Overview of Operating System

Q.1] What is Operating system

Operating System (OS) is a collection of programs that acts as an interface
between a user of a computer and the computer hardware.
Q.2] Explain Components of a Computer System

1)Hardware
2)operating system
3) Application programs
4) Users
1] Hardware:
Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer that
the OS manages and controls.
Example: Input Devices, output Devices, Memory, Motherboard, CPU etc.
2] operating system:
Operating System (OS) is a collection of programs that acts
as an interface between a user of a computer and the computer hardware.
Example: Linux, Ubuntu, MSDOS, Unix, Windows etc.
3] Application programs:
Application programs in the context of an operating
system (OS) are software applications designed to perform specific tasks for
users. Unlike system software, which manages and operates the hardware,
application programs directly address user needs and tasks.
Example: Web Browsers, Media Player, Productivity Software, Graphic Design
Software etc.
4] users:
Users refer to individuals or entities that interact with the computer
system to perform tasks or access resources.
Types of Users:
1. End Users
1. System Administrators
2. Developers

Q.3] Explain Components of Operating System

1. Process management
2. Main memory management
3. File management
4. I/O system management
5. Secondary storage management
6. Protection and Security:
1. Process management:
▪ A program is a set of instructions. When CPU is allocated to a program, it
can start its execution. A program in execution is a process.
▪ A word processing program run by a user on a PC is a process. A process
needs various system resources including CPU time, memory, files and I/O
devices to complete the job execution.
▪ These resources can be given to the process when it is created or allocated
to it while it is running.
The operating system responsible for the following activities in connection
with process management:

• Creation and deletion of user and system processes.

• Suspension and resumption of processes.
• A mechanism for process synchronization.
• A mechanism for process communication.
• A mechanism for deadlock handling.

2. Main memory management

▪ Main memory is a large array of words or bytes, ranging in size from
hundreds of thousands to billions. Each word or byte has its own address.
▪ Main memory is a repository of quickly accessible data shared by the CPU
and I/O devices. The central processor reads instructions from main
memory during the instruction fetch cycle and both reads and writes data
from main memory during the data fetch cycle.
▪ The main memory is generally the only large storage device that the CPU
is able to address and access directly.
The operating system responsible for the following activities in connection with
main memory s management:
• Keeping track of which parts of memory are currently being used and by
whom.
• Deciding which processes (or parts thereof) and data to move into and out
of memory.
• Allocating and deallocating memory space as needed.
3. File management:
▪ A file is a collected of related information defined by its creator.
Computer can store files on the disk (secondary storage), which provide
long term storage.
▪ Some examples of storage media are magnetic tape, magnetic disk and
optical disk. Each of these media has its own properties like speed,
capacity, and data transfer rate and access methods.
▪ A file system normally organized into directories to ease their use. These
directories may contain files and other directions.
The operating system responsible for the following activities in connection with
file management:
• The creation and deletion of files.
• The creation and deletion of directions.
• The support of primitives for manipulating files and directions.
• The mapping of files onto secondary storage.
• The backup of files on stable storage media.

4. I/O system management:

▪ Input / Output device management provides an environment for the better
interaction between system and the I / O devices (such as printers, scanners,
tape drives etc.). To interact with I/O devices in an effective manner, the
operating system uses some special programs known as device driver.
▪ The device drivers take the data that operating system has defined as a file
and then translate them into streams of bits or a series of laser pulses (in
regard with laser printer).
The I/O subsystem consists of several components:
• A memory management component that includes buffering, caching,
spooling
• A general device driver interface
• Drivers for specific hardware devices
5.Secondary storage management:
▪ The computer system provides secondary storage to back up main memory.
Secondary storage is required because main memory is too small to
accommodate all data and programs, and the data that it holds is lost when
power is lost.
▪ Most of the programs including compilers, assemblers, word processors,
editors, and formatters are stored on a disk until loaded into memory.
▪ Secondary storage consists of tapes drives, disk drives, and other media.
The operating system is responsible for the following activities in connection
with disk management:
• Free space management
• Storage allocation
• Disk scheduling.

