System Software

Computer
Hardware
Softwares
• System Software servers as Intermediary between Hardware
and functional application

Application Software
 System Softwares
• System Software is class of programs that controls and
support computer system and its information processing
activities.
• System Control Programs
– Controls use of H/W, S/W, and data resources of computer system.
– Operating System – supervises overall operations of Computer.
» Monitoring the status & scheduling operations.
» Its allocates CPU & MM to programs running.
» OS provides services that includes – process management, virtual memory,
file management, security, fault tolerance and user interface.
• Process Management -
» Managing program(s) running on processor at a given time.
» Sophisticated form of process management – Multitasking , Multithreading
and multiprogramming, Time-sharing, Multiprocessing
 System Softwares
• Virtual Memory
– Simulate more memory than actually exists.
– Primary storage is extended into secondary storage.
– Boosts the speed of computer and efficiently run programs.
– Divides program into fixed modules – pages.
• File Management & security
– Arrangement and access of files in secondary storage.
– Creates & manages directory structure.
– Protected memory and maintain access control on files.
– Keep track of users and authority level.
• Fault Tolerance
– Ability to produce correct results and to continue to operate even in
presence of faults or errors.
– Involve error correcting memory, redundant computer components,
and related S/W that protect from H/W, OS, or user errors.
 System Softwares
• User Interface
– DOS – text based interface.
– GUI – Graphical user interface. – have direct control of visible
objects and actions that replace complex command syntax.
– Next Generation GUI –
» Sound and speech, pen and gesture etc.

• Types of OS
– Mobile device operating system
– Desktop & PC
– Enterprise Server operating system – Mainframe (IBM’s
OS/390)
– Super computer operating system (Cray Unicos, IBM’s AIX)
 System Softwares
• System Support Programs
– System Utilities
• Written to accomplish common tasks (such as integrity of
diskettes, creating directories and subdirectories, manage
memory usage, sorting records, also restore erased files).
– System performance monitors
• Monitors processing of jobs, monitors performance of computer
and create detailed statistics relating use of system resources
(such as processor time, memory space, IO devices etc.)
– System security monitors
• Monitors use of computer systems to protect it and its resources
from unauthorized use, fraud, or destruction.
 Application Software
• Types of Application Software
– Proprietary application software
– Address specific or unique business need for a company.
» Developed in-house by organization.
» Commissioned to s/w vendor – contract software.
– Off-the-shelf application software
– Purchased, leased or rented from vendors.
– This app. s/w may be standard package or customized packages (
payroll, inventory control)
– Personal Application Software
– General type of processing. Not like business specific. (E.g.
spread sheet, data management, word processing, Graphics etc).
 Software issues
• Issues –
• Software evaluation and selection, software licensing , software
upgrades, open systems, open source software.
– Software evaluation and selection –
• Affected by many factors
Factors Consideration
Size and location of user base Does s/w support few users in single location? Or can it
accommodate large no. of geographical dispersed user?
Availability of system Offer tool to monitor system usage? Is list of authorized
administration tools users maintained? Security level?
Costs – initial and subsequent Is s/w affordable? (total cost - installation, maintenance)
System capabilities Does s/w meets current and future needs?
Existing computing environment Is s/w compatible with existing h/w, s/w and
communication network.
In-house technical skills Should organization develop s/w in-house, or go for off-
the-shelf s/w or contract s/w?
 Software issues
– Software Licensing
• s/w must be protected from being copied and distributed.
• Software Publisher Association (SPA) audits companies to see
that s/w used is properly licensed. Fines are heavy.
– Software upgrades
• Deciding to purchase new version s/w is crucial.
• First to buy and take strategic adv. before competitors or take risk
of falling prey to undiscovered bug.
– Open Systems
• Model of computing product that work together
• Use same OS with compatible s/w on all diff. computers that
would interact with one another in an organization.
– Open Source Software
• These are made available in source code form at no cost to
developers.
• E.g. – Linux, GNU’s for UNIX, Send Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP)
 Programming languages
• Machine language.
• Assembly language.
• Procedural language.
• Non-procedural languages.
• HTML.
• Object Oriented Languages.
• Enterprise Softwares
– ERP packages (SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, BAAN etc.)