems.‬

‭Hard real-time systems‬

‭ ard real-time systems guarantee that critical tasks complete on time. In hard‬
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‭real-time systems, secondary storage is limited or missing and the data is stored‬
‭in ROM. In these systems, virtual memory is almost never found.‬

‭Soft real-time systems‬

‭ oft real-time systems are less restrictive. A critical real-time task gets priority‬
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‭over other tasks and retains the priority until it completes. Soft real-time‬
‭systems have limited utility than hard real-time systems. For example,‬
‭multimedia, virtual reality, Advanced Scientific Projects like undersea exploration‬
‭and planetary rovers, etc.‬