OPERATING SYSTEM

OPERATING SYSTEM

 I think everyone know some few things about operating system but It is good to know the main part of the operating system and Today we’ll be talking about it meaning, types, examples, functions. For you to know about all this things you have to read article very careful so follow me…

Meaning

An operating system “OS” is software that communicates with the hardware and allows other programs to run. An operating system or OS is a software program that enables the computer hardware to communicate and operate with the computer software. Without a computer operating system, a computer and software programs will be useless.

A computer’s operating system is its most important program. It is considered the backbone of a computer, managing both hardware and software resources. Operating systems are responsible for everything from the control and allocation of memory to recognizing input from external devices and transmitting output to computer displays. They also manage files on computer hard drives and control peripherals, like printers and scanners.

The operating system of a large computer system has even more work to do. Such operating systems monitor different programs and users, making sure everything smoothly, without interference, despite the fact that numerous devices and programs are used simultaneously. An operating system also has a vital role to play in security. Its job includes preventing unauthorized users from accessing the computer system.

TYPES OF OPERATING SYSTEM

Single User Operating System:

A single user Operating System as the name suggests is designed for one user to effectively use a computer at a time. Single user, multi-tasking operating systems are the operating systems that allow a single user to run different applications at the same time. Windows of Microsoft and Macintosh of apple are the most commonly used Single user, multi-tasking operating systems.

Multi-Tasking Operating System:

In this type of OS several applications may be simultaneously loaded and used in the memory. While the processor handles only one application at a particular time it is capable of switching between the applications effectively to apparently simultaneously execute each application. This type of operating system is seen everywhere today and is the most common types of operating system, the windows operating system would be an example.

 Multi-User Operating System:

This type of OS allows multiple users simultaneously use the system, while here as well, the processor split it resources and handles one user at a time, the speed and efficiency at which it does this make it apparent that users are simultaneously using the system, some network system utilize this kind of operating system

Distributed Operating system:

In a distributed system, software and data may be distributed around the system, programs and files maybe stored on a different devices which are located in a different geographic locations and may e accessed from different computer terminals.

Batch Processing Operating System:

In a Batch Processing Operating System interaction between the user the processor is limited or there is no interaction at all during the execution of work. Data and programs that need to be processed are bundled and collected as a ‘batch’ and executed together.

Batch processing operating systems are ideal in a situation where:

1.      There are large amount of data to be processed.

2.      Similar data needs to be processed.

3.      Similar processing is involved when executing the data.

The system is capable of identifying times when the processor is idle at which time ‘batches’ maybe processed. Processing is all performed automatically without any user intervention.

Real-time Operating System:

A real-time operating system processes inputs simultaneously, fast enough to affect the next input or process. Real-time systems are usually used to control complex systems that require a lot of processing like machinery and industrial system.

EXAMPLES OF OPERATING SYSTEM

There are many different of operating systems. Each does the same thing: they control all input, processing and output.

DOS: Disk Operating System- it is an operating system software used in most computers that provides the abstraction and management of secondary storage devices and the information on them.

Widows: The windows operating system, a product of Microsoft, is a GUI (graphical user interface) operating system. This type of “user friendly” operating system is said to have WIMP features:

1.      Windows

2.      Icons

3.      Menus

4.      Pointing device (mouse)

Examples of windows Operating System are windows 10, windows 8, windows vista, windows 7, windows XP, windows 98 etc

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MacOS: Macintosh, a product of Apple, has its own operating system with a GUI and WIMP features e.g. Mac OS X

UNIX – Linux (the PC version of UNIX): UNIX and Linux were originally created with a command-line interface, but recently have added GUI enhancements. E.g. Red hat Linux, Ubuntu, etc.

FUNCTIONS OF OPERATING SYSTEM

Storage Management: Operating System also controls all the storage Operations. This means how the data or files will be stored into the computer and how the file will be accessed by the user etc. Operating System also allow creation of Files, Directories, it also allow the reading of data from and writing of data to Files and Directories and also copy the contents of the Files and Directories from one place to another place.

Process Management: The operating system also treats the Process Management means all the processes those given by the user system’s own process are handled by the operating system.   Memory Management: It manage the sharing of internal memory among multiple applications.  E.g. Primary RAM-ROM and Secondary Hard Disc, CD, DVD etc.

Resources Management: Means Operating System will manage all the resources of the computer System. But the Hardware (Input, output, peripheral) and the software resources. The Operating System  will identify at which time the CPU will perform which Operation and in which time the memory is used by which program. And which input device will respond to which  request of the user means when the input and output devices are used by which programs. So this will manage all the resources those are attached to the computer system.

Security Management: These include: Virus management, Alert messages, Passwords, Access protection etc.

Load and Run Application Software: The Operating System determines which applications should run in what order and how much time should be allowed for each application before giving another application  a turn.