6.Protection and Security:

Protection:
▪ Protection tackles the system's internal threats provides a
mechanism for controlling access to processes, programs, and user
Resources.
▪ In simple words, it specifies which files a specific user can access of
view and modify to maintain the proper functioning of the system.
▪ It allows the safe sharing of common physical address space of
common logical address space which means that multiple users can
access the memory due to the physical address space.
Security:
▪ Security tackles the stems external threats
▪ The safety of their system resources such as saved data, disks,
memory etc. is secured by the security systems against harmful
modifications, unauthorized access, and inconsistency.
▪ It provides a mechanism (encryption and authentication) to analyse
the user before allowing access to the system.
Q. 4] Explain Operating System Views

1] User View:
The user view depends on the system interface that is used by the users. The
different types of user view experiences can be explained as follows:
▪ If the user is using a personal computer, the operating system is largely
designed to make the interaction easy. Some attention is also paid to the
performance of the system, but there is no need for the operating system to
worry about resource utilization. This is because the personal computer
uses all the resources available and there is no sharing.
▪ If the user is using a system connected to a mainframe or a minicomputer,
the operating system is largely concerned with resource utilization. This is
because there may be multiple terminals connected to the mainframe and
the operating system makes sure that all the resources such as CPU,
memory, I/O devices etc. are divided uniformly between them.
▪ There are some devices that contain very less or no user view because there
is no interaction with the users. Examples are embedded computers in
home devices, automobiles etc.
2] System View:
According to the computer system, the operating system is the bridge between
applications and hardware. It is most intimate with the hardware and is used to
control it as required.
The different types of system view for operating system can be explained as
follows:
▪ The system views the operating system as a resource allocator. There are
many resources such as CPU time, memory space, file storage space, I/O
devices etc. that are required by processes for execution. It is the duty of
the operating system to allocate these resources judiciously to the processes
so that the computer system can run as smoothly as possible.
▪ The operating system can also work as a control program. It manages all
the processes and I/O devices so that the computer system works smoothly
and there are no errors. It makes sure that the I/O devices work in a proper
manner without creating problems.
Q.5] Explain Types of Operating System
1. Batch processing Operating System:
Batch processing is a technique in which an Operating System collects the
programs and data together in a batch before processing starts. An operating
system does the following activities related to batch processing –
▪ The OS defines a job which has predefined sequence of commands,
programs and data as a single unit.
▪ The OS keeps a number a jobs in memory and executes them without any
manual information.
▪ Jobs are processed in the order of submission, i.e., first come first served
fashion.
▪ When a job completes its execution, its memory is released and the output
for the job gets copied into an output spool for later printing or processing.

Advantages: -
1. Batch processing takes much of the work of the operator to the computer.
2. Increased performance as a new job gets started as soon as the previous job
is finished, without any manual intervention.
Disadvantages-
1. Difficult to debug program.
2. A job could enter an infinite loop.
3. Due to lack of protection scheme, one batch job can affect pending jobs.
2. Multitasking Operating System:
Multitasking is when multiple jobs are executed by the CPU
simultaneously by switching between them. Switches occur so frequently
that the users may interact with each program while it is running.
An OS does the following activities related to multitasking –
▪ The user gives instructions to the operating system or to a program
directly, and receives an immediate response.
▪ The OS handles multitasking in the way that it can handle multiple
operations/executes multiple programs at a time.
▪ Multitasking Operating Systems are also known as Time-sharing
systems.
▪ These Operating Systems were developed to provide interactive use of
a computer system at a reasonable cost.
▪ A time-shared operating system uses the concept of CPU scheduling
and multiprogramming to provide each user with a small portion of a
time-shared CPU.
▪ Each user has at least one separate program in memory.

▪ A program that is loaded into memory and is executing is commonly

referred to as a process.
▪ When a process executes, it typically executes for only a very short time
before it either finishes or needs to perform I/O.
▪ Since interactive I/O typically runs at slower speeds, it may take a long
time to complete. During this time, a CPU can be utilized by another
process.
▪ The operating system allows the users to share the computer
simultaneously. Since each action or command in a time-shared system
tends to be short, only a little CPU time is needed for each user.
▪ As the system switches CPU rapidly from one user/program to the next,
each user is given the impression that he/she has his/her own CPU,
whereas actually one CPU is being shared among many users.
3. Multiprogramming Operating System-
Sharing the processor, when two or more programs reside in memory at the
same time, is referred as multiprogramming. Multiprogramming assumes a
single shared processor. Multiprogramming increases CPU utilization by
organizing jobs so that the CPU always has one to execute.
The following figure shows the memory layout for a multiprogramming
system.

