What is an Operating System?

An Operating System (OS) is a software that acts as an interface between computer hardware
components and the user. Every computer system must have at least one operating system to run
other programs. Applications like Browsers, MS Office, Notepad Games, etc., need some
environment to run and perform its tasks.
The OS helps you to communicate with the computer without knowing how to speak the
computer’s language. It is not possible for the user to use any computer or mobile device without
having an operating system.

Introduction to Operating System

History Of OS

 Operating systems were first developed in the late 1950s to manage tape storage
 The General Motors Research Lab implemented the first OS in the early 1950s for their
IBM 701
 In the mid-1960s, operating systems started to use disks
 In the late 1960s, the first version of the Unix OS was developed
 The first OS built by Microsoft was DOS. It was built in 1981 by purchasing the 86-DOS
software from a Seattle company
 The present-day popular OS Windows first came to existence in 1985 when a GUI was
created and paired with MS-DOS.

Examples of Operating System with Market Share

Market
Share of Operating Systems
Following are the Operating System examples with the latest Market Share

OS Name Share
Windows 40.34
Android 37.95
iOS 15.44
Mac OS 4.34
Linux 0.95
Chrome OS 0.14
Windows Phone OS 0.06
Types of Operating System (OS)
Following are the popular types of OS (Operating System):

 Batch Operating System

 Multitasking/Time Sharing OS
 Multiprocessing OS
 Real Time OS
 Distributed OS
 Network OS
 Mobile OS

Batch Operating System

Some computer processes are very lengthy and time-consuming. To speed the same process, a
job with a similar type of needs are batched together and run as a group.

The user of a batch operating system never directly interacts with the computer. In this type of
OS, every user prepares his or her job on an offline device like a punch card and submit it to the
computer operator.

Multi-Tasking/Time-sharing Operating systems

Time-sharing operating system enables people located at a different terminal (shell) to use a
single computer system at the same time. The processor time (CPU) which is shared among
multiple users is termed as time sharing.

Real time OS
A real time operating system time interval to process and respond to inputs is very small.
Examples: Military Software Systems, Space Software Systems are the Real time OS example.

Distributed Operating System

Distributed systems use many processors located in different machines to provide very fast
computation to its users.

Network Operating System

Network Operating System runs on a server. It provides the capability to serve to manage data,
user, groups, security, application, and other networking functions.

Mobile OS
Mobile operating systems are those OS which is especially that are designed to power
smartphones, tablets, and wearables devices.
Some most famous mobile operating systems are Android and iOS, but others include
BlackBerry, Web, and watch OS.

Functions of Operating System

Some typical operating system functions may include managing memory, files, processes, I/O
system & devices, security, etc.

Below are the main functions of Operating System:

Functions of Operating System

In an operating system software performs each of the function:

1. Process management:- Process management helps OS to create and delete processes. It

also provides mechanisms for synchronization and communication among processes.

2. Memory management:- Memory management module performs the task of allocation

and de-allocation of memory space to programs in need of this resources.

3. File management:- It manages all the file-related activities such as organization storage,
retrieval, naming, sharing, and protection of files.

4. Device Management: Device management keeps tracks of all devices. This module also
responsible for this task is known as the I/O controller. It also performs the task of
allocation and de-allocation of the devices.

5. I/O System Management: One of the main objects of any OS is to hide the peculiarities
of that hardware devices from the user.
 6. Secondary-Storage Management: Systems have several levels of storage which
includes primary storage, secondary storage, and cache storage. Instructions and data
must be stored in primary storage or cache so that a running program can reference it.

7. Security:- Security module protects the data and information of a computer system
against malware threat and authorized access.

8. Command interpretation: This module is interpreting commands given by the and

acting system resources to process that commands.

9. Networking: A distributed system is a group of processors which do not share memory,

hardware devices, or a clock. The processors communicate with one another through the
network.

10. Job accounting: Keeping track of time & resource used by various job and users.

11. Communication management: Coordination and assignment of compilers, interpreters,

and another software resource of the various users of the computer systems.

Features of Operating System (OS)

Here is a list important features of OS:

 Protected and supervisor mode

 Allows disk access and file systems Device drivers Networking Security
 Program Execution
 Memory management Virtual Memory Multitasking
 Handling I/O operations
 Manipulation of the file system
 Error Detection and handling
 Resource allocation
 Information and Resource Protection
Advantage of using Operating System

 Allows you to hide details of hardware by creating an abstraction

 Easy to use with a GUI
 Offers an environment in which a user may execute programs/applications
 The operating system must make sure that the computer system convenient to use
 Operating System acts as an intermediary among applications and the hardware
components
 It provides the computer system resources with easy to use format
 Acts as an intermediator between all hardware’s and software’s of the system

Disadvantages of using Operating System

 If any issue occurs in OS, you may lose all the contents which have been stored in your
system
 Operating system’s software is quite expensive for small size organization which adds
burden on them. Example Windows
 It is never entirely secure as a threat can occur at any time

What is Kernel in Operating System?

The kernel is the central component of a computer operating systems. The only job performed by
the kernel is to the manage the communication between the software and the hardware. A Kernel
is at the nucleus of a computer. It makes the communication between the hardware and software
possible. While the Kernel is the innermost part of an operating system, a shell is the outermost
one.

Introduction to Kernel

Features of Kennel

 Low-level scheduling of processes

 Inter-process communication
 Process synchronization
 Context switching

Types of Kernels
There are many types of kernels that exists, but among them, the two most popular kernels are:

1. Monolithic

A monolithic kernel is a single code or block of the program. It provides all the required services
offered by the operating system. It is a simplistic design which creates a distinct communication
layer between the hardware and software.

2. Microkernels

Microkernel manages all system resources. In this type of kernel, services are implemented in
different address space. The user services are stored in user address space, and kernel services
are stored under kernel address space. So, it helps to reduce the size of both the kernel and
operating system.

Difference between Firmware and Operating System

Firmware Operating System
Define Firmware: Firmware is one kind of programming that is Define Operating System: OS provides f
embedded on a chip in the device which controls that specific device. and above that which is provided by the
Firmware is programs that been encoded by the manufacture of the IC OS is a program that can be installed by
or something and cannot be changed. be changed.
It is stored on non-volatile memory. OS is stored on the hard drive.

Difference between 32-Bit vs. 64 Bit Operating System

Parameters 32. Bit 64. Bit
Architecture and Allow 64 bit of data proce
Allow 32 bit of data processing simultaneously
Software simultaneously
64-bit applications require
Compatibility 32-bit applications require 32-bit OS and CPUs.
CPU.
All versions of Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP Professional
Systems Available
Windows XP, Linux, etc. OS X and Linux.
64-bit systems allow a ma
Memory Limits 32-bit systems are limited to 3.2 GB of RAM.
GB of RAM.