OPERATING

SYSTEMS (OS)
 What is OS?
 It is a set of programs that help in controlling
and managing the Hardware and the
Software resources of a computer system.
 It is a program that enables the computer

hardware to communicate and operate with

the computer software.
 It is also referred to as a resource allocator.
• A computer system has many resources
( hardware and software) that may be required to
solve a problem: CPU time, memory space, file
storage space, input/output devices etc.
 The operating system acts as the manager
of these resources and allocates them to
specific programs and users as necessary
for their tasks.
 It is also a control program.
It controls the execution of user programs to
prevent errors and improper use of the
computer.
 The operating system is also responsible for
security, ensuring that unauthorized users
do not access the system.
A diagram that shows how OS works
 Purposes of OS
There are several possible purposes of an
operating system:
 To provide an environment for a computer

user to execute programs on compute

hardware in a convenient and efficient
manner.
 To allocate the separate resources of the

computer as needed to solve the problem

given. The allocation process should be as
fair and efficient as possible.
 As a control program it serves two major
functions:
Supervision of the execution of user
programs to prevent errors and improper use
of the computer, and
Management of the operation and control of
I/O devices.
 Classifications of OS
 Multi-user - Allows for multiple users to use
the same computer at the same time and/or
different times.
• This type of operating system may be used
for just a few people or hundreds of them.
 Multiprocessing - Allows a program to run
on more than one central processing unit
(CPU) at a time.
• This can come in very handy in some work
environments, at schools, and even for some
home-computing situations.
 Multitasking - Capable of allowing multiple
software/programs to run at the same time.
 Multithreading - Allows different parts of a

software program to run concurrently.

 Real-time - Allow computers to process and

respond to input instantly.

Typicallyused when computers must react to
the consistent input of information without
delay.
• For example, real-time operating systems may
be used in navigation.
 Different OS
Implementation
 Windows Operating System
 Microsoft Windows is a series of software
operating systems produced by Microsoft.
Windows - A trademark for any of a series of
GUIs or GUI-based computer operating
systems.
 MS Windows is the most prominent
proprietary operating system.
Proprietary software is computer software on
which the producer has set restrictions on
use, private modification, copying, or
republishing. Restrictions on use,
modification and copying are achieved by
either legal or technical means or sometimes
both.
• Similar terms include "closed-source software"
and "non-free software".
Free software can be used, copied, studied,
modified and redistributed with little or no
restriction beyond the requirement that
source code must be made available.
• Free software is a matter of the users’ freedom to
run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve
the software
Windows Desktop Timeline
 On November 10, 1983,
Microsoft announced
Microsoft Windows®, an
extension of the MS-DOS®
operating system that
would provide a graphical
operating environment for
PC users.
 With Windows, the
graphical user interface
(GUI) era at Microsoft had
begun.
1985: Windows 1.0
 The first version of
Windows provided a
new software
environment for
developing and
running applications
that use bitmap
displays and mouse
pointing devices.
 1987: Windows 2.0
 With improved graphics support, users could now
overlap windows, control screen layout, and use
keyboard combinations to move rapidly through
Windows operations.
 Many developers wrote their first Windows–based
applications for this release.
 1990: Windows 3.0
 The third major release of the Windows
platform from Microsoft offered improved
performance, advanced graphics with 16
colors, and full support of the more powerful
Intel 386 processor.
 The first widely popular version of Windows

and the first version of Windows many PC

users ever tried.
 1993: Windows NT 3.1
 It was released to manufacturing on July 27,
1993
 "NT" stands for new technology.

 It was the first Windows operating system to

combine support for high-end, client/server

business applications with the industry's
leading personal productivity applications.
 1993
Windows for Workgroups 3.11
 It added peer-to-peer workgroup and
domain networking support.
 It was used in local area networks (LANs)

and on standalone PCs and laptop

computers.
 1994:
Windows NT Workstation 3.5
 It helped power high-end applications for
software development, engineering,
financial analysis, scientific, and business-
critical tasks.
 Other improved productivity features

included the capability to use friendlier, long

file names of up to 255 characters.
 1995: Windows 95
 It was the successor to the three existing
general-purpose desktop operating systems
from Microsoft—Windows 3.1, Windows for
Workgroups, and MS-DOS.
 Integrated a 32-bit TCP/IP (Transmission

Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) stack for

built-in Internet support, dial-up networking,
and new Plug and Play capabilities that
made it easy for users to install hardware
and software.
 1996
Windows NT Workstation 4.0
 This upgrade brought increased ease of use
and simplified management, higher network
throughput, and tools for developing and
managing intranets.
 In October 1998, Microsoft announced that

Windows NT would no longer carry the

initials NT and that the next major version of
the business operating system would be
called Windows 2000.
 1998: Windows 98
 It was the upgrade from Windows 95.
Described as an operating system that
"Works Better, Plays Better," Windows 98
was the first version of Windows designed
specifically for consumers.
 Users could find information more easily on

their PCs as well as the Internet.

 Ability to open and close applications more

quickly, support for reading DVD discs, and

support for universal serial bus (USB)
devices.
 1999
Windows 98 Second Edition
 It was an incremental update to
Windows 98. It offered consumers a variety
of new and enhanced hardware
compatibility and Internet-related features.
• Helped improve users' online experience with
the Internet Explorer 5.0 browser technology
and Microsoft Windows NetMeeting® 3.0
conferencing software.
 It was also the first consumer operating
system from Microsoft capable of using
device drivers.
 2000: Windows Millennium
Edition (Windows Me)
 Designed for home computer users, It
offered consumers numerous music, video,
and home networking enhancements and
reliability improvements.
 It was the last Microsoft operating system to

be based on the Windows 95 code base.

