×

Operating System Tutorial

What is an Operating System?

An Operating System is a System Software that handles the resources of a computer such as computer hardware and software and offers frequent services to the computer programs. In other words, an operating system is defined as a software that creates an interface between the user and computer hardware.

Operating System Tutorial

In the computer system, to run any program, at least one operating system is a must. An application such as MS word, chrome, games, etc. requires an environment so that the application can run and perform its functions. Through the operating system, communication is done easily with the computer without knowing computer languages. Without the operating system, it is not possible to use any computer or mobile device.

Operating System

The operating system is useful to monitor and handle the execution of other programs that are present in the computer, consisting of applications and system software. The main objective of the operating system is to offer an environment so that the user can appropriately execute a program.

Objective of the Operating System

The objectives of the operating system are:

  1. The operating system offers users an appropriate interface to use the computer system.
  2. It helps us to hide the information related to the hardware resources from the users.
  3. The operating system provides the sharing of resources among users and programs in an efficient way.
  4. The operating system helps us to manage the computer system resources.
  5. The operating system offers convenient and impartial sharing of resources between the users and programs.

Features of Operating System

Objective of the Operating System

  1. Memory management: - Operating system keep track of the primary memory, means it keeps track of what part of memory is used, what part is not in use, and also helps to allocate the memory when a process requests it.
  2. Processor management: - Processor management means allocating processors to the process when the process needs and also deallocates the processor when the process does not require the processor.
  3. Device management: - The operating system also maintains the track of all the devices, which means an operating system decides which process should get the device, when and for how much time.
  4. File management: - The operating system provides the facility of file management.
  5. Security: - The operating system prevents programs and data from unauthorized access by using passwords and some other techniques.
  6. Job accounting: - It also keeps track of resources and time used by different jobs.
  7. Control over system performance: - It also helps to keep the recovery delays among the request for a service and from the system.
  8. Error-detecting Aids: - The operating system also provides the facility of error detection by the production of dumps, traces, error messages, and by using different debugging and error detecting techniques.

History of the Operating System

  1. The first operating system was developed in the late 1950s to manage the tape storage.
  2. In 1950, IBM 701-the general motors research lab developed the first operating system.
  3. In the 1960s, disks were used in the operating system, and the primary version of the Unix operating system was developed.
  4. Microsoft’s first developed Operating System was DOS. It was developed in 1981 by purchasing a Seattle company 86-DOS software.
  5. In 1985, the time when the GUI was developed and combined with MS-DOS, the current popular window OS first came into being.

Basic elements of the Operating System

The basic elements of the Operating System are:

  1. Main Memory
  2. Processor
  3. System bus
  4. I/O modules

Main Memory: - Main memory is also called Primary memory or Volatile memory. Main memory stores data and programs. The main memory is called volatile memory because when the system is turned off, then the content of the memory is erased automatically, or content is lost.

Processor: - A processor is defined as an integrated electronic circuit which performs the job of calculations in the computer. It performs input/output(I/O), arithmetical logical operations, and basic instructions that are passed from an operating system. The task of the processor is to control the processes in the computer and also perform data processing functions. If there is only one processor, then it is called a central processing unit (CPU), which you all know.

A processor may consist Arithmetical logical unit and control unit, which measures the capability in terms of the following.

  • Maximum number of bits/instructions.
  • Relative clock speed.
  • Capability to process instructions at a given time

System bus: - System bus is the element of the operating system which is responsible for communication between the processors, I/O modules, and main memory.

I/O Modules: - The task of I/O modules is to move the data within the computer to its peripheral external environment. The external environment consists of various types of devices like secondary memory like pen drives, CDs, etc. communications equipment like (LAN cable), terminals, etc.

Operating System Tutorial

Operating Systems

Differences

How To

Questions

Misc


Related Topics

Feedback Queue in Operating System

In a computer or a laptop, there is a processor which do all the tasks. The processor cannot do all the tasks at a time. So, the tasks will be...

3 minutes read.

Difference between Multi-programming and Multitasking

Difference between Multiprogramming and Multitasking         Multiprogramming  Multitasking In Multiprogramming, at the same time, we can run the multiple processes concurrently on one...

