UNDERSTANDING THE

PRINCIPLES OF
OPERATING SYSTEM
UNIT 1: UNDERSTANDINGTHE PRINCIPLES OF OPERATING SYSTEM

• Operation system
• Computer Structures
• Operating System Structures
What is an Operating System?

• An operating System (OS) is an intermediary between users and

computer hardware.
• OS provides users an environment in which a user can execute
programs conveniently and efficiently.
• In technical terms, it is software which manages hardware. An
operating System controls the allocation of resources and services
such as memory, processors, devices and information.
• An operating system is a program that acts as an interface between
the user and the computer hardware and controls the execution of all
kinds of programs.
Abstract View of Computer System
Components
• Hardware: Provides basic computing
resources (CPU, memory, I/O devices).
• Operating System: Controls and
coordinates the use of hardware among
application programs.
• Application Programs: Define the ways in
which the system resources are used to
solve the computing problems of the
users. These can be compilers, database
systems, video games, business programs
such as banking software.
• Users: People, machines, other computers
Functions of Operating System
• Following are some of important functions of an operating System.
• Memory Management
• Processor Management
• Device Management
• File Management
• Security
• Control over system performance
• Job accounting
• Error detecting aids
• Coordination between other software and users
Memory Management

• Memory management refers to management of Primary Memory or Main

Memory. Main memory is a large array of words or bytes where each word or
byte has its own address.
• Main memory provides a fast storage that can be access directly by the CPU.
So for a program to be executed, it must in the main memory. Operating
System does the following activities for memory management.
• Keeps tracks of primary memory i.e. what part of it are in use by whom, what part are
not in use.
• In multiprogramming, OS decides which process will get memory when and how much.
• Allocates the memory when the process requests it to do so.
• De-allocates the memory when the process no longer needs it or has been terminated.
Processor Management

• In multiprogramming environment, OS decides which process gets the

processor when and how much time. This function is called process
scheduling.
• Operating System does the following activities for processor
management.
• Keeps tracks of processor and status of process. Program responsible for this
task is known as traffic controller.
• Allocates the processor (CPU) to a process.
• De-allocates processor when processor is no longer required.
Device Management

• OS manages device communication via their respective drivers.

• Operating System does the following activities for device
management.
• Keeps tracks of all devices. Program responsible for this task is known as the
I/O controller.
• Decides which process gets the device when and for how much time.
• Allocates the device in the efficient way.
• De-allocates devices
File Management

• A file system is normally organized into directories for easy navigation

and usage. These directories may contain files and other directions.
• Operating System does the following activities for file management.
• Keeps track of information, location, uses, status etc. The collective facilities
are often known as file system.
• Decides who gets the resources.
• Allocates the resources.
• De-allocates the resources.
Other Important OS funcctions

• Following are some of the important activities that Operating System does.
• Security: By means of password and similar other techniques, preventing
unauthorized access to programs and data.
• Control over system performance: Recording delays between request for a service
and response from the system.
• Job accounting: Keeping track of time and resources used by various jobs and
users.
• Error detecting aids: Production of dumps, traces, error messages and other
debugging and error detecting aids.
• Coordination between other software and users: Coordination and assignment of
compilers, interpreters, assemblers and other software to the various users of the
computer systems.
Types of Operating Systems
• Operating systems are there from the very first computer generation.
Operating systems keep evolving over the period of time. Following
are few of the important types of operating system which are most
commonly used.
• Batch operating system
• Time-sharing operating systems
• Distributed operating system
• Network operating system
• Real time operating system
Batch operating system

• The users of batch operating system do • The problems with Batch

not interact with the computer directly. Systems are following.
• Each user prepares his job on an off- • Lack of interaction between the
line device like punch cards and user and job.
submits it to the computer operator.
• CPU is often idle, because the
• To speed up processing, jobs with speeds of the mechanical I/O
similar needs are batched together and devices are slower than CPU.
run as a group. Thus, the programmers
• Difficult to provide the desired
left their programs with the operator.
priority.
• The operator then sorts programs into
batches with similar requirements.
 Time-sharing operating systems
• Time sharing is a technique which enables many • Thus, the user can receive an immediate
people, located at various terminals, to use a response. For example, in a transaction
particular computer system at the same time. processing, processor execute each user
• Time-sharing or multitasking is a logical extension program in a short burst or quantum of
of multiprogramming. computation.
• Processor's time which is shared among multiple • That is if n users are present, each user can
users simultaneously is termed as time-sharing.
get time quantum. When the user submits the
• The main difference between multi-programmed command, the response time is in few
Batch Systems and Time-Sharing
seconds at most.
• Systems is that in case of multi-programmed batch
systems, objective is to maximize processor use, • Operating system uses CPU scheduling and
whereas in Time-Sharing Systems objective is to multiprogramming to provide each user with a
minimize response time. small portion of a time.
• Multiple jobs are executed by the CPU by switching • Computer systems that were designed
between them, but the switches occur so primarily as batch systems have been
frequently. modified to time-sharing systems.
Time-sharing operating systems…
Advantages of Timesharing operating
systems are following
Disadvantages of Timesharing operating systems
are following.

• Provide advantage of quick • Problem of reliability.

response. • Question of security and
• Avoids duplication of software. integrity of user programs and
• Reduces CPU idle time. data.
• Problem of data communication.
Distributed operating System

• Distributed systems use multiple central processors to serve multiple

real time application and multiple users.
• Data processing jobs are distributed among the processors
accordingly to which one can perform each job most efficiently.
• The processors communicate with one another through various
communication lines (such as high-speed buses or telephone lines).
These are referred as loosely coupled systems or distributed systems.
• Processors in a distributed system may vary in size and function.
These processors are referred as sites, nodes, and computers and so
on.
The advantages of distributed systems are following.

