OS Management

Memory Management

• Memory management is the process of allocation and reallocation of system memory to optimise system performance. This is done by coordinating 'blocks' of system memory to different programs to stop them from interfering with one another. An OS can handle this by setting aside certain areas in which data can be shared. It does this by buffering to set aside memory for the temporary storage of data. This is done primarily for RAM but can be used for the CPU as well. When a user requests a program to be ran this is what happens:
• The program code is found on the storage drive
• A section of RAM is reserved for the program and space is allocated for the program's data
• The program code is copied from storage into the reserved space in the memory
• The CPU program counter is set to the memory location of the first instruction in the program, and execution begins

Peripheral Management

• Peripherals are devices separate from the OS which use their own code to form a protocol that enables them to communicate with other devices. Peripherals are in fact external, physical objects either input or output that could be a keyboard, mouse, monitor etc.
• Peripheral management is the software that allow the computer and OS to control and communicate with these devices

User Management

• There are two different types of users in and OS - single users and multi users. Single user systems have no way in which to tell the difference between two users allowing any user to access all files and data on the device. A multi user system is designed to allow different users to have access to separate data so that they do not interfere with each other and data can be kept private. User profiles can be stored on servers on a network to allow access to the same account on multiple devices.

File Management

• The OS is capable of managing and organising data into files that optimises the ease of use by the user. This enables users to organise documents into their own files for an easier view of their data and much simpler access to it. The OS can manage how files are stored, deleted, found and repaired. The system can also detect errors and malfunctions within data such as missing disks or incorrect file names