An operating system (OS) is a software that manages the hardware and software resources of a computer system. It is responsible for ensuring that different programs and applications can interact with the hardware efficiently, and it provides a user interface that allows users to interact with the system.
In general, an OS consists of two primary components: the kernel and the shell. The kernel is the core component of the OS and is responsible for managing the hardware resources of the system, including the CPU, memory, and input/output devices. It also provides a low-level interface that allows applications to access the hardware resources of the system. The shell, on the other hand, is the user interface that allows users to interact with the system.
There are several different types of operating systems, including:
Windows: Developed by Microsoft, Windows is the most widely used operating system in the world. It is used on personal computers, servers, and mobile devices.
MacOS: Developed by Apple, MacOS is used exclusively on Apple’s hardware, including Macintosh computers and laptops.
Linux: Linux is an open-source operating system that is widely used in the server market. It is also used on desktop computers and laptops. Linux is highly customizable and can be adapted to a wide range of hardware platforms.
UNIX: UNIX is an older operating system that is still widely used in the server market. It is known for its stability, security, and scalability.
Each operating system has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the choice of operating system often depends on the specific requirements of the user or organization. For example, Windows is popular among home users and businesses that use Microsoft Office, while Linux is popular among developers and server administrators.
Common functions of operating systems:-
Being an essential software component that manages computer hardware and provides services for application software, the primary function of an operating system is to serve as an interface between the hardware and the software. The operating system performs various tasks to ensure the efficient and reliable operation of the computer system. Some of the crucial tasks performed by an operating system are:
Process Management: An operating system manages processes, which are instances of programs that are currently running on the computer. The OS is responsible for starting and stopping processes and scheduling their execution. It also manages the resources needed by each process, such as memory and processor time. In a multi-core processor system, the OS manages how to divide the program, so it runs on more than one processor at a time.
Memory Management: Memory management is another critical function of an operating system. The OS manages the sharing of internal memory among processes. It allocates and deallocates memory addresses in RAM, ensuring that processes do not interfere with each other’s memory space.
File Management: An operating system provides services for file management, which includes creating, deleting, renaming, and moving files. It ensures there is sufficient available memory space to load files from disk to memory and back, enforcing the permissions stored with the data.
Input/Output Management: The operating system manages input/output (I/O) operations, which include reading and writing data to and from storage devices, such as hard drives and solid-state drives. The OS also handles requests to the hardware like mouse, keyboard, monitor, etc., and ensures the appropriate device driver is loaded for the device.
User Interface: The operating system provides a user interface (UI) that enables users to interact with the computer. The UI can be a command-line interface or a graphical user interface (GUI). When a user presses a keyboard key, touches a touchscreen, or uses a mouse, the operating system will make sure that the machine responds as the user expects.
Security: An operating system also provides security features to protect the computer and the data stored on it. It controls user access to files and directories, restricts unauthorized access to system resources, and detects and prevents malware attacks.
Resource Allocation: Resource allocation is the combination of process and memory management to ensure that applications have enough processor time and can be allocated sufficient space in RAM as necessary. The operating system manages the allocation of resources to processes and prevents one process from monopolizing resources that other processes need.
In conclusion, the functions of an operating system are crucial to the efficient and reliable operation of a computer system. Without an operating system, the computer cannot function. Operating systems like Linux perform these tasks efficiently and reliably, making them popular for servers and other enterprise applications.
References:
Silberschatz, A., Galvin, P. B., & Gagne, G. (2018). Operating System Concepts, Tenth Edition. Wiley.
Tanenbaum, A. S., & Bos, H. (2015). Modern Operating Systems, Fourth Edition. Pearson.