 Microsoft announced that all future

operating system products would be based

on the Windows NT and Windows 2000
kernel.
 2000
Windows 2000 Professional
 It was designed to replace Windows 95,
Windows 98, and Windows NT Workstation
4.0 on all business desktops and laptops.
 Simplified hardware installation by adding

support for a wide variety of new Plug and

Play hardware, including advanced
networking and wireless products, USB
devices, IEEE 1394 devices, and infrared
devices.
 2001
Windows XP
 The "XP" in Windows XP stands for
"experience," symbolizing the innovative
experiences that Windows can offer to
personal computer users.
 With Windows XP, home users can work

with and enjoy music, movies, messaging,

and photos with their computer, while
business users can work smarter and faster.
 2001: Windows XP Professional
 It brings the solid foundation of Windows
2000 to the PC desktop, enhancing
reliability, security, and performance. With a
fresh visual design,
 It includes features for business and

advanced home computing, including

remote desktop support, an encrypting file
system, and system restore and advanced
networking features.
 2001: Windows XP Home Edition
 It offers a clean, simplified visual design that
makes frequently used features more
accessible.
 Designed for home users, the product offers

such enhancements as the Network Setup

Wizard, Windows Media Player, Windows
Movie Maker, and enhanced digital photo
capabilities.
 2002: Windows XP Tablet PC
Edition
 Microsoft unveiled the Windows XP Tablet
PC Edition in November, 2002.
 2007: Windows Vista
 Using Vista is significantly different from XP;
notably in the style and functionality of the
user interface, and in a new set of security
protocols which affect installing and running
software.
 It includes built-in accessibility settings and

programs that make it easier for you to see,

hear, and use your computer.
 On January 30, 2007, it was released
worldwide, and was made available for
purchase and download from Microsoft's
website.
 Editions:
Home Basic
Home Premium
Business
Ultimate
 LINUX Operating System
 Linux is an operating system that is a typical
example of free software and open source
development. The source code of Linux is
available for anyone to use, modify, and
redistribute freely.
 Linux is a multitasking, multi-user operating

system, which means that many people can

run many different applications on one
computer at the same time. This differs from
MS-DOS, where only one person can use
the system at any one time.
 Under Linux, to identify yourself to the
system, you must log in, which entails
entering your login name (the name the
system uses to identify you), and entering
your password, which is your personal key
for logging in to your account. Because only
you know your password, no one else can
log in to the system under your user name.
 Linux is one of the most secure operating
systems. "Walls" and flexible file access
permission systems prevent access by
unwanted visitors or viruses.
 Started by Linus Torvalds in 1991 and can
be downloaded from a number of sites like
(www.linux.org) as well as purchased in
packages (called distributions) from
companies such as RedHat
(www.redhat.com) and Suse
(www.suse.com).
 UNIX Operating System
 UNIX (officially trademarked as UNIX,
sometimes also written as Unix with small
caps) is a computer operating system
originally developed in 1969 by a group of
AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including
Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, and
Douglas McIlroy.
 Today's UNIX systems are split into various

branches, developed over time by AT&T as

well as various commercial vendors and
non-profit organizations.
 As of 2007, the owner of the trademark is
The Open Group, an industry standards
consortium.
 UNIX is, at its base level, a multi-user,

multitasking, virtual ­memory operating

system that runs on a wide variety of
hardware platforms.
 There are two main versions of UNIX in use

today: System V and BSD. System V is the

more popular of the two.
 DOS Operating System
 DOS stands for Disk Operating System. It is
an early predecessor of the Windows
Operating System that utilized what is called
a command-line interface.
A command-line interface is a way of giving
the computer instructions by typing special
commands (or instructions) one after
another. DOS, like any other operating
system, is a special program completely
devoted to maintaining and operating your
computer.
 It was developed by Microsoft in 1981 for
IBM's line of personal computers.
 DOS is a 16-bit, single-user operating

system that does not support multi-tasking.

It is far easier to administer than Unix, but
less powerful. Compared to modern
graphical interfaces, such as Mac OS and
Windows, it is also not particularly user-
friendly.
 DOS began as QDOS (Quick and Dirty
Operating System), a variation of an older
operating system called CP/M. At this point,
two distinct but similar versions of DOS
emerged:
PC-DOS, which is what IBM distributed with
its computers
MS-DOS, which Microsoft licensed to clone
vendors
 MAC Operating System
 Mac OS X is Apple's operating system for its
line of Macintosh computers.
 Its interface, known as Aqua, is built on a

Unix foundation originally based on the

OPENSTEP technology acquired when
Apple purchased NeXT Software, Inc.
• Although it has much of the look and feel of the
former Mac OS, features such as pre-emptive
multitasking, symmetric multiprocessing,
multithreading, and protected memory give Mac
OS X improved stability and performance.
 Currently three Mac OS X-related products
are available:
Mac OS X: This is the version most
Macintosh owners should use. It is a
consumer operating system designed for use
on your personal computer.
Mac OS X Server: As its name implies, this
is Apple's server operating system. It is
similar to the consumer release of Mac OS X
but also includes a suite of network services,
Darwin: Darwin is the
Unix-like foundation
upon which Mac OS X
is based. It is open
source and available as
a stand-alone operating
system.