2 minutes read.

Multiprogramming Operating System

You will discover more about the multiprogramming operating system in this post, including how it functions and its benefits and drawbacks. Each process needs several types of system time, including CPU...

4 minutes read.

Directory Structure in Operating System

Directory Structure in Operating System What is a Directory A Directory is the collection of the correlated files on the disk. In simple words, a directory is like a container which contains...

8 minutes read.

MS-DOS Operating System

It is also referred to occasionally as "DOS", an abbreviation for disc operating systems. Operating systems with a graphical user interface (GUI) in different iterations of the graphical Microsoft Windows...

5 minutes read.

How to implement Monitors using Semaphores

Monitors Monitor is a type of synchronization device designed to solve difficulties caused by semaphores, such as timing errors. Monitors are the type of data types that are abstract by nature...

2 minutes read.

Virtual Memory in Operating System

What is Virtual Memory Virtual Memory is a storage scheme in which the users have an illusion that users have a significant amount of Main Memory. We can perform this by taking a...

3 minutes read.

Process Schedulers and Process Queue in OS

Process Schedulers There are various types of Process Schedulers: Long Term SchedulerShort Term SchedulerMedium Term Scheduler                                            Long Term Scheduler: - Long term scheduler is also referred to as Job Scheduler. The task of the Long-term...

3 minutes read.

Unix Operating System

Unix Operating System Unix Operating System is a multiuser, portable, time-sharing, and multitasking operating system that was developed in 1969. Unix operating system was developed by a group of AT &...

3 minutes read.

Strategies for Handling Deadlock

Strategies for Handling Deadlock The Strategies for handling Deadlock are: Deadlock IgnoranceDeadlock PreventionDeadlock AvoidanceDeadlock Detection and Recovery Deadlock Ignorance Deadlock Ignorance is the most popular deadlock handling strategy. We can use this in the various operating systems for...

2 minutes read.

Scheduling Algorithms in OS

There are various types of scheduling algorithm which are used by the operating system to schedule the process on the processor. Objective of Scheduling Algorithms There are the following objectives of Scheduling Algorithms: Fare allocation...

2 minutes read.

Trap vs Interrupt in Operating System

What is Trap in Operating System? A trap is a synchronous interrupt used to perform functionality when an error occurs in a user process. A trap in an operating system can...

4 minutes read.

Banker’s Algorithm in Operating System

What is Banker’s Algorithm? Bankers algorithm is an algorithm which is used for deadlock avoidance and resource allocation. It was established by Edsger Dijkstra. The reason behind the name ‘banker’s algorithm’...

8 minutes read.

Lock Variable Mechanism | Operating System

Lock Variable Mechanism The Lock variable mechanism is a synchronization mechanism that is implemented in a user mode. It is a software procedure. Lock variable is a solution for busy waiting that can be...

3 minutes read.

Functions of Operating System

The functions of Operating System are: Process Management Memory Management File Management Device Management Secondary storage Management Security Coordination between other software and users Networking Job Accounting Error detecting aids 1. Process Management Process Management support operating system to create and delete...

3 minutes read.

Difference between SSTF and LOOK Disk Scheduling Algorithm

Shortest Seek Time First / SSTF Shortest Seek Time First (SSTF) is an acronym for "shortest seek time first." The task request that is closest to the present position of the...

4 minutes read.

Simple Structure in Operating System

An operating system is a piece of software that lets the user applications talk to the hardware of the system. Because it is such a complicated structure, the operating system...

3 minutes read.

Android Operating System

What is Android Operating System? Android is a Linux-based and open-source operating system mainly established for mobile devices like tablet computers and Smartphones. The Android operating system was established by the...

5 minutes read.

Disk Scheduling Algorithms

Disk Scheduling Algorithms Disk scheduling algorithms are the algorithms that are used for scheduling a disk. Generally, the scheduling refers to a time-table for completing any task or a job. With the help...

2 minutes read.

Deadlock Detection and Recovery

Deadlock Detection and Recovery In deadlock detection and recovery, to avoid or prevent a deadlock, the operating system uses various methods. For checking deadlock, an operating system continuously monitors the system. Then also,...

2 minutes read.