Chapter 7A

Operating System Basics

McGraw-Hill Technology Education Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
 Booting
• The process of starting or restarting a computer is
called booting

Cold boot Warm boot

7A-2
Booting

3
 Types of Operating System(OS)
• Four major types of OS
– Real Time OS
– Single user/Single Tasking OS
– Single User/Multitasking OS
– Multiuser and Multitasking OS
 Types of Operating Systems
• Real-time operating system
– Also called embedded OS
– Very fast small OS
– Built into a device
– Supports real time application
• Respond quickly to user input (millionths of a second)
– Time critical
– Medical devices, Airbag control system in a car
 Types of Operating Systems
• Single user/Single tasking OS
– One user works on the system
– Performs one task at a time
– MS-DOS and Palm OS
– Take up little space on disk
– Run on inexpensive computers
 Types of Operating Systems
• Single user/Multitasking OS
– User performs many tasks at once
– Most common form of OS
– Windows XP and OS X
– Require expensive computers
– Tend to be complex
 Types of Operating Systems
• Multi user/Multitasking OS
– Many users connect to one computer (Terminal Server)
– Each user has a unique session on the server
• Terminal Client: A program that connect to terminal server
– UNIX, Linux, and Others
– Maintenance can be easy
– Requires a powerful computer
Multi user/Multi tasking OS
 Operating System Functions
• Providing user interface
• Running programs
• Managing hardware
• Utility programs
 Providing a User Interface
• User interface
– How a user interacts with a computer
– Require different skill sets
 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 open programs or documents
– Open documents have additional objects
– Task switching
– Dialog boxes allow directed input
Graphical User Interface
 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
Command Line Interface
 Running Programs
• Many different applications supported
• System call
– Provides consistent access to OS features
• Share information between programs
– Copy and paste
– Object Linking and Embedding
• Some other services provided by OS to programs
– Saving the contents of file to disk
– Reading the contents of file from disk
– Allocating RAM among running programs
 Managing Hardware
• Programs need to access hardware
• Interrupts
– CPU is stopped
– Hardware device is accessed
• Device drivers control the hardware
– E.g. device drivers for printer, USB, CD-ROM etc.
 Organizing Files and Folders
• Organized storage
• Long file names
• Folders can be created and nested
• All storage devices work consistently
 Enhancing an OS
• Utilities
– Provide services not included with OS
– Goes beyond the four functions
– Firewall, anti-virus and compression
– Prices vary
 Enhancing an OS
• Backup software
– Archives files onto removable media
– Ensures data integrity
– Most OS include a backup package
– Many third party packages exist
Backup Software
 Enhancing an OS
• Anti-virus software
– Crucial utility
– Finds, blocks and removes viruses
– Must be updated regularly
– McAfee and Norton Anti-Virus
 Enhancing an OS
• Firewall
– Crucial utility
– Protects your computer from intruders
– Makes computer invisible to hackers
– Zone Labs is a home firewall
– Cisco sells hardware firewalls
 Enhancing an OS
• Intrusion detection
– Often part of a firewall package
– Announces attempts to breach security
– Snort is a Linux based package
 Enhancing an OS
• Screen savers
– Merely fun for GUI systems
– Screen saver decorates idle screens
 Survey of PC and Network OS
• PC Operating System
• Network Operating System
• Embedded Operating System
 PC Operating Systems
• Microsoft Windows is the most popular
– Installed more than other OS combined
– Installed on about 95% of computers
– Apple and Linux represent the other 5%

7B-28
 PC Operating Systems
• DOS
– Disk Operating System came in 1980
– Single user single-tasking OS
– Command line interface
– 16-bit OS
– Two reasons DOS is still in use
• Small in size which require less memory, single tasking OS
• Supports legacy applications

7B-29
 DOS Application

7B-30
 PC Operating Systems
• Windows NT
– Designed for a powerful system based on DOS-1993
– 32-bit OS
– Very stable
– Windows NT Workstation
• Single user multi tasking OS
• Can be used as server in peer to peer networking
– Windows NT Server
• Multi user multi tasking OS
• Network operating system

7B-31
 PC Operating Systems
• Windows 9x
– 95, 98, and Millennium Edition (Me)
– 32-bit OS
– Still found in large corporations
– 95 introduced the Start button
• Plug and play feature, support 16 bit as well as 32 bit programs,
improved networking support
– 98 introduced active desktop
– Me improved multimedia software
• Built in support for video editing, Not a stable version than 95 and
98
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 PC Operating Systems
• Windows 2000
– Look of 9x with NT stability
– Optimized for office and developers
– Application software ran very well
– Entertainment software ran very poorly

