Chapter 1: Introduction

Objectives

 To describe an operating system.

 To provide a grand tour of the major components of
operating systems.
 To give an overview of the many types of computing
environments.
 To describe the basic organization of computer systems.

1.2
 What is an Operating System?

 A program that acts as an intermediary between a user of a

computer and the computer hardware.
 OS is a system software acting as an interface between
application program and hard wars.
 a program for hard ware abstraction and resources
management.
 Operating system goals:
 Execute user programs and solving user problems easily.
 Make the computer system convenient to use
 Use the computer hardware in an efficient manner
(Efficiency of usage of CPU, memory, etc..)
 Protect user from unauthorized release and modification
of information.

1.3
Operating Systems

• Operating systems allow the

separation of hardware
management from
applications/programs.

• This allows the applications to

work across different hardware
platforms, although the
applications are still specific to
the OS.

1.4
 Android

Examples of Operating system

1.5
 Computer System Structure

 Computer system can be divided into four components:

 Hardware – provides basic computing resources
 CPU, memory, I/O devices, etc.
 Operating system
 Controls and coordinates the use of hardware among
various applications and users.
 Application programs – define the ways in which the system
resources are used to solve the computing problems of the
users
 Word processors, web browsers, database systems, video
games
 Users
 People, machines, other computers

1.6
Four Components of a Computer System

1.7
 Operating System Definition

 OS is a resource allocator
 Manages all resources
 Decides between conflicting requests for efficient and fair
resource use.
 OS control program
 Controls the execution of programs to prevent errors and
improper use of the computer.
 “The program running at all times on the computer” is the
kernel.
 Everything else is either
 a system program (ships with the operating system) , or
 an application program.

1.8
 Components of operating system

 Kernel

 Shell

 Other program
 Or
 Process management, memory management, file
management, storage management, security
management components, etc.

1.9
 Kernel
Kernel is the heart of an operating system.
It allocates the system resources and coordinate all the details
of the computer's internals.
It interacts with the hardware and perform most of the tasks
like;
memory management,
task scheduling,
file management,
input and output requests handling
access CPU and peripheral device like hard disk, DVD,
RAM, Printers, etc.
1.10
 Shell

 Users communicate with the kernel through a program known as

the shell.
 Shell is a utility that processes user requests.
 Is used to start other programs.
 When you type a command at your terminal, the shell interprets
the command and calls the program that you want and pass the
request to a kernel.
 The shell is a program that reads user commands, executing
commands, and then prints the result.
 A shell can be GUI or text based(command based) interface.
 Examples: sh, csh, ksh, bash, etc.
1.11
IO Management

1.12
 Functions of an OS
 User Environment - OS layer transforms bare hardware machine into higher level
abstractions.
 Execution environment –to run other programs.
 process management, file manipulation, interrupt handling, I/O operations.
 Error detection and handling- internal and external hardware errors and
various software errors.
 Make the response that clears the error condition with least impact on the
user
 Security- enforce security through abstraction.
 Access Control: regulating user access to the total system, subsystem
and data. And process access to various resources and objects.
 Information flow control: flow of data within the system.
 Securing a system against internal and external attacks.
 Communication : message sending and receiving.
 Message passing
 Shared memory
1.13
 Functions of an OS
 Resource Management
 Time management
 CPU and disk transfer scheduling
 Space management
 main and secondary storage allocation
 Synchronization and deadlock handling
 IR, PC, critical section
 Accounting and status information
 resource usage tracking
 Collect usage statistics
 Monitor performance

1.14
 Computer Startup

 bootstrap program is loaded at power-up or reboot

 Typically stored in ROM or EPROM, generally known
as firmware
 Initializes all aspects of system
 Loads operating system’s kernel and starts execution

