Peter Norton

Operating System Basics

 Chapter Outlines
• Basic Function of OP
• Types of Operating Systems
• Enhancing an OS

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Basic Functions of OS
• Displays the on-screen elements with which you interact—
the user interface.
• Loads programs (such as word processing and
spreadsheet programs) into the computer's memory so that
you can use them.
• Coordinates how programs work with the computer's
hardware and other software.
• Manages the way information is stored on, and retrieved
from disks.
Process Management, Memory Management, File Management, Device
Management, Security, Command Interpretation

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Types of Operating Systems

• Real Time OS
• Single User- Single Tasking OS
• Single User-Multi Tasking OS
• Multi User-Multi Tasking OS

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Types of OS (RTOS)
• A real-time operating system (RTOS) is an operating
system (OS) intended to serve real-time application
requests.

• It must be able to process data as it comes in,

typically without buffering delays.

• A common example of an RTOS is an HDTV receiver

and display. It needs to read a digital signal, decode
it and display it as the data comes in, Medical
equipment.
Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics
 Types of OS (RTOS) Cont…

• Real-time operating system

– Very fast small OS
– Built into a device
– Respond quickly to user input
– Example: MP3 players, Medical devices, Live
support equipment, HDTV receiver

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Types of OS (RTOS)
Some of the best known, most widely deployed, real-
time operating systems are:
• LynxOS
• OSE
• QNX
• RTLinux
• VxWorks
• Windows CE

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

Single user/Single tasking OS
– One user works on the system
– Performs one task at a time
– Take up little space on disk
– Run on inexpensive computers

Example:
MS-DOS and Palm OS

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

Single user/Multitasking OS
– User performs many tasks at once
– Most common form of OS
– Require expensive computers
– Tend to be complex
Example:
Windows XP and OS X

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Multi user/Multitasking OS
– Many users connect to one computer
– Each user has a unique session
– Maintenance can be easy
– Requires a powerful computer

Example:
UNIX, Linux, and VMS, MVS

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Functions of Operating Systems
• Provide a user interface
• Run programs
• Manage hardware devices and software
• Organized file storage

7A-11
Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics
 1) Providing a User Interface
• User interface
– How a user interacts with a computer
– Require different skill sets
• Understanding Tabs, Mouse, Cursors, Dialogue Boxes,
Pop-up menus etc.

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Providing a User Interface

• Graphical User Interface (GUI)

• Command Line User Interface

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Providing a User Interface
• Graphical user interface (GUI)
– Most common interface
• Windows, OS X, Gnome, KDE
– Uses a mouse to control objects
– Uses a desktop metaphor
– Shortcuts opening programs or documents
– Open documents have additional objects
– Task switching
– Dialog boxes allow directed input
Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics
Graphical User Interface (Win 7)

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

Graphical User Interface (Win 8)
Graphical User Interface (Osx)
Graphical User Interface (GNOME 3.12)
Graphical User Interface (GNOME 3.12)
GNOME is developed by The
GNOME Project

Composed of both volunteers

and paid contributors

The largest corporate

contributor being Red Hat

Open Source and Multi-

platform based

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

Graphical User Interface (KDE)

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Providing a User Interface
• Command line interfaces
– Older interface
• DOS, Linux, UNIX
– User types commands at a prompt
– User must remember all commands
– Included in all GUIs

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

Command Line Interface

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Command Line Interface(DOS)

Common DOS Commands: md, cd, cls, edit, alt, dir, copy, move, del…..

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 2) Running Programs
OS supports many different application
• OS provides for System Call
– In computing, a system call is how a program
requests a service from an operating system's
kernel that it does not normally have permission
to run.

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 2) Running Programs Cont…

• OS provides for System Call

– This may include hardware related services (e.g.
accessing the hard disk) and creating and
executing new processes.

– System calls provide an essential interface between

a process and the operating system.

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Running Programs
Other services:
• Saving the contents of files to a disk.
• Reading the contents of a file from disk into
memory.
• Sending a document to the printer and
activating the printer.
• Providing resources that let you copy or move
data from one document to another, or from one
program to another.

• Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Running Programs
Other services:
• Allocating RAM among the running programs.
• Recognizing keystrokes or mouse clicks and
displaying characters or graphics on the screen.