An OS does the following activities related to multiprogramming.

▪ The operating system keeps several jobs in memory at a time.
▪ This set of jobs is a subset of the jobs kept in the job pool.
▪ The operating system picks and begins to execute one of the jobs in the
memory.
▪ Multiprogramming operating systems monitor the state of all active
programs and system resources using memory management programs to
ensures that the CPU is never idle, unless there are no jobs to process.

Advantages-
1. High and efficient CPU utilization.
2. User feels that many programs are allotted CPU almost simultaneously.
Disadvantages-
1. CPU scheduling is required.
2. To accommodate many jobs in memory, memory management is required
4.Time-sharing operating system:
▪ Time-sharing is a technique which enables many people, located at various
terminals, to use a particular computer system at the same time. Time-sharing
or multitasking is a logical extension of multiprogramming. Processor's time
which is shared among multiple users simultaneously is termed as time-
sharing.
▪ The main difference between Multiprogrammed Batch Systems and Time-
Sharing Systems is that in case of Multiprogrammed batch systems, the
objective is to maximize processor use, whereas in Time-Sharing Systems, the
objective is to minimize response time.
▪ Multiple jobs are executed by the CPU by switching between them, but the
switches occur so frequently. Thus, the user can receive an immediate
response. For example, in a transaction processing, the processor executes
each user program in a short burst or quantum of computation. That is, if n
users are present, then each user can get a time quantum. When the user
submits the command, the response time is in few seconds at most.
▪ The operating system uses CPU scheduling and multiprogramming to provide
each user with a small portion of a time. Computer systems that were designed
primarily as batch systems have been modified to time-sharing systems.
Advantages:
1. Provides the advantage of quick response.
2. Avoids duplication of software.
3. Reduces CPU idle time.
Disadvantages:
1. Problem of reliability.
2. Question of security and integrity of user programs and data.
3. Problem of data communication.
5.Multiprocessor System:

▪ Multiprocessor operating system allows the multiple processors, and these

processors are connected with physical memory, computer buses, clocks, and
peripheral devices.
▪ Main objective of using multiprocessor operating system is to consume high
computing power and increase the execution speed of system.
Types of multiprocessors
1] symmetric multiprocessors
2] asymmetric multiprocessors

1] Symmetric Multiprocessors:
▪ In these types of systems, each processor contains a similar copy of the
operating system and they all communicate with each other. All the processors
are in a peer-to-peer relationship i.e. no master - slave relationship exists
between them.
▪ An example of the symmetric multiprocessing system is the Encore version of
Unix for the Multimax Computer.
2] Asymmetric Multiprocessors:
▪ In asymmetric systems, each processor is given a predefined task. There is a
master processor that gives instruction to all the other processors. Asymmetric
multiprocessor system contains a master slave relationship.
▪ Asymmetric multiprocessor was the only type of multiprocessor available
before symmetric multiprocessors were created. Now also, this is the cheaper
option.
Advantages of multiprocessor systems:
1. High Reliability: As multiple processors share their work between one and
another so work is completed with collaboration. That means these systems are
reliable.
2. Economic: As more work is completed by the CPU’s so these systems are
economically good as well.
3. Increased throughout: As several processors increase, more work can be done
in less
4. More reliable Systems: In a multiprocessor system, even if one processor
fails, the system will not halt. This ability to continue working despite hardware
failure is known as graceful degradation.
Disadvantages of multiprocessor systems:
1. Communication: As multiple processors are communicating with each other
so the operating system implementation is complex to handle.
2. More memory required: As there are multiprocessors working with each
other so each processor needs memory space.
3. Deadlock: If any processor is already using the I/O device then other
processors cannot use the same I/O device which creates deadlock.
4. Expensive: These types of systems are expensive to buy.
6. Distributed operating System:
A distributed system contains multiple nodes that are physically separate but
linked together using the network. All the nodes in this system communicate with
each other and handle processes in tandem. Each of these nodes contains a small
part of the distributed operating system software.
A diagram to better explain the distributed system is −

