CHAPTER 4

System Software
The Operating System Exploring the
popular operating system
System Utilities
Learning Objectives
 Understand the difference between system
software and application software.
 Explain the different functions of an operating
system and discuss some ways that
operating systems can differ from one
another.
 List several ways in which operating systems
can enhance processing efficiency.
 Name today’s most widely used operating
systems for desktop PCs and servers.

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Learning Objectives
 State several devices other than desktop
PCs and servers that require an operating
system and list one possible operating
system for each type of device.
 Discuss the role of utility programs and
outline several duties these programs can
perform.
 Describe what the operating systems of the
future may be like.

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Overview
 This chapter covers:
 Differences between system software and
application software
 Functions of and differences among operating
systems
 Various types of operating systems
 Functions of and various types of utility programs
 A look at the possible future of operating systems

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System Software and Application Software
 System software: Background programs that
control a computer system
 Acts as a mediator between application programs
and the computer system’s hardware, as well as
between the PC and the user
 Application software: Programs that allow a
user to perform specific tasks on a computer
 Word processing, playing a game, preparing
taxes, browsing the Web, and so forth

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The Operating System
 Operating system: A collection of programs
that manage and coordinate the activities
taking place within a computer system

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Functions of an Operating System
 Interfacing with users (typically via a GUI)
 Booting the computer
 Configuring devices
 Device drivers are often needed
 Plug and Play devices are recognized
automatically
 Managing resources and jobs
 File management
 Security

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File Management

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Features
 Starting or restarting a computer is called booting the
system.
 Warm boot.

 Cold boot.

 Common features available to most OS :

 Icons

 Pointer

 Windows

 Menus

 Tabs

 Dialog boxes

 Help

 Gesture control
Categories
 Embedded Operating System.
 Stand-alone operating systems.
 Also called desktop operating systems.

 Network operating system (NOS).

 Coordinate and control computers that

are networked or linked together.

Software Platform
 Mobile Operating Systems
 Android

 iOS

 Desktop Operating Systems

 Windows

 macOS
Processing Techniques for Increased Efficiency
 Multitasking: The ability of an operating
system to work with more than one
program (task) at one time
 CPU rotates between tasks
 Tasks are performed concurrently
 Multiprogramming: Multitasking with a multiuser
operating system

 Multithreading: The ability to run multiple

threads for a program at one time so that
processing is completed faster and more
efficiently
 Thread: Sequence of instructions within a program
that is independent of other threads

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Processing Techniques for Increased Efficiency
 Multiprocessing: Multiple processors are used in a
single computer, usually to process multiple jobs at one
time faster than with a single processor
 Simultaneous processing

 Used with servers and mainframes; used with

desktop PCs now (dual-core processors)

 Parallel processing: Multiple processors are used in a
single computer, usually to process a single job faster
 Simultaneous processing

 Most often used with supercomputers

 Coprocessing: Utilizing special processors for

specialized chores
 Math and graphics coprocessors

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Processing Techniques for Increased Efficiency

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Processing Techniques for Increased Efficiency
 Memory management: Optimizing the use of
main memory (RAM)
 Virtual memory: Memory-management technique
that uses hard drive space as additional RAM

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Processing Techniques for Increased Efficiency
 Buffering and spooling: Used with printers
and other peripheral devices
 Buffer: area in RAM or on the hard drive designated to
hold input and output on their way in or out of the
system
 Spooling: placing items in a buffer so they can be
retrieved by the appropriate device when needed

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Differences Among Operating Systems
 Command line vs. graphical user interface
(GUI)
 Most operating systems use GUI today

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Differences Among Operating Systems
 Personal vs. server operating system
 Personal operating system: designed to be
installed on a single PC
 Server operating system: designed to be installed
on a network server
 Client PCs still use a personal operating system
 Server operating system controls access to network
resources
 Many operating systems come in both versions
 Mobile and embedded operating systems
also exist

