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Questions and Answers
What role does an operating system play between a computer user and hardware?
What role does an operating system play between a computer user and hardware?
Which of the following is NOT a basic task performed by an operating system?
Which of the following is NOT a basic task performed by an operating system?
Which component is primarily responsible for starting the operating system during booting?
Which component is primarily responsible for starting the operating system during booting?
What is meant by 'boot device'?
What is meant by 'boot device'?
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Which of the following common services is NOT provided by an operating system?
Which of the following common services is NOT provided by an operating system?
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Which operation would NOT typically require operating system intervention?
Which operation would NOT typically require operating system intervention?
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What does the term 'booting' refer to in computing?
What does the term 'booting' refer to in computing?
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Which of the following options is NOT typically a component of the boot sequence?
Which of the following options is NOT typically a component of the boot sequence?
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What is the primary function of a user interface in an operating system?
What is the primary function of a user interface in an operating system?
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Which type of operating system allows multiple users to access shared resources?
Which type of operating system allows multiple users to access shared resources?
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What does a performance monitor program do?
What does a performance monitor program do?
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In multitasking, what is the difference between cooperative multitasking and preemptive multitasking?
In multitasking, what is the difference between cooperative multitasking and preemptive multitasking?
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What is the role of the BIOS in a computer system?
What is the role of the BIOS in a computer system?
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How does a disk cleanup utility improve system performance?
How does a disk cleanup utility improve system performance?
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What distinguishes a server operating system from a stand-alone operating system?
What distinguishes a server operating system from a stand-alone operating system?
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Which feature is NOT typically associated with an operating system's graphical user interface (GUI)?
Which feature is NOT typically associated with an operating system's graphical user interface (GUI)?
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What defines a supercomputer?
What defines a supercomputer?
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Which type of operating system primarily operates on mobile computing devices?
Which type of operating system primarily operates on mobile computing devices?
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Which statement about automatic updates in operating systems is true?
Which statement about automatic updates in operating systems is true?
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What is the main advantage of multitasking operating systems over single-tasking systems?
What is the main advantage of multitasking operating systems over single-tasking systems?
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Which of the following BEST describes a file manager's function?
Which of the following BEST describes a file manager's function?
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Study Notes
Operating Systems Overview
- Operating system (OS) is a set of programs coordinating computer hardware resources.
- OS acts as an interface between the user and computer hardware.
- Popular OSs include Linux, Windows, OS X, VMS, OS/400, AIX, and z/OS.
Objectives Overview
- Explain basic operating system concepts.
- Describe the functions of an operating system.
- Understand the history of operating system development.
- Summarize features of several stand-alone operating systems.
- Briefly describe various server operating systems.
- Summarize features of several embedded operating systems.
What is an Operating System?
- OS performs tasks like file management, memory management, process management, input/output handling, and controlling peripheral devices (disk drives, printers).
- OS tasks include starting/shutting down a computer, providing a user interface, managing programs, establishing internet connections, managing memory, monitoring performance, and administering security.
Four Components of a Computer System
- Users interact with system and application programs.
- The operating system sits between application programs and computer hardware, providing an interface.
- Computer hardware runs everything.
Operating System Functions: Booting
- Booting: startup sequence starting the OS.
- Boot sequence: initial operations when switched on.
- Boot loader: program starting the "chain reaction" loading the entire OS.
- Boot device: device from which the OS is loaded (e.g., hard disk, optical drive, floppy drive, network interface card, USB device).
Operating System Functions: Shut Down Options
- Sleep mode: saves open documents to RAM, turns off unused functions, and puts the computer in a low-power state.
- Hibernate mode: saves open documents to a hard disk before removing power.
Operating System Functions: User Interface (UI)
- UI controls how users enter data/instructions and how information is displayed.
- Graphical User Interface (GUI): users interact with menus and visual images.
- Command-line Interface: users use the keyboard to input data/instructions.
Operating System Functions: Handling Programs
- OS handles programs directly affecting productivity.
- Single-user and multiuser: OS handles multiple user requests (e.g., multitasking).
- Single-tasking and multi-tasking features: run more than one program at once.
- Preemptive multitasking: OS takes control of programs executing, allowing others to run.
Operating System Functions: Processing Tasks
- OS determines order in which tasks are processed.
- Features like spooling (e.g. document printing) manage order of tasks.
Operating System Functions: Internet Connections
- Most OSs provide methods to connect to the Internet (e.g., dial-up, VPN).
Operating System Functions: Performance Monitor
- Performance monitor: program assessing and reporting information about computer resources and devices (e.g., CPU, disk, network).
Operating System Functions: Other Capabilities
- Manage files, search for files, view images, and secure the computer.