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Running Programs
• Share information between programs
– Copy and paste
– Object Linking and Embedding (OLE)
Example:
From “Paint” to “Word”

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 3) Managing Hardware
• Programs need to access hardware
– Interrupt request sent to CPU
– CPU is stopped
– Hardware device is accessed
– CPU retrieves the information
– CPU show it @ monitor

• Device drivers control the hardware

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

Managing Hardware

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 4) Organizing Files and Folders
• Organized storage
• Long file names
• Folders can be created and nested
• All storage devices work consistently

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

Organizing Files and Folders

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Enhancing an OS
• Utilities
– Provide services not included with OS
– Goes beyond the four functions
– May be Free or Paid or part of the OS
Category:
(Disk and File Management, Internet Security, OS
Customization Tools)
Examples:
– Backing up and compression
– Firewall/Intrusion Detection
– Anti-virus / Internet Security
– Screen-savers
– iTunes
– Disk Defrag Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics
 Enhancing an OS
• Backup software
– Archives files onto removable media
– Ensures data integrity
– Most OS include a backup package
– Many third party packages exist

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

Backup Software

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Enhancing an OS
• Anti-virus software
– Crucial utility
– Finds, blocks and removes viruses
– Often recovers lost data
– Must be updated regularly
– McAfee, Norton Anti-Virus, E-set, Panda,

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Enhancing an OS
• Anti-virus Vs Internet Security
– Antivirus is a class of software that detects and
cleans out virus infected files while Internet
Security is a suite of applications that aims to
protect users against threats from the internet

– Internet Security suites usually include an antivirus

application among other programs

– Internet security suites commonly includes a

firewall, anti malware, anti spyware, and email
protection.
Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics
 Enhancing an OS
• Anti-virus Vs Internet Security
– Internet Security suites often cost more than stand-
alone antivirus applications
– Internet Security requires more resources to run
and slows down old computers

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Enhancing an OS
• Firewall
– It looks at the Internet traffic going in and out of
your machine.

– You can instruct them to block certain traffic or

allow other kinds.

– Sometimes you can choose to do this automatically

without the firewall asking, and sometimes you can
choose to have the firewall ask you first before
blocking.
Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics
 Enhancing an OS
• Firewall (Hard Vs Soft)
– Hard– Built in a device (router)
– Soft– Programmed in a system (Utility)

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Enhancing an OS
• Intrusion detection
– Often part of a firewall package
– Announces attempts to breach security
– Creates Logs

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Enhancing an OS
• Antivirus Vs Firewall:
• Firewalls are used to limit incoming transmissions to
those that are least likely to contain bad data,
• while antivirus programs actually look at the effect
that the incoming data has on the system.
• Firewalls cannot be used to remove threats if they
happen to get past the firewall. Antivirus can be used
to do the same.

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Enhancing an OS
• Screen savers
– Crucial utility for command line systems
• Prevents burn-in of image (ghost image) in the monitor
– Merely fun for GUI systems
– Screen saver decorates idle screens

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

 Chapter Summery
• Basic Function of OS
– User Interface, Process Management, Memory Management, File
Management, Device Management, Security,
• Types of Operating Systems
– Real Time OS
– Single User- Single Tasking OS
– Single User-Multi Tasking OS
– Multi User-Multi Tasking OS
• Enhancing an OS
– Utilities (Back up Software, Firewall, Anti-virus / Internet Security,
Screen-savers)

Chapter 6 : Operating System Basics

Peter Norton

End of Chapter
 PC Operating Systems
• Apple and Linux represent the other 5%
• MC OS
• Unix
• Linux

7B-46
Chapter 6B : Operating System Basics
 PC Operating Systems
• Microsoft Windows- the most popular
– DOS (PC DOS, MS DOS)- 1980s
– Windows 3.x (3, 3.1 and 3.11)-1990
– Windows NT- 1993
– Windows 9x( 95, 98, ME)
– Windows 2000
– Windows XP
– Windows Vista
– Windows 7
– Windows 8
– Windows 8.1
7B-47
Chapter 6B : Operating System Basics
 Network Operating System
• Designed to run on a Network server
• Fast and stable
• Multi-user and multitasking OS
• 32- or 64-bit
• Available Option;
– Windows NT Server, Windows 2000 Server, windows Sever
2003, Windows 2008 Sever,
– Mac OS X
– Novell Netware
– UNIX 7B-48
Chapter 6B : Operating System Basics
 Embedded Operating Systems
• Devices have EOS built in
• Cell phones, PDAs, medical equipment
• Stable and fast
• Available Option:
– Windows XP
– Windows CE
– Palm OS
– Pocket PC
– Symbian
Chapter 6B : Operating System7B-49
Basics