SEB070030 Tutorial 3

what is OPERATING SYSTEM?

The operating system is the core software component of your computer. It performs many functions and is, in very basic terms, an interface between your computer and the outside world. In the section about hardware, a computer is described as consisting of several component parts including your monitor, keyboard, mouse, and other parts.

20 CORE FUNCTIONS of OS

* Creating abstraction to hide hardware (Device management)
An operating system transforms the physical world of devices into virtual world that is the result of abstractions built by the operating system.

* Device management
An operating system controls peripheral devices, such as printer, by sending them commands in their own language with the software routine namely “driver”.

* To allocate resources to processes (Resources management)
An operating system controls or manages processes (the active agents) to access resources (passive entities).

* Process management
An operating system controls the loading and running of programs
An operating system controls the order and time in which programs are run and is more sophisticated in daily work.

* Provides a set of libraries
These libraries or functions are used by programs to perform specific tasks. Especially, in interfacing with computer system components

* File management
An operating system allows user to save files to a back store
It also contains commands such as “copy” and “rename”. These commands are accepted are executed by the command processor or command line interpreter in the operating system. For example, DOS operating system.

* Memory management
An operating system allocates or creates a virtual memory for program.
It organizes the memory usage between programs so that the program data is loaded into pages of memory.

* Time management
An operating system organizes processing time between programs an users.

* Network management
An operating system establishes internet connection and monitors the connection and interaction among two or more computers.

* Multi-threading
An operating system provides multi-threading processes that split task into smaller task, named threads. This thread allows smoother operations.

* User management
An operating system allows more than one user to log in into a computer.
The operating system has user account database which contains user right, default home directory, and user passwords.

* Central processing unit (CPU) management
An operating system allows allocation of resources among different application.

* Input/Output management
An operating system allows process-device synchronization via I/O buffers.

* Maintaining computer performance
An operating system provides system tools (programs) used to monitor computer performance, debug problems, or maintain parts of the system.

* Provides graphical user interfaces
An operating system allows interfacing functions work along with its other operating functions smoothly which are mostly transparent to the user.
GUI allows users to enter commands by pointing or clicking at the objects on the computer screen.

* Multi-processing Management
An operating system allows multitasking, which is the ability to execute multiple programs simultaneously on individual processors.

* Organization of program priority
An operating system manages the priorities between programs and users. So that, all the programs can run smoothly.

* Critical event management
An operating system informs user by displaying specific issue error messages if there is any error in running task.
It deals with errors and user instructions.

* Security
An operating system maintains the computer security by controlling the accessibility rights of users.

* Recovery and backup
An operating system provides recovery and backup routines to re-start the event(s) if there is any system failure.