1.15
 Computer-System Architecture
 Most systems use a single general-purpose processor.
 Most systems have special-purpose processors as well
 Multiprocessors systems are growing in use and importance.
 Also known as parallel systems, tightly-coupled systems
 Advantages include:
1. Increased throughput: more work with less time
2. Economy of scale: save money than single-core type
because it used shared resources.
3. Increased reliability – graceful degradation or fault tolerance
 Two types:
1. Asymmetric Multiprocessing – each processor is assigned a
specific task.
 a master processor controls the system, scheme defines a
master-slave relationship
2. Symmetric Multiprocessing – each processor performs all tasks.
 processor runs an identical copy of the operating system and
communicate with one another
1.16 as needed.
 What Operating Systems Do

 Users want convenience, ease of use and good

performance
 Don’t care about resource utilization
 But shared computer such as mainframe or minicomputer
must keep all users happy.
 Users of dedicate systems such as workstations have
dedicated resources but frequently use shared resources
from servers
 Handheld computers are resource poor, optimized for
usability and battery life.
 Some computers have little or no user interface, such as
embedded computers in devices and automobiles.

1.17
 Operating-System Operations

 Interrupt driven (hardware and software)

 Hardware interrupt by one of the devices
 Software interrupt (exception or trap):
Software error (e.g., division by zero)
Request for operating system service
Other process problems include infinite
loop, processes modifying each other or
the operating system

1.18
 Operating-System Operations
 Timer to prevent infinite loop / process hogging resources
 Timer is set to interrupt the computer after some time period
 Keep a counter that is decremented by the physical clock.
 Operating system set the counter (privileged instruction)
 When counter zero generate an interrupt
 Set up before scheduling process to regain control or terminate program
that exceeds allotted time

1.19
 Operating-System Operations (cont.)

 Dual-mode operation allows OS to protect itself and other system

components
 User mode and kernel mode
 Mode bit provided by hardware
 Provides ability to distinguish when system is running user
code or kernel code
 Some instructions designated as privileged, only
executable in kernel mode
 System call changes mode to kernel, return from call resets
it to user
 Example. Shell is user mode

 Increasingly CPUs support multi-mode operations

 i.e. virtual machine manager (VMM) mode for guest VMs

1.20
 Transition from User to Kernel Mode


1.21
Types of Operating System

Based on number of user and tasks, operating system can

be categorized as:
 single-user single-tasking
 One user executes one task at a time.
 E.g. DOS

 single user multi-tasking

 One user executes multiple tasks in parallel.
 E.g. Window, Ubuntu, etc.
 multiuser multi-tasking operating systems.
 Supports multiple users and tasks
 E.g. Server Operating System such as window server
2008/12,Linux,etc.

1.22
 Types of OS

 Serial processing OS
 Batch OS
 Multi-programmed OS
 Multi-tasking /Time sharing OS
 Multiprocessors OS
 Real time OS
 Network OS
 Distributed OS

1.23
1.24
1.25
1.26
1.27
1.28
1.29
1.30
1.31
 Cont…
 Real-Time Systems : is used when rigid time

requirements have been placed on the operation of a

processor or the flow of data.

 Sensors bring data to the computer

 Computer must analyze the data and possibly adjust

controls

 works in fixed time constraints

 It is used in scientific experiments, medical imaging

systems, industrial control systems, weapon systems,
robots, air traffic control systems, etc.
1.32
1.33
 Network Operating System

 run on a server and provide the capability to manage data, users,

groups, security, applications, shared access to files and printers,
and other networking functions.
 Advantages of Network Operating System
 Highly stable centralized servers.
 Security concerns are handled through servers.
 Server access is possible remotely from different locations and
types of systems.
 Disadvantages of Network Operating System
 Servers are costly.
 User has to depend on a central location for most operations.
 Maintenance and updates are required regularly.

1.34
1.35
1.36
 Characteristic of Modern OS

 Micro Kernel architecture- assign only few functions

 Address space, inter process communication, basic scheduling
 Multi-Tasking
 creating displaceable unit of work called for a particular process
 Symmetric Multi-Processing
 Performance, availability, incremental growth, scaling
 Distributed OS

1.37