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Server Operating Systems

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Differences Among Operating Systems
 Types of processors supported
 Desktop, mobile, server, etc.
 32-bit or 64-bit PCs
 64-bit PCs can address more RAM
 Support for other technologies
 New types of buses
 Virtualization
 Power-saving features
 Sometimes support is discontinued, such as for
older ports and buses

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Operating Systems for Desktop PCs and
Servers
 Most PCs today run Windows, Mac OS, or

Linux
 DOS: Older operating system
 PC-DOS: Created originally for IBM
microcomputers
 MS-DOS: used with IBM-compatible PCs
 DOS traditionally used a command-line
interface
 Can enter DOS commands at the Windows
Command Prompt

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DOS

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Windows
 Windows: The primary PC operating
system developed by Microsoft Corporation
 Windows 1.0 through Windows 3.x: Operating
environments for DOS, not full-fledged
operating systems
 Windows 95 and Windows 98: Used a similar
GUI to the one used with Windows 3.x
 Windows 98 Second Edition (SE): Update to
Windows 98, released in 1999; still an installed
base of older PCs running Windows 98 SE
 Windows NT (New Technology): first 32-bit
version of Windows designed for high-end
workstations and servers

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Windows
 Windows, cont.
 Windows Me (Millennium Edition): designed for
home PCs, improved home networking and a
shared Internet connection
 Windows 2000: replaced Windows NT; was
geared towards high-end business workstations
and servers, support for wireless devices
 Windows XP: Replaced both Windows 2000
and Windows Me
 Based on Windows NT technology
 More stable and powerful than earlier versions of
Windows
 Newest features related to multimedia and
communications
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Windows
 Windows Vista: Most recent version of Windows
 Features the Aero visual interface

 Transparency and animations

 Live Thumbnails

 The Vista Start menu is more streamlined

 Built-in security features

 Improved networking ands multimedia

 Additional features

 Sidebar, Instant Search, etc.

 Hardware requirements for Vista have increased over

earlier versions of Windows

 Four editions (Home Basic, Home Premium, Business,

and Ultimate)

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Windows Vista

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Windows
 Windows Server: Server version of Windows
 Windows Server 2008: Most recent version

 Includes a variety of services

 Web platform

 Support for virtualization

 New security tools

 Streamlined management tools

 Windows Home Server: New operating system based on

Windows Server
 Provides services for a home network

 Provides access to shared files

 Can back up all devices on the network automatically

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Mac OS
 Mac OS: Proprietary operating system for
computers made by Apple Corporation
 Based on the UNIX operating system; originally
set the standard for graphical user interfaces
 Mac OS X Leopard: Most recent personal
version
 Mac OS X Server: Most recent server version
 Includes
 Support for 64-bit processors
 Safari Web browser
 New features like Time Machine, Stacks, Quick
Look, Boot Camp, etc.

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Mac OS

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UNIX
 UNIX: Operating system developed in the late 1960s
for midrange servers and mainframes
 Many variations of UNIX are in use today

 Multiuser, multitasking operating system

 More expensive, requires a higher level of PC

knowledge, and tends to be harder to install,

maintain, and upgrade than most other operating
systems
 “UNIX” initially referred to the original UNIX

operating system, now refers to a group of similar

operating systems based on UNIX
 Single UNIX Specification: A standardized UNIX

environment

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Linux
 Linux: Version (flavor) of UNIX available without charge
over the Internet
 Increasingly being used with PCs, servers,

mainframes, and supercomputers

 Is open-source software: has been collaboratively

modified by volunteer programmers all over the world

 Originally used a command line interface, most recent

versions use a GUI

 Strong support from mainstream companies, such as

Sun, IBM, HP, and Novell

 Used on PCs, mainframes, and consumer appliances

 Growing integration between Linux and other

operating systems is a recent development

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Linux

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Netware and Solaris
 NetWare: Widely used operating system for PC-based
networks
 Developed by Novell
 Competes directly with the server versions of Windows,