- Uninstall programs, clean up/defragment disks.
- Diagnose problems, backup files/disks.
- Set up screen savers.
Operating System Functions: Automatic Updates
- OS automatically provides updates to software programs.
Operating System Functions: Server OS
- Server OSs organize and coordinate resource access for multiple users.
- Network administrators use server OSs to add/remove users/devices, install software, and administer network security.
Operating System Functions: User Accounts
- Each user has a user account.
- User name (or ID): identifies a specific user.
- Password: private combination of characters associated with the user name.
Types of Operating Systems
- Stand-alone: complete OS for a personal computer, laptop, or mobile computing device.
- Examples: Windows 7, Mac OS X, UNIX, Linux.
- Server: organize and coordinate resource access for multiple users.
- Examples: Early Windows Server versions, Windows Server 2008, UNIX, Linux, Solaris, NetWare
- Embedded: OSs embedded within other devices and platforms.
- Examples: Windows Embedded CE, Windows Mobile, Palm OS, iPhone OS, BlackBerry, Google Android, Embedded Linux, Symbian OS.
Stand-Alone Operating Systems: Windows 7
- Windows 7: Microsoft's fastest, most efficient OS to date.
- Available in multiple editions (Starter, Home Premium, Ultimate, Professional).
- Provides programs like Windows Firewall, Windows Media Player, Windows DVD Maker, and Desktop Gadgets.
Stand-Alone Operating Systems: Mac OS X
- Macintosh operating system sets the standard for ease of use.
- Latest version is Mac OS X.
Stand-Alone Operating Systems: UNIX and Linux
- UNIX: multitasking OS developed in the early 1970s.
- Linux: open-source, popular, multitasking OS, UNIX-type.
Utility Programs: File Manager
- File manager: utility program for file management functions.
- Tasks include displaying file lists, organizing files in folders, copying/renaming/deleting files, sorting files, and creating shortcuts.
Utility Programs: Search Utility
- Search utility: program for locating files based on specified criteria.
Utility Programs: Image Viewer
- Image viewer: displays, copies, and prints graphic file contents.
Utility Programs: Uninstaller
- Uninstaller: removes a program and related system files.
Utility Programs: Disk Cleanup
- Disk cleanup: utility searching for and removing unnecessary files (e.g., downloaded program files, temporary internet files, deleted files, unused program files).
Desktop vs. Server Operating Systems
- Server hardware can take various forms (traditional servers, rack-mounted servers, blade servers).
- Rack-mounted servers are CPU boxes that can hold multiple servers.
- All servers often share one monitor and pointing device.
- Blade servers look like cards fitting into an enclosure.
Servers
- A server controls access to hardware, software, and network resources.
Mainframes
- Mainframe: large, powerful computer handling hundreds/thousands of users simultaneously.
Supercomputers
- Supercomputer: fastest, most powerful computer, capable of processing more than one quadrillion instructions per second.
The Role of Application Software
- Application software: any program a user might run on a computer (e.g., word processor, spreadsheet, database, computer game).
- OS manages communication between applications, users, and the computer.
- Applications can run on any hardware as long as the OS controls them.
The Role of the BIOS
- BIOS: basic input/output system, low-level program code on the computer's motherboard.
- Resides on a chip, initiating/enabling communications with hardware devices.
- Performs power-on self-test (POST) startup tests.
- Initiates hardware and software communications; loads the main OS.
The Role of the BIOS: Flash Memory and CMOS
- BIOS is stored in a flash memory chip that doesn't lose data when the computer is off.
- Stored in CMOS memory (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor).
- When the computer turns on, the BIOS startup program executes. Test hardware components.
- Loads the operating system.
Multiuser Systems
- Multiuser systems support multiple users accessing the system simultaneously.
- Cloud computing is a multiuser system in which users can access resources from various shared resources on a network (e.g., laptop, smartphone, desktop computer, tablet).
Single Tasking vs. Multitasking
- Single-tasking OSes execute one program at a time.
- Multitasking OSes execute multiple programs concurrently.
- Cooperative multitasking: OS hands over control to a program then waits for the program to give control back.
- Preemptive multitasking: OS takes control of running programs.
Single-User vs. Multiuser Operating Systems
- Single-user OSs handle one user at a time.
- Multiple-user OSs support multiple users at a time.
- Often, server OSs are multiuser, while some desktop OSs have limited multiuser capabilities.
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Description
This quiz explores the fundamental concepts of Operating Systems (OS), including their history, functions, and different types. Participants will learn about various stand-alone, server, and embedded operating systems, as well as key tasks performed by OS. Test your knowledge of how these systems function and interact with hardware.