Types of Distributed Systems:

1] Client/Server Systems:
In client server systems, the client requests a resource and the server provides
that resource. A server may serve multiple clients at the same time while a client
is in contact with only one server. Both the client and server usually communicate
via a computer network and so they are a part of distributed systems.
2] Peer to Peer Systems:
The peer-to-peer systems contains nodes that are equal participants in data
sharing. All the tasks are equally divided between all the nodes. The nodes
interact with each other as required as share resources. This is done with the help
of a network.
Advantages of Distributed Systems:
1. All the nodes in the distributed system are connected to each other. So
nodes can easily share data with other nodes.
2. More nodes can easily be added to the distributed system i.e. it can be
scaled as required.
3. Failure of one node does not lead to the failure of the entire distributed
system.
4. Resources like printers can be shared with multiple nodes rather than being
restricted to just one.
Disadvantages of Distributed Systems:
1. It is difficult to provide adequate security in distributed systems because the
nodes as well as the connections need to be secured.
2. Some messages and data can be lost in the network while moving from one
node to another.
3. The database connected to the distributed systems is quite complicated and
difficult to handle as compared to a single user system.
4. Overloading may occur in the network if all the nodes of the distributed system
try to send data at once.
7.Real Time operating System:
▪ A real-time system is defined as a data processing system in which the time
interval required to process and respond to inputs is so small that it controls
the environment. The time taken by the system to respond to an input and
display of required updated information is termed as the response time. So, in
this method, the response time is very less as compared to online processing.
▪ Real-time systems are used when there are rigid time requirements on the
operation of a processor or the flow of data and real-time systems can be used
as a control device in a dedicated application. A real-time operating system
must have well-defined, fixed time constraints, otherwise the system will fail.
For example, Scientific experiments, medical imaging systems, industrial
control systems, weapon systems, robots, air traffic control systems, etc.
Types of real-time operating systems:
1] Hard real-time systems:
Hard real-time systems guarantee that critical tasks complete on time. In hard
real-time systems, secondary storage is limited or missing and the data is stored
in ROM. In these systems, virtual memory is almost never found.
2] Soft real-time systems:
Soft real-time systems are less restrictive. A critical real-time task gets priority
over other tasks and retains the priority until it completes. Soft real-time systems
have limited utility than hard real-time systems. For example, multimedia, virtual
reality, Advanced Scientific Projects like undersea exploration and planetary
rovers, etc.
8.Mobile Operating System:
Mobile operating system is one that controls smartphone personal digital
assistant tablet PC and information appliances. Mobile operating system also
known as mobile os; mobile platform Android operating system.it is the
Operating system that controls mobile devices.
Types of mobile operating system:
1. Android
2. iOS(iPhone OS)
1. Android:
▪ Android mobile operating system developed by Google based on modified
version of Linux kernel other open-source software and design primarily for
touch screen.
▪ Linux is an Operating System for mobile devices such as smartphones and
tablet PC based on Linux kernel. Android applications are developed in Java
language using Android software development kit.
▪ once Develop Android applications can be package and easily sold out either
through such as Google Play Opera Mobile Store etc
Advantages of Android operating system:
1. Android based on Linux
2. it is providing reach Browser facilities as well.
3. Android OS is open source and it is cost effective
4. Multitasking Operating System can be virtualized
5. It is a flexible operating system
6. Stability and security it's better than another mobile operating system as it
is based on Linux kernel.
Disadvantages of Android operating system:
1. Application quality of Android operating system not good.
2. Complex layout and animations are Harder to code in Android
3. Android OS can also slow down if installing more apps
2. iOS (iPhone OS):
▪ iOS Mobile operating system created and developed by apple operating
system that presently power meaning of the company's mobile devices
including the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch it is the second most popular
operating system globally after Android.
▪ The iOS user interface is based upon direct manipulation using multi-touch
gesture interface control element consists of slider, switches and buttons
Advantages of iOS operating system:
1. iOs provides customer service.
2.iOS has security which offer its user stay safe from external threats
3. Performance is awesome and support multitasking
4.iOS Support a vast number of application.
Disadvantages of iOS system:
1.No flexible only support iOS services
2.The iOS is not open source
3. iOS is costly Apps Development
4.iOS is not customizable
Difference between Android and iOS
Q.6] Command Line Based Operating System and GUI operating system:
1. Command line interface(CLI) based OS :
▪ In CLI user interact with operating system by typing commands or
instructions on a command line. various commands needs to be type for
carrying out various jobs like creating , deleting, editing renaming for
printing a file.
▪ In CLI each command represents an executable program which is Run in
the command is type with proper parameter.
Advantages-
1. The user knows correct commands then this type of interface can be much
faster than any other type of interface.
2. This type of interface needs much less memory(RAM) as compared to
other interface. 3. CLI does not use as much CPU processing time like other
UIs.
Disadvantages-
1. CLI are not user friendly because they require the user to remember a lot
of command.
2. command have to be typed correctly, if there is a spelling mistake then,
command will not respond.
Example:
1. MS DOS:
▪ MS Dos(Microsoft disk operating system) is non graphical ,command line
operating system created for IBM compatible computers.
▪ MS Dos uses CUI(character user interface)or command line interface the
user interact with the computer with the help of predefined commands.
▪ DOS Commands are executed by a command line interpreter by translating
them into system call. Generally, this interpreter outside the kernel so that
kernel is not affected by the user.
▪ some MS DOS command include CD, DIR, DEL, EDIT, MOVE, REN,
CLS.
 2.UNIX:
▪ Unix was originally developed in 1969 by of group of AT&T employees Ken
Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Douglas Mcllory and Joe Ossanna at bells lab.
▪ It is a CLI based operating system the Unix shell is a command line interface
similar to the DOS operating system.
▪ a Shell is program that provides the command line interface it inputs command
from user, interpret them and execute them, using the shell press enter user
type, command press enter and the command is immediately executed.

