Focus of the last lecture: Computer SW

We found out about the role SW plays in a computing environment
We learned to distinguish between SW belonging to the system & application categories
Also discussed the different types of SW licenses:
Proprietary
Free
Open source
Shareware
Trialware

Learning Goals for Today

The role of the operating system in a computing environment
The various functions that an operating system performs
The main components of an operating system
Various types of operating systems

11.1 Why Have OSes?

User/programmer convenience
Greater resource utilization

The Role of An OS

The 1st program that runs when a typical computer is turned ON, and the last one to finish running
when the computer is turned OFF.
It manages the HW and SW resources of the computer system, often invisibly. These include the
processor, memory, disk drives, etc.
It provides a simple, consistent way for applications to interact with the HW without having to know all
the details of the HW

Advantage for App. Developers

Application developers do not need to know much about the HW while they are developing their app
They just develop with a particular OS in mind. If the OS runs on many types of computers having
different HW configurations, so will the app – without making any HW-specific modifications in the
app SW. The OS hides the HW differences from the app

Are OS’es Essential?

No. If a computer has been designed for limited functionality (e.g. it runs just a single program all the
time as in a automatic clothes washing machine), it does not require a traditional OS
In limited-functionality computers, an OS just adds to the overhead unnecessarily, which impedes the
computer’s performance. In these situations, the required parts of the OS are integrated into the the only
program that is going to run.

In the beginning …

A single user ran a single program ran on a single computer – there was no need for an OS
Then came computer operators who ran multiple programs for multiple users one after the other – still,
no need for an OS

Later computers became powerful, & became able to run multiple programs, simultaneously. That’s
when the need for OS’es arose for:
Managing the resources of the computers efficiently
Making use of computers convenient for users/programmers

11.2 Core Tasks of an OS

Processor management
Memory management
Device management
Storage management
Application Interface
User Interface

Processor Management

Memory Management

Straight forward for a single-user, single tasking
Each app must have enough private memory in which to execute
App can neither run into the private memory space of another app, nor be run into by another app
Different types of memory (e.g. main, cache) in the system must be used properly, so that each app can
run most effectively

Storage Management

The OS manages storage through one of its sub-modules, the File Manager
A file system is a collection of directories, subdirectories, and files organized in a logical order.
File manager maintains an index of the filenames & where they are located on the disk.
File manager make it easy to find the required file in a logical and timely fashion.

Device Management

Applications talk to devices through the OS and OS talks to and manages devices through Device
Drivers
Example: When we print to a laser printer, we do not need to know its details. All we do is to tell the
printer device driver about what needs to be printed and it takes care of the details

Application Interface

App developers do not need to know much about the HW, especially the uP, while they are developing
their app
The OS provides all apps with a straight-forward and consistent interface to the HW
Example: An app uses the OS to store data on the disk drive. For that, the app does not need to know
about the exact physical characteristics of that drive; it just tells the OS to do that through the app
interface, and the OS takes cares of all the details of the task

User Interface

Users communicate with the computer using a consistent user interface provided by the OS
This UI can be a command-line interface in which a user types in the commands. Example:

copy a:/file1.html c:/file1.html

Or, it can be a graphical UI, where Windows, Icons, Menus, and a Pointing device (such as a mouse) is
used to receive and display information. Example:

With the help of the mouse, drag file1.html from drive a to drive c

11.3 OS Components
Error!
11.4 Kernel

The heart of the OS
Responsible for all the essential operations like basic house keeping, task scheduling, etc. Also contains
low-level HW interfaces
Size important, as it is memory-resident

11.5Types of OS’es

Classification w.r.t. the type of computers they run on and the type of applications they support
Real-Time Operating System (RTOS)
Single-User, Single Task
Single-User, Multi-Tasking
Multi-User

RTOS (1)

Used to run computers embedded in machinery, robots, scientific instruments and industrial systems
Typically, it has little user interaction capability, and no end-user utilities, since the system will be a
"sealed box" when delivered for use
Examples: Wind River, QNX, Real-time Linux, Real-time Windows NT

RTOS (2)

An important part of an RTOS is managing the resources of the computer so that a particular operation
executes in precisely the same amount of time every time it occurs
In a complex machine, having a part move more quickly just because system resources are available
may be just as catastrophic as having it not move at all because the system was busy

Single-User, Single Task

OS’es designed to manage the computer so that one user can effectively do one thing at a time
The Palm OS used in many palmtop computers (PDA’s) is an example of a single-user, single-task OS

Single-User, Multi-Tasking

Most popular OS
Used by most all PC’s and Laptops
Examples: Windows, Mac OS, Linux
Lets a single user interact with several programs, simultaneously

Multi-User

A multi-user OS allows many users to take advantage of the computer's resources, simultaneously
The OS must make sure that the requirements of the various users are balanced, and that the programs
they are using each have sufficient and separate resources so that a problem with one user doesn't affect
any of the other users
Examples: Linux, Unix, VMS and mainframe OS’es, such as MVS

11.6 Another Way of Classifying

Uni-processor OS’es
Designed to schedule tasks on a single uP only

Example: DOS

Multi-processor OS’es
Can control computers having multiple uPs, at times 1000’s of them
Example: Current versions of Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Solaris

11.7 How many different OS’es are there?

100’s OS’es from the Windows family dominate the desktops and run on millions of PC’s
OS’es from the Unix family (Unix, Linux, etc) are quite popular on servers
There are hundreds more. Some designed for mainframes only. Some for embedded applications only.

11.8 Comparing Popular OS’es

OS HW Stability Cost Apps. Support Security Popularity

Windows (GUI)

PC Poor $300 Huge
no. OK Poor Amazing

Mac OS (Shell/GUI)

Mac Good $60 Many OK Good Low

Linux (Shell/GUI)

Many Good Low Many Variable Good Low

Unix (Shell/GUI)

Many Excellent High Many Expensive Excellent Servers

What have we learnt today?

The role of the OS in a computing environment
The various functions that an OS performs
The main components of an OS
Various types of OS’es

Next Lecture: Application SW

We’ll learn about application SW, i.e. programs that interact directly with the user for the performance
of a certain type of work
We’ll try to become familiar with various SW used in the following application areas:
Scientific/engineering/graphics
Business
Productivity
Entertainment
Educational