Operating System

Operating System

1. WHAT IS OS?

   • The operating system is the most important program that runs on a computer. Every general-purpose computer must have an operating system to run other programs. Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers. For large systems, the operating system has even greater responsibilities and powers. It is like a traffic cop it makes sure that different programs and users running at the same time do not interfere with each other. The operating system is also responsible for security, ensuring that unauthorized users do not access the system. What is an Operating System

2. HOW IT WORKS?

   • The operating system defines our computing experience. It's the first software we see when we turn on the computer, and the last software we see when the computer is turned off. It's the software that enables all the programs we use. The operating system organizes and controls the hardware on our desks and in our hands, yet most users can't say with any certainty precisely what it is that the operating system does

3. TYPES OF OS

   • MULTI-USER
     • A multi-user operating system allows multiple users to access a computer system at the same time.
   • REAL TIME
     • A real-time operating system is a multitasking operating system that aims at executing real-time applications. Real-time operating systems often use specialized scheduling algorithms so that they can achieve a deterministic nature of behavior.
   • MULTI-TASKING
     • A multi-tasking operating system allows more than one program to be running at the same time, from the point of view of human time scales
   • DISTRIBUTED
     • A distributed operating system manages a group of independent computers and makes them appear to be a single computer.
   • TEMPLATED
     • In an o/s, distributed and cloud computing context, templating refers to creating a single virtual machine image as a guest operating system
   • EMBEDDED
     • Embedded operating systems are designed to be used in embedded computer systems.

4. OS FUNCTIONS

   • The operating system provides for several other functions including: * System tools (programs) used to monitor computer performance, debug problems, or maintain parts of the system. * A set of libraries or functions which programs may use to perform specific tasks especially relating to interfacing with computer system components. The operating system makes these interfacing functions along with its other functions operate smoothly and these functions are mostly transparent to the user.

5. OS DEVELOPMENTS

   • For desktop systems, access to a LAN or the Internet has become such an expected feature that in many ways it's hard to discuss an operating system without making reference to its connections to other computers and servers. Operating system developers have made the Internet the standard method for delivering crucial operating system updates and bug fixes. Although it's possible to receive these updates via CD or DVD, it's becoming increasingly less common. In fact, some entire operating systems themselves are only available through distribution over the Internet.