Peter Norton

Operating System
Basics

McGraw-Hill Technology Education Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
 Chapter Outlines
• Basic Function of OP
• Types of Operating Systems
• Enhancing an OS

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Basic Functions of OS
• Displays the on-screen elements with which
you interact—the user interface.
• Loads programs (such as word processing
and spreadsheet programs) into the
computer's memory so that you can use them.
• Coordinates how programs work with the
computer's hardware and other software.
• Manages the way information is stored on,
and retrieved from disks.

Process Management, Memory Management, File Management,

Device Management, Security, Command Interpretation
Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics
Types of Operating Systems

• Real Time OS
• Single User Single Tasking OS
• Single User—Multi Tasking OS
• Multi User—Multi Tasking OS

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Types of OS (RTOS)
• A real-time operating system (RTOS) is an
operating system (OS) intended to serve real-
time application requests.

• It must be able to process data as it comes in,

typically without buffering delays.

• A common example of an RTOS is an HDTV

receiver and display. It needs to read a digital
signal, decode it and display it as the data
comes in, Medical equipment.
Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics
 Types of OS (RTOS)

• Real-time operating system

– Very fast small OS
– Built into a device
– Respond quickly to user input
– Example: MP3 players, Medical devices, Live
support equipment, HDTV receiver

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Types of OS (RTOS)
Some of the best known, most widely deployed,
real-time operating systems are:
• LynxOS
• OSE
• QNX
• RTLinux
• VxWorks
• Windows CE

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

Single user/Single tasking OS
– One user works on the system
– Performs one task at a time
– Take up little space on disk
– Run on inexpensive computers

Example:
MS-DOS and Palm OS

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

Single user/Multitasking OS
– User performs many tasks at once
– Most common form of OS
– Require expensive computers
– Tend to be complex
Example:
Windows XP and OS X

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Multi user/Multitasking OS
– Many users connect to one computer
– Each user has a unique session
– Maintenance can be easy
– Requires a powerful computer

Example:
UNIX, Linux, and VMS, MVS

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Functions of Operating Systems
• Provide a user interface
• Run programs
• Manage hardware devices and software
• Organized file storage

7A-11 Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

1) Providing a User Interface
• User interface
– How a user interacts with a computer
– Require different skill sets
• Understanding Tabs, Mouse, Cursors, Dialogue
Boxes, Pop-up menus etc.

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

Providing a User Interface
• Graphical user interface (GUI)

• Command Line User Interface

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

Providing a User Interface
• Graphical user interface (GUI)
– Most common interface
• Windows, OS X, Gnome, KDE
– Uses a mouse to control objects
– Uses a desktop metaphor
– Shortcuts opening programs or documents
– Open documents have additional objects
– Task switching
– Dialog boxes allow directed input

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

Graphical User Interface (Win 7)

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

Graphical User Interface (Win 8)
Graphical User Interface (Osx)
Graphical User Interface (GNOME 3.12)
Graphical User Interface (GNOME 3.12)
GNOME is developed by
The GNOME Project

Composed of both
volunteers and paid
contributors

The largest corporate

contributor being Red Hat

Open Source and Multi-

platform based

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

Graphical User Interface (KDE)

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

Providing a User Interface
• Command line interfaces
– Older interface
• DOS, Linux, UNIX
– User types commands at a prompt
– User must remember all commands
– Included in all GUIs

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

Command Line Interface

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

Command Line Interface(DOS)

Common DOS Commands: md, cd, cls, edit, alt, dir, copy, move, del…..

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 2) Running Programs
OS supports many different application
• OS provides for System call
– In computing, a system call is how a program
requests a service from an operating system's
kernel that it does not normally have
permission to run.

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 2) Running Programs

• OS provides for System call

– This may include hardware related services

(e.g. accessing the hard disk) and creating
and executing new processes.

– System calls provide an essential interface

between a process and the operating system.

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Running Programs
Other services:

• Saving the contents of files to a disk.

• Reading the contents of a file from disk into

memory.

• Sending a document to the printer and

activating the printer.

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Running Programs
Other services:

• Providing resources that let you copy or move

data from one document to another, or from
one program to another.

• Allocating RAM among the running programs.