• With resource sharing facility user at one site may be able to use the
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 server the

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.
• Examples of network operating systems are Microsoft Windows
Server 2003, Microsoft Windows Server 2008, UNIX, Linux, Mac OS X,
Novell NetWare, and BSD.
Network operating System
The advantages of network operating The disadvantages of network operating systems are following
.

systems are following.

• Centralized servers are highly • High cost of buying and running

stable. a server.
• Security is server managed. • Dependency on a central
• Upgrades to new technologies location for most operations.
and hardware can be easily • Regular maintenance and
integrated into the system. updates are required.
• Remote access to servers is
possible from different locations
and types of systems.
Real Time operating System
• Real time system is defines as a data processing system in which the time interval
required to process and respond to inputs is so small that it controls the environment.
• Real time processing is always on line whereas on line system need not be real time.
• The time taken by the system to respond to an input and display of required updated
information is termed as response time. So in this method response time is very less
as compared to the online processing.
• Real-time systems are used when there are rigid time requirements on the operation
of a processor or the flow of data and real-time systems can be used as a control
device in a dedicated application.
• Real-time operating system has well-defined, fixed time constraints otherwise system
will fail. For example Scientific experiments, medical imaging systems, industrial
control systems, weapon systems, robots, and home-appliance controllers, Air traffic
control system etc.
Types of real-time operating systems.
Hard real-time systems Soft real-time systems

• Hard real-time systems • Soft real time systems are less restrictive.
guarantee that critical tasks • Critical real-time task gets priority over
complete on time. other tasks and retains the priority until
it completes.
• In hard real-time systems • Soft real-time systems have limited utility
secondary storage is limited or than hard real-time systems.
missing with data stored in • For example, Multimedia, virtual reality,
ROM. Advanced Scientific Projects like
undersea exploration and planetary
• In these systems virtual memory rovers etc
is almost never found.
Operating System Services

• An Operating System provides services to both the users and to the

programs.
• It provides programs, an environment to execute.
• It provides users, services to execute the programs in a convenient manner.
• Following are few common services provided by operating systems.
• Program execution
• I/O operations
• File System manipulation
• Communication
• Error Detection
• Resource Allocation
Program execution

• Operating system handles many kinds of activities from user programs to system
programs like printer spooler, name servers, file server etc. Each of these activities is
encapsulated as a process.
• A process includes the complete execution context (code to execute, data to
manipulate, registers, OS resources in use).
• Following are the major activities of an operating system with respect to program
management.
• Loads a program into memory.
• Executes the program.
• Handles program's execution.
• Provides a mechanism for process synchronization.
• Provides a mechanism for process communication.
• Provides a mechanism for deadlock handling.
I/O Operation

• I/O subsystem comprised of I/O devices and their corresponding driver

software.
• Drivers hides the peculiarities of specific hardware devices from the user as
the device driver knows the peculiarities of the specific device.
• Operating System manages the communication between user and device
drivers.
• Following are the major activities of an operating system with respect to I/O
Operation.
• I/O operation means read or write operation with any file or any specific I/O device.
• Program may require any I/O device while running.
• Operating system provides the access to the required I/O device when required.
File system manipulation

• A file represents a collection of related information.

• Computer can store files on the disk (secondary storage), for long term storage purpose.
• Few examples of storage media are magnetic tape, magnetic disk and optical disk drives
like CD, DVD.
• Each of these media has its own properties like speed, capacity, data transfer rate and
data access methods.
• A file system is normally organized into directories for easy navigation and usage. These
directories may contain files and other directions.
• Following are the major activities of an operating system with respect to file
management.
• Program needs to read a file or write a file.
• The operating system gives the permission to the program for operation on file.
• Permission varies from read-only, read-write, denied and so on.
• Operating System provides an interface to the user to create/delete files.
• Operating System provides an interface to the user to create/delete directories.
• Operating System provides an interface to create the backup of file system.
Communication

• In case of distributed systems which are a collection of processors that do not share
memory, peripheral devices, or a clock, operating system manages communications
between processes.
• Multiple processes with one another through communication lines in the network.
• OS handles routing and connection strategies, and the problems of contention and
security.
• Following are the major activities of an operating system with respect to
communication.
• Two processes often require data to be transferred between them.
• Both processes can be on the one computer or on different computer but are connected
through computer network.
• Communication may be implemented by two methods either by Shared Memory or by Message
Passing.
Error handling

• Error can occur anytime and anywhere.

• Error may occur in CPU, in I/O devices or in the memory hardware.
• Following are the major activities of an operating system with respect
to error handling.
• OS constantly remains aware of possible errors.
• OS takes the appropriate action to ensure correct and consistent computing.
Resource Management

• In case of multi-user or multi-tasking environment, resources such as

main memory, CPU cycles and files storage are to be allocated to each
user or job.
• Following are the major activities of an operating system with respect
to resource management.
• OS manages all kind of resources using schedulers.
• CPU scheduling algorithms are used for better utilization of CPU.
Protection

• Considering computer systems having multiple users the concurrent

execution of multiple processes, then the various processes must be
protected from each another's activities.
• Protection refers to mechanism or a way to control the access of
programs, processes, or users to the resources defined by computer
systems.
• Following are the major activities of an operating system with respect to
protection.
• OS ensures that all access to system resources is controlled.
• OS ensures that external I/O devices are protected from invalid access attempts.
• OS provides authentication feature for each user by means of a password.
Computer Structures
Operating System Structures