An Intro to Operating system

An Operating System

An operating system is a computer program that controls the allocation

of computer hardware such as memory, disk devices, printers, CD-

ROM, etc., and provides you with the capability of communicating

with your computer.

Functions of Operating

System

Control Basic Input & Output

The operating system controls the basic input and output of the data to the computer as

well as the flow of data to and from peripheral devices.

Allocate System Resources The operating system allocates system

resources so programs run properly. The operating system ensures that adequate space is available for your programs & that program instructions are completed quickly.

In multitasking(run two or more programs at the same time) the operating system ensures that each program has adequate space & that the computer devotes an appropriate amount of time to the tasks prescribed by each program.

Manage Storage Space

The operating system keep track of the data stored on disks & CD ROMs. When you need the data you only need to ask the

operating system to retrieve it.

Maintain Security

The operating system also helps maintain the security of the

data on the computer system e.g the operating system might

not allow you to access the computer system unless you have a user ID & password.

Detect Equipment Failure

The operating system monitors the status of critical computer

components to detect failures that affect processing.e.g if an electrical component inside your computer

fails, the operating system displays a message identifying the problem &

does not let you continue with the computing session until the

problem is fixed.

Other Tasks

The tasks already described gives you a pretty good idea of types of the work that operating system do.In

addition each operating system has a variety of standard utility programs

e.g formatting disks,copying files,sorting records & so on.

Some Personal

Operating Systems

Mac OSThe graphically oriented Operating System used

on Apple Macintosh computers. The Apple Macintosh introduced in 1984, set the standard for graphical user interfaces. Many of today’s new Operating Systems follow the trend that

Mac started.

MS-DOS & PC-DOSDuring 1980s & 1990s DOS was the dominant operating system for microcomputers.DOS is

available in two forms: MS-DOS & PC-DOS.Both were originally developed by Microsoft

Corporation. PC-DOS was created for IBM microcomputers & MS-DOS for PC-Compatibles.

DOS WITH WINDOWS 3.x

Microsoft created Windows 3.x in an effort to meet the needs of users frustrated by

issuing DOS commands.Where the x stands for version no. of the software.Windows 3.x

eliminates the need to remember a command syntax.

WINDOWS 9X In 1994, Microsoft announced that all

soon to be released versions of Windows 3.x would bundle language commands

including Dos & graphical user interface into a single product. Windows 95 refers to 1995 version Windows 98 refers to 1998

version of Windows. Collectively, the

windows are referred to as Windows 9X.

SOME NETWORK

OPERATING SYSTEMS

NOSs are so named because their main purpose is serving several users working

over a computer network.

UNIXUnix is the most frequent choice on server computers that store information carried over the internet. Unix is flexible, general purpose operating system that works on

mainframes, midrange computers, PCs that act as network servers, graphic workstations

& even the desktop PCs of ordinary users. But many people complain that it is not very easy to use.& several brands of it are now

available.

NETWARE NetWare developed by Novell is today the

most widely used operating system on microcomputer based local area

networks(LANs).

WINDOWS NTWINDOWS NT(for New Technology) is a full

32-bit operating system developed by Microsoft Corporation for organizational

computer systems. An important feature of Windows NT is its ability to run on a variety of computer systems. But on the other hand it has large storage requirements.