Computers:

Tools for an
Information Age

Chapter 3
Operating Systems: Software in the Background

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McGraw-Hill Technology Education Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
 Objectives
• Describe the functions of an operating system
• Explain the basics of a personal computer
operating system
• Describe the advantages of a graphical
operating system
• Differentiate among different versions of
Microsoft Windows
• Explain the need for network operating
systems

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 Objectives
• Describe the methods of resource
allocation on large computers
• Describe the differences among
multiprocessing, multiprogramming, and
time-sharing
• Explain the principles of memory
management
• List several functions that are typically
performed by utility programs

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Operating Systems: Hidden Software
• Serves as intermediary between
hardware and applications software
• Operating System
• Systems software
• Kernel

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 Operating System
• A set of programs that lies
between applications software
and the hardware
– Manages computer’s resources
(CPU, peripheral devices)
– Establishes a user interface
• Determines how user interacts with
operating system
– Provides and executes services
for applications software

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 Systems Software
• All programs related to coordinating
computer operations
• Examples
– Operating systems
– Language translators
• Convert program code to machine-readable
form
– Utility programs
• Perform secondary chores

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 Kernel
• Manages the operating system
– Loaded from hard drive into memory when
computer is booted
• Booting refers to starting the computer
– Loads other operating system programs
from disk storage as needed

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 Operating Systems for Personal
Computers
• Platform: combination of computer hardware
and operating system software
– Wintel (Microsoft Windows running on an Intel-
based PC) is most common
• Common Platforms
– MS-DOS
– Windows
– MAC OS
– Unix
– Linux

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 MS-DOS
• Uses a command-line interface
– Screen provides prompts for user
– User types commands
• Largely replaced by graphical user interfaces
• Not user-friendly

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 Microsoft Windows
• Began as an operating environment for MS-
DOS
– Not a full-blown operating system; required MS-
DOS
• Uses a graphical user interface
– Users can use DOS commands and interface
• Now a complete family of operating systems

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 MS-DOS Operating Environment
• Windows 3.1
• A layer added “on top” of DOS
– Separates operating system from user
– Makes operating system easier to use
• Called a shell

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 Graphical User Interface
• User clicks an icon
to perform tasks
• Start Menu in lower
left corner launches
programs
• Use menus to
activate commands

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 Windows Features
• Long file names (up to 255 characters)
• Plug and Play
– Makes installing hardware components
easier
• Object Linking and Embedding (OLE)
– Allows user to embed or link one document
to another

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 The Windows Family
• Windows 9x
– Windows 95
– Windows 98
– Windows Millennium Edition (ME)
• Corporate Market
– Windows NT
– Windows 2000
• Windows XP
• Windows vesta
• Windows 7

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 Windows 9x
• Serves home/consumer market
• No longer a shell, but a self-contained
operating system
• Began with Windows 95
– Next Generation:
• Windows 98
• Windows ME
• Many improvements over Windows 3.1

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 Windows 98 Enhancements
• Internet/intranet browsing
capabilities
• Support for state-of-the-art
hardware, including DVD and
multimedia
• Support for huge disk drives
• Wizards: step-by-step software
for installing, configuring, and
using software

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 Windows ME Enhancements
• Multimedia support: Media Player, video
editing
• Enhanced reliability features
• Home network support

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 Corporate Market
• Windows NT
– NT stands for “new technology”
• Windows 2000

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Prentice Hall
 Windows NT
• Desktop looks and acts like Windows 98
• Meant for corporate, networked
environments
– Engineered for scalability (the ability to
handle many users)
– Stronger security

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Prentice Hall
 Windows 2000
• The latest generation of Windows NT
• One computer “serves” many users
– You identify yourself and the system knows
your preferences
– You get “your” desktop and files, regardless
of which PC you use to log into the network

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 Windows XP
• Brings consumer and
corporate versions of
Windows together into a
single product
– Has Home and
Professional Editions
• Enhancements

