Components of an operating system

Components of an operating system

1. Kernal aka Core

   • does process management
     • determines what programs have disk access at what times
       • like how much ram a computer can access, without it the programs can't talk to the hardware
   • CPU communicate though the kernel
   • Input/output management
     • device drivers
       • these allow the hardware devices to be used by the operating system
         • without it no mouse, keyboard, sound, WIFI or even display, it could run but it would not be usable
         • needed to use pieces that make up the os
     • this is runned though the Kernal
     • assuming you have it else your stuck
   • this can also swich between modes
     • protected aka safe mode
       • this mode is either done through commands or if nessary through the system
     • superviser aka normal mode
       • regular mode that comes up without prompts
   • this is assuming this is not a multicore or doing cross threading
   • realy important piece of OS as most of the components of the OS are contained in here
   • this also allows the disk to be acressed

2. User interface

   • without GUI there will be a display but people can't get around.
     • there is ways to run a OS without some of the GUI interface elements but not recommend.
   • this is generally called a shell, each diffent OS has a different user interface,
     • fortunately all User interfaces have similar commands
   • assuming that it is not a part inside the kernal like a modern OS

3. File systems

   • this part does file management meaning moving data mostly files goes though the os
   • without this there will be no management
     • meaning that that the files will not be saved in places
   • assuming it is a modern OS, else it wouldn't be a part go the OS

4. security aka protection system

   • decides what to process and what not to process
     • programs that the computer is unsure about is either asked for access or blocked
   • without it processes might run without permission and viruses not be stoppable
   • assuming that the computer has it. it should but it might not have it

5. Networking

   • how the computer connects to itself,others and a network
   • interrupts caused by the Kernal allows the computer to interact and react to the enviroment
     • without these it will just "watch" the inputs for required actions
       • an example is when battery is low, it decrees resolution
   • assuming you are looking at it more then just a driver

6. assuming it is a basic one core OS