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An Operating System Unit 1

An Operating System (OS) serves as an intermediary between users and computer hardware, managing resources and enabling applications to run. It includes various types such as Batch, Multi-programmed, Time-Shared, and Mobile OS, with key functions like process, memory, file, and I/O management. System calls provide the interface for programs to access OS services, facilitating operations like process control and file management.

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6 views3 pages

An Operating System Unit 1

An Operating System (OS) serves as an intermediary between users and computer hardware, managing resources and enabling applications to run. It includes various types such as Batch, Multi-programmed, Time-Shared, and Mobile OS, with key functions like process, memory, file, and I/O management. System calls provide the interface for programs to access OS services, facilitating operations like process control and file management.

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valatesanchita
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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An Operating System (OS) acts as the intermediary between the

user and the computer hardware, managing resources and providing a platform for applications to
run. It encompasses various types, including Batch, Multi-programmed, Time-Shared, Multiprocessor,
Distributed, Real-time, and Mobile OS (like Android). Key OS functions involve process, memory, file,
I/O, and secondary storage management. System calls act as the interface between programs and
the OS, allowing access to these services.

1.1 Operating System: Concept and Functions

Concept:

An OS is system software that manages computer hardware and software resources, acting as a
bridge between the user and the machine.

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).

Abstract View of System Components

Functions:

Resource Management: The OS allocates and deallocates resources like CPU time, memory, storage,
and I/O devices.

Process Management: Manages the creation, execution, and termination of processes, including
scheduling and synchronization.

Memory Management: Allocates and deallocates memory space to processes and manages virtual
memory.

File Management: Organizes and manages files and directories on storage devices.

I/O Management: Handles input and output operations, allowing communication with peripheral
devices.
Security: Provides protection mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access to resources and data.

User Interface: Provides a user-friendly interface for interacting with the computer system.

Error Handling: Detects and handles errors that may occur during program execution or system
operation.

1.2 Different Types of Operating Systems

Batch Operating System:

Processes jobs in batches, executing them sequentially without user interaction.

Multi-programmed Operating System:

Allows multiple programs to reside in memory simultaneously, increasing CPU utilization.

Time-Shared Operating System:

Enables multiple users to share the computer resources concurrently, giving the illusion of dedicated
processing.

Multiprocessor System:

Uses multiple CPUs to execute instructions, improving performance and throughput.

Distributed System:

Distributes processing across multiple interconnected computers, offering scalability and fault
tolerance.

Real-Time System:

Designed for real-time applications requiring immediate responses, such as embedded systems.

Mobile OS (Android OS):

A specialized OS designed for mobile devices, like smartphones and tablets.

1.3 Command Line vs. GUI Based Operating Systems

Command Line Based OS:

DOS: A disk operating system with a command-line interface, primarily used for basic operations on
personal computers.

UNIX: An operating system known for its command-line interface and powerful utilities, often used in
servers and development environments.

GUI Based OS:

WINDOWS: A widely used operating system with a graphical user interface, providing a user-friendly
experience.

LINUX: An open-source OS available with both command-line and GUI interfaces.


Mac OS: An operating system developed by Apple, known for its user-friendly interface and
integration with Apple's hardware.

1.4 Different Services of Operating System, System Calls

Services:

The OS provides a wide range of services, including process management, memory management, file
management, I/O management, and security.

System Calls:

System calls are functions that allow programs to request services from the OS kernel.

Concept: System calls act as the interface between user-level applications and the OS kernel.

Types:

Process Control: Creating, deleting, and managing processes.

File Management: Creating, deleting, reading, and writing files.

Device Management: Controlling input/output devices.

Information Maintenance: Accessing system information.

Communication: Inter-process communication.

Protection: Controlling access to resources.

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