2. Graphical user interface (GUI) Based OS:

▪ GUI is alternative and more user-friendly method to interface with operating
system.
▪ GUI provides a rectangular area on a screen called window. In which files
programs directory and system functions are represented as a small images or
symbols called as icon.
▪ In addition various menus are provided by GUI.
▪ A GUI provides the window and Menu based graphical interface that can be
operated by using a pointing device like mouse
▪ Mouse can be used to point and click on command button pictures or Icon
execute the command,open folder or run the program.

Advantages:
1. GUIs are easy to use, operate and provide better accessibility.
2. User can switch quickly between the task on the GUI interface.
3. GUI allows multiple programs and its instances to be displayed
simultaneously.
4. GUI is convenient and user-friendly.
Disadvantages:
1. It uses more Computer memory.
2. GUI become more complex if user needs to communicate with the
computer directly
3. Difficult to display all necessary control because of Limited
Windows space.
4. Slow speed because of long pointer operation.
Example:
1.Windows
2.Linux
1.Windows:
▪ Its series of operating system developed by the Microsoft.
▪ Each version of Windows includes graphical user interface with desktop that
allows a user to view a file.
▪ Microsoft Windows is designed for both home computer and professional
purpose fast version of Windows includes Windows 3.0(1990), Windows 3.1
(1992), Windows 95 (1995), Windows 98(1998), Windows
ME(2000),Windows XP (2001) Windows Vista(2006),Windows 7(2009) etc.
The Current version Windows 10 was release on 29 July 2015.
2.Linux:
▪ Linux is unix-like operating system created by LinusTorvalds. Linux each
Freely Distributed Operating System. Today Linux is used by millions of
people around the world programmer can even modify the source code and
create their own unique version of the Linux operating system.
▪ Some of the popular version of Linux Red Hat Enterprise, cent OS, and
Ubuntu.
▪ Most Linux System provide either K Desktop environment (KDE) or GNOME
interface. GNOME stands for GNU network object model environment is one
of the oldest and most widely used Linux Desktop Environment.
Difference between CLI and GUI
Difference between Multitasking and Multiprogramming