Mac OS, and Linux

 Newest version (NetWare 6.5) incorporates Open

Enterprise Server

 Solaris: UNIX-based operating system developed by Sun

Microsystems for Sun computers
 Can run on desktop systems and servers, as well as on

some supercomputers
 Latest version—Solaris 10—is designed to run across a

variety of platforms in a safe, efficient, and stable

manner

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Operating Systems for Handheld PCs
and Mobile Devices
 Windows Embedded: Designed for no personal
computer devices, such as cash registers and
consumer electronic devices
 Windows Automotive and Microsoft Auto for cars

 Windows Mobile: Designed for handheld PCs, smart

phones, and other mobile devices
 Palm OS: Designed for Palm handheld PCs
 BlackBerry Operating System: Designed for
BlackBerry devices
 Embedded Linux: Designed for handheld PCs,
mobile phones, GPS devices, and other mobile
devices
 Syombian OS: Designed for use with smart phones
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Operating Systems for Handheld PCs and
Mobile Devices

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Operating Systems for Larger Computers
 Larger computers sometimes use operating
systems designed solely for that type of
system
 IBM’s z/OS and i/5OS operating systems are
designed for their servers and mainframes
 Windows, UNIX, and Linux, are also used
with both mainframes and supercomputers
 Often a group of Linux PCs are linked
together to form what is referred to as a Linux
supercluster supercomputer

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Virtualization
 Allows a single physical computer to support multiple
operating systems. Virtualization software (Parallels or
VMware) allows the single physical computer to operate as
two or more separate and independent computers known as
virtual machines. Host OS run on physical machine and
Guest OS run on virtual machines.
Utility Programs
 Utility program: Type of software that
performs a specific task, usually related to
managing or maintaining the computer
system
 Many utilities are built into operating systems
(for finding files, viewing images, backing up
files, etc.)
 Utilities are also available as stand-alone
products and as security
suites

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File Management Programs
 File management programs: Enable the user
to perform file management tasks, such as:
 Looking at the contents of a PC or storage
medium
 Creating folders
 Copying, moving, and renaming files and folders
 Deleting files and folders
 File management program in Windows is
Windows Explorer

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Using Windows Explorer

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Using Windows Explorer

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Utility Programs
 Search tools: Designed to search for files on the user’s
hard drive
 Windows Vista includes new search tools

 Diagnostic programs: Evaluate your system and make

recommendations for fixing any errors found
 Disk management programs: Diagnose and repair
problems related to your hard drive
 File compression programs: Reduce the size of files so
they take up less storage space on a storage medium
or can be transmitted faster over the Internet
 Both zip and unzip files

 WinZip (Windows users) and Stuffit (Mac users)

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File Compression Programs

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Utility Programs
 Uninstall utilities: Remove programs from your hard
drive without leaving bits and pieces behind
 Uninstall capabilities are built into most operating

systems
 Uninstall utility programs are also available as stand-

alone programs
 Sometimes an uninstall option is included in a

program’s folder when that program is originally

installed
 Important to properly uninstall programs, not just

delete them
 Cleanup utilities
 Designed to delete temporary files

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Utility Programs
 Backup and recovery utilities: Make the
backup and restoration process easier
 Backup: Duplicate copy of data or other
computer content
 Good backup procedures are critical for
businesses and individuals
 Individuals should back up important documents, e-
mail, photos, home video, etc.
 Store backup data on a CD or DVD, second
hard drive, flash memory drive, or upload to the
Internet
 Back up your entire PC once all programs have
been installed, so your system can be restored
to that configuration.

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Backup Programs

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Utility Programs
 Security programs: Protect computers and
users
 Antivirus programs
 Antispyware programs
 Firewalls
 Many are included in Windows and other
operating systems

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The Future of Operating Systems
 Will continue to become more user-friendly
 Will eventually be driven primarily by a voice
interface
 Likely to continue to become more stable and
self-healing
 Will likely continue to include improved security
features and to support multiple processors and
other technological improvements
 May be used primarily to access software
available through the Internet or other networks

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Summary
 System Software vs. Application Software
 The Operating System
 Operating Systems for Desktop PCs and
Servers
 Operating Systems for Handheld PCs and
Mobile Devices
 Operating Systems for Larger Computers
 Utility Programs
 The Future of Operating Systems

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