7B-33
 PC Operating Systems
• Windows XP
– Microsoft’s newest desktop product released in 2001
– Different look from 2000 – rich interface
– Many different versions
• Home, Professional, Media Center and Embedded
– Also support 64 bit architecture
• Consistent with AMD Opteron and Athlon64 CPU
– Digital multimedia support was enhanced
– Communications was enhanced
– Mobile computing became a priority
7B-34
 PC Operating Systems
• Macintosh operating systems
– OS X
– Based on FreeBSD Linux
– Very stable and easy to configure
– Only runs on Mac hardware
– macOS 10.14: Mojave (Liberty) - 24 September 2018
– macOS 10.15: Catalina - 24 September 2018

7B-35
 OS X Desktop

7B-36
 PC Operating Systems
• UNIX
– Runs on all computer types
– 32- or 64-bit
– Very stable and fast
– Command-line interface
– Can cost thousands of dollars

7B-37
 PC Operating Systems
• Linux
– Free or inexpensive version of UNIX
– 32-bit OS
– Very stable and fast
– Most flavors are open source
– Windows based GUI
• Command line interface is available

7B-38
 Linux Desktop

7B-39
 NOS Features
• Network operating system
– Designed to run on network servers and dedicated to provide various
services to client computers
• Fast and stable
• Multi-user and multitasking OS
• 32- or 64-bit
• File and print sharing
– Users access the same files
– Hundreds of users use a printer
– Different OS can interact

7B-40
 NOS Features
• Data integrity
– Backups copies data onto tape
– RAID copies data onto other drives
• Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks
• Relies on two or more hard drives
• May speed access to data
• Data security
– Access to data can be restricted
– Access to server resources is controlled

7B-41
 Networking Operating Systems
• NT Server
– Same core as NT Workstation
– Security added
– Multi user capability added
– RAID support included

7B-42
 Networking Operating Systems
• Windows 2000 Server
– Same technology as 2000 workstation
– Active Directory (AD)
• Central database of server resources
• Simplifies network management
– Server Standard Edition
• For average business users, support up to two processors
– Advanced Server Edition
• Support up to four processors, enhanced RAM, clusters of printers services (if
one printer fails, it provides an alternative)
– Data Center Edition
• Optimized for large scale application server such as database
• Support up to 32 processors
• Sold through computer manufacturers
7B-43
 Networking Operating Systems
• Windows 2003 Server
– Designed to compete with UNIX
– XP like interface
– Better support for XP computers
– It supports
• MS .NET framework supported, Web based Applications,
Distributed programs are supported, large databases
– Server Standard Edition
• For average business
– Data Center Edition
• Support for large scale applications, large scale databases
7B-44
 Networking Operating Systems
• UNIX for servers
– Oldest NOS in widespread use
– Stable secure and fast
– Main OS for Internet and Web
– Large organizations depend on UNIX

7B-45
 Networking Operating Systems
• Linux for servers
– Popular in small businesses
– Stable, fast and inexpensive
– Linux’s popularity is growing

7B-46
 Embedded Operating Systems
• Devices have EOS built in
• Cell phones, PDAs, medical equipment
• Stable and fast

7B-47
 Embedded Operating Systems
• Windows XP embedded
– Based on Windows XP
– Customized for each device

7B-48
 Embedded Operating Systems
• Windows CE
– Not based on a desktop OS
– Customized for each device
– Support wireless communication, smaller version of Word,
Excel and Outlook
– PDA and cell phones
– Microsoft Automotive will run in cars

7B-49
 Embedded Operating Systems
• Palm OS
– Standard on Palm PDA
– First PDA OS for consumers
– Complete suite for Personal Information Management
– Can be found on cell phones

7B-50
 Embedded Operating Systems
• Pocket PC
– Developed by Microsoft to compete with Palm
– Not customizable
– Target group was business and corporate sector
– Interacts securely with business networks
– Ability to manage and control PC or Server via wireless
network connection

7B-51
 Embedded Operating Systems
• Symbian
– Found in smart cell phones
– Games, Instant Messaging, Internet
– Full color display

7B-52
 Application Software
• Application software consists of programs designed
to make users more productive and/or assist with
personal tasks

To make business activities more efficient

To assist with graphics and multimedia projects

To support home, personal, and educational tasks

To facilitate communications
7A-53
 Application Software

54
 Application Software
• Available in a variety of forms:

Open
Packaged Custom Web
source Shareware
software software application
software

Public-
Freeware domain
software

7A-55
 Chapter 7A,B

End of Chapter
125, 132

McGraw-Hill Technology Education Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.