Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Operating System

 What is an operating system ? Where is this used ? Name some operating systems that you have come across? 
An operating system is software that manages the computer hardware . The hardware must provide appropiate mechanisms to ensure the correct operation of the computer system and to prevent user programs from interfering with the proper operation of the system 

The purpose of an operating system is to provide an environment in which a user can execute programs in a convenient and efficient manner.

Operating systems
Quick links

Operating system ABCs
An operating system, or OS, is a software program that enables the computer hardware to communicate and operate with the computer software. Without a computer operating system, a computer would be useless.
Operating system types
As computers have progressed and developed so have the operating systems. Below is a basic list of the different operating systems and a few examples of operating systems that fall into each of the categories. Many computer operating systems will fall into more than one of the below categories.
GUI - Short for Graphical User Interface, a GUI Operating System contains graphics and icons and is commonly navigated by using a computer mouse. See the GUI definition for a complete definition. Below are some examples of GUI Operating Systems.
Multi-user - A multi-user operating system allows for multiple users to use the same computer at the same time and different times. See the multi-user definition for a complete definition for a complete definition. Below are some examples of multi-user operating systems.
Multiprocessing - An operating system capable of supporting and utilizing more than one computer processor(e.g intel, AMD). 
Below are some examples of multiprocessing operating systems.
Multitasking - An operating system that is capable of allowing multiple software processes to run at the same time. Below are some examples of multitasking operating systems.
Multithreading - Operating systems that allow different parts of a software program to run concurrently. Operating systems that would fall into this category are:
Troubleshooting
Common questions and answers to operating systems in general can be found on the below operating system question and answers. All other questions relating to an operating system in particular can be found through the operating system page.
Operating system listing
Below is a listing of many of the different operating systems available today, the dates they were released, theplatforms they have been developed for and who developed them.
Operating system
Date first released
Platform
Developer
Various
AmigaOS
Currently no AmigaOS history.
Various
BSD
Various
Various
Various
Various
Various
Various
Various
Various
Kondara
Various
MAC OS 9
MAC OS 10
MAC OS X
Various
Mandrake
Various
MINIX
MS-DOS 1.x
IBM
MS-DOS 2.x
IBM
MS-DOS 3.x
IBM
MS-DOS 4.x
IBM
MS-DOS 5.x
IBM
MS-DOS 6.x
IBM
Various
Various
OSF
QNX
Various
QNX
Various
Various
Various
Slackware
Various
Various
SuSE
System 1
System 2
System 3
System 4
System 6
Various
System V
Various
Turbolinux
Various
Turbolinux
Various
Ultrix
Unisys
Various
Various
Bell labs
UnixWare
Various
UnixWare
Various
VectorLinux
IBM
Windows 2003
IBM
IBM
IBM
IBM
IBM
PDA
IBM
IBM
IBM
IBM
Various

Components of Operating Sytem:

There are three main components:
1.control programs
2.sytem service programs
3.utility programs
CONTROL PROGRAMS
A. Control Programs 
control & maintain the operation of computer 
1. Initial program loader (IPL) 
Program in the form of firmware (software stored in ROM) 
Computer ON, then electronic chip is automatically activated & IPL read the boot sector routine (BSR), reside in the primary memory
B. System Service Program 
Support control programs 
Divided into three portions 
Linkage Editor 
Librarian 
Input/Output control system 
C. Utility Programs 
e.g. 
MS-DOS : Fdisk, FORMAT, ATTRIB, BACKUP, FIND


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