• Recognizing keystrokes or mouse clicks and

displaying characters or graphics on the
screen. Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics
 Running Programs
• Share information between programs
– Copy and paste
– Object Linking and Embedding (OLE)
Example:
From “Paint” to “Word”

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 3) Managing Hardware
• Programs need to access hardware

– Interrupt request sent to CPU

– CPU is stopped
– Hardware device is accessed
– CPU retrieves the information
– CPU show it @ monitor

• Device drivers control the hardware

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics
Managing Hardware

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

4) Organizing Files and Folders

• Organized storage
• Long file names
• Folders can be created and nested
• All storage devices work consistently

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

Organizing Files and Folders

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Enhancing an OS
• Utilities
– Provide services not included with OS
– Goes beyond the four functions
– May be Free or Paid or part of the OS
Category:
(Disk and File Management, Internet Security, OS
Customization Tools)
Examples:
– Backing up and compression
– Firewall/Intrusion Detection
– Anti-virus / Internet Security
– Screen-savers
– iTunes
– Disk Defrag Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics
 Enhancing an OS
• Backup software
– Archives files onto removable media
– Ensures data integrity
– Most OS include a backup package
– Many third party packages exist

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

Backup Software

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Enhancing an OS
• Anti-virus software
– Crucial utility
– Finds, blocks and removes viruses
– Often recovers lost data
– Must be updated regularly
– McAfee, Norton Anti-Virus, E-set, Panda,

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Enhancing an OS
• Anti-virus Vs Internet Security

– 1.Antivirus is a class of software that detects

and cleans out virus infected files while Internet
Security is a suite of applications that aims to
protect users against threats from the internet

– 2.Internet Security suites usually include an

antivirus application among other programs

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Enhancing an OS
• Anti-virus Vs Internet Security
– 3.Internet security suites commonly includes a
firewall, anti malware, anti spyware, and email
protection.

– 4.Internet Security suites often cost more than

stand-alone antivirus applications

– 5. Internet Security requires more resources

to run and slows down old computers
Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics
 Enhancing an OS
• Firewall
– It looks at the Internet traffic going in and
out of your machine.

– You can instruct them to block certain traffic

or allow other kinds.

– Sometimes you can choose to do this

automatically without the firewall asking,
and sometimes you can choose to have the
firewall ask you first before blocking.
Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics
 Enhancing an OS
• Firewall (Hard Vs Soft)
– Hard– Built in a device (router)
– Soft– Programmed in a system (Utility)

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Enhancing an OS
• Intrusion detection
– Often part of a firewall package
– Announces attempts to breach security
– Creates Logs

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Enhancing an OS
• Antivirus Vs Firewall:
• Firewalls are used to limit incoming
transmissions to those that are least likely to
contain bad data,
• while antivirus programs actually look at the
effect that the incoming data has on the
system.
• Firewalls cannot be used to remove threats if
they happen to get past the firewall. Antivirus
can be used to do the same.

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Enhancing an OS
• Screen savers
– Crucial utility for command line systems
• Prevents burn-in of image (ghost image) in the
monitor
– Merely fun for GUI systems
– Screen saver decorates idle screens

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Chapter Summery
• Basic Function of OS
– User Interface, Process Management, Memory Management,
File Management, Device Management, Security,
• Types of Operating Systems
– Real Time OS
– Single User Single Tasking OS
– Single User—Multi Tasking OS
– Multi User—Multi Tasking OS
• Enhancing an OS
– Utilities ( Back up Software, Firewall, Anti-virus / Internet
Security, Screen-savers)

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Peter Norton

End of Chapter

McGraw-Hill Technology Education Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
 PC Operating Systems
• Apple and Linux represent the other 5%
• MC OS
• Unix
• Linux

7B-46 Chapter 6B : Operating System Basics

 PC Operating Systems
• Microsoft Windows- the most popular
– DOS (PC DOS, MS DOS)- 1980s
– Windows 3.x (3, 3.1 and 3.11)-1990
– Windows NT- 1993
– Windows 9x( 95, 98, ME)
– Windows 2000
– Windows XP
– Windows Vista
– Windows 7
– Windows 8
– Windows 8.1
7B-47
– Windows 10 -2014 Chapter 6B : Operating System Basics
 Network Operating System
• Designed to run on a Network server
• Fast and stable
• Multi-user and multitasking OS
• 32- or 64-bit
• Available Option;
– Windows NT Server, Windows 2000 Server,
windows Sever 2003, Windows 2008 Sever,
– Mac OS X
– Novell Netware
– UNIX
7B-48 – Linux Chapter 6B : Operating System Basics
 Embedded Operating Systems
• Devices have EOS built in
• Cell phones, PDAs, medical equipment
• Stable and fast
• Available Option:
– Windows XP
– Windows CE
– Palm OS
– Pocket PC
– Symbian
7B-49
– Android Chapter 6B : Operating System Basics