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 Windows XP Enhancements
• Improved user interface
– Much clearer and uncluttered desktop
– More icons on redesigned Start Menu
• Improved multimedia support
• More personalization
• Multiple user support
– User can log off, leaving programs running, and
allow another user to log on
– Set up limited accounts for children to use; i.e., no
inappropriate games or no Internet access
• Internet support and protection

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 MAC OS
• Designed for the
Macintosh computer
• First commercially
successful GUI
– Has served as the model
for Windows and other
GUI products developed
since then

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 UNIX
• Developed in 1971 for use on the DEC
minicomputer
• Character-based system with command-line
interface
• Not tied to any family of processors
– Runs on just about every type of system (PC,
mainframe, workstation) from any manufacturer
• Primary operating system in use on Internet
servers
– Handles many simultaneous users easily

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 Linux
• Uses command-line interface
– Many companies have created a GUI to
work with Linux
• Open-source concept
– Source code is free
– Users can download, change, and
distribute the software
• More stable than Windows
• Applications relatively scarce
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 Operating Systems for Networks

• Network operating system (NOS)

– Handles network functions
– Make resources appear as though they were
running from client computers
– Common systems

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 Network Functions
• Sharing resources (hard disks and
printers)
• Data security
• Troubleshooting
• Administrative control

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 Network Operating Systems
• Windows NT Server
• Windows 2000 Server
• Windows .NET Server
• Novell Netware
• Unix
• Linux

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 Operating Systems for Large
Computers
• Resource allocation: assigning and
computer resources to certain programs
and processes for their use
• Main issues related to resource
allocation
– Sharing the Central Processing Unit
– Sharing memory
– Sharing storage resources
– Sharing printing resources

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 Sharing the CPU
• Multiprocessing
• Multiprogramming
• Time-Sharing

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 Multiprocessing
• The use of a powerful computer with
multiple CPUs
• Multiple programs run simultaneously
– Each runs on its own processor

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Prentice Hall
 Multiprogramming
• Two or more programs executed
concurrently
– Programs take turns using the CPU
– Event-driven
• An interrupt suspends processing to allow
another program to run
• After the second program runs, the operating
system returns the CPU to another program
• Generally used for batch programs that
do not require user input
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 Time-Sharing

• Programs take turns using the CPU

• Time-driven
– Each user is given a slice of time (fraction of a second)
– CPU works only on that user’s tasks during its time
slice
– Response time: the time between typed request and
computer’s reply
• Typically used in applications with many users

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 Sharing Memory
• Memory management
• Divides memory into foreground and
background
• Uses virtual storage
– Also called virtual memory

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 Memory Management
• Divides memory into separate partitions
• Allocates memory to programs
• Keeps programs separate from one
another

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 Foreground and Background
• Foreground: for programs with high
priority that will receive more CPU time.
• Background: for programs with lower
priority that will receive less CPU time
– Programs waiting to run are kept in queues
based on their priority

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 Virtual Storage
• Programs currently executed are stored on disk
– Portions of program brought into memory as needed
– Minimizes the amount of memory needed
• Can be implemented by paging
– Divide memory into small, fixed-size pages
– Page table keeps track of memory locations

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 Sharing Storage Resources
• Keeps track of location of files
• Responds to commands to manipulate
files
• Keeps track of input and output requests
for files
– Processes them in the order received

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 Sharing Printing Resources
• Spooling: program writes a line to a disk
file rather than sending directly to a
printer
– When file is completed, placed in queue
– File printed when printer becomes available
• Allows program to complete execution
much more quickly
– Writing to disk much quicker than writing to
printer
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 Utility Programs
• Perform secondary chores
• Examples
– File manager
– File compression
– Others

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 File Manager
• Stores files in a
hierarchical directory
structure
• Windows uses
Windows Explorer

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 File Compression
• Reduces amount of
space a file requires
– Makes file take up less
space on disk
– Takes less time to
transmit across
communication lines

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 Other Utility Programs

• Backup and Restore

– Backup: make copies of disks and store in a
safe place
– Restore: restore files from backups
• Disk defragmenter: reorganizes disk so all
files are stored in contiguous locations
• Device driver: handles commands for
devices, such as printers and storage
devices
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