An Introduction to Operating Systems

CEIT313 Use of Operating Systems

Operating System Theory

Week 01

An operating system (OS) is a set of basic

programming instructions to computer hardware,
forming a layer of programming code on which most
other functions of the computer are built.
The kernel is the programming code that is the core
of the operating system.
Computer hardware consists of physical devices such
as the central processing unit (CPU), circuit boards,
monitr, keyboard, and disk drives.

Computer Education & Instructional Technology

CEIT313 Use of Operating Systms

Slide 2 of 37

An Introduction to Operating Systems

An Introduction to Operating Systems

There are basically two types of operating

systems:

Traditional server often used by small or

medium businesses
Rack-mounted server CPU boxes
mounted in racks that can hold multiple
servers
Blade servers looks like a card that fits
into a blade enclosure

Desktop operating system installed on a

personal computer (PC) type of computers
Server operating system installed on a
more powerful computers.

Computer Education & Instructional Technology

CEIT313 Use of Operating Systms

Slide 3 of 37

19"Rack

Computer Education & Instructional Technology

CEIT313 Use of Operating Systms

Slide 4 of 37

An Introduction to Operating Systems

A basic task of an OS is to take care of input/output (I/O)
functions, which let other programs communicate with
the computer hardware
Some examples of I/O tasks:

Blade Server

Computer Education & Instructional Technology

CEIT313 Use of Operating Systms

Slide 5 of 37

Handle input from the keyboard, mouse, and other input devices
Handle output to the monitor and printer
Handle remote communications using a modem
Manage network communications, such as for a local network and the
Internet
Control input/output for devices such as network interface card
Control information storage and retrieval using various types of disk
Enable multimedia use for voice and video composition or
reproduction, such as recording video from a camera or playing music

Computer Education & Instructional Technology

CEIT313 Use of Operating Systms

Slide 6 of 37

Understanding How Operating Systems

Work

An Introduction to Operating Systems

Elements that enable an operating system

to work with a computer include:

Generaltasksforalloperatingsystems
Computer Education & Instructional Technology
CEIT313 Use of Operating Systms

Slide 7 of 37

The kernel
Resource managers
Device drivers
Application software
BIOS

Computer Education & Instructional Technology

CEIT313 Use of Operating Systms

Slide 8 of 37

The Kernel

Resource Managers

The kernel consists of the essential program code of the

operating system
Jobs performed by the kernel can include:

Help ensure memory is used properly and

there are no memory conflicts
Manages how programs access the
processing capabilities of the CPU

Managing interactions with the CPU

Starting, managing, and scheduling programs that
handle I/O activities, including device and
networking activities
Handling basic computer security
Managing use of the computers memory (RAM)
Managing priority levels assigned to programs and
computer processes
Computer Education & Instructional Technology
CEIT313 Use of Operating Systms

Slide 9 of 37

Device Drivers and the Operating System

Example: if there is one CPU and ten

programs that want to access the CPU, the OS
will give each program a time slice on the
CPU
Computer Education & Instructional Technology
CEIT313 Use of Operating Systms

Slide 10 of 37

Device Drivers and the Operating System

A device driver translates the information

necessary for the operating system to
communicate with specific hardware
Examples of hardware that might require a
device driver:
Fixed internal hard disk drives
Mouse and trackball devices
Printers and scanners
Tape drives, flash drives, and other removable
media
Digital cameras and video hardware

Computer Education & Instructional Technology

CEIT313 Use of Operating Systms

Slide 11 of 37

Devicedriversinterfacetheoperatingsystem
withvarioushardwaredevices
Computer Education & Instructional Technology
CEIT313 Use of Operating Systms

Slide 12 of 37

The Role of the Application Software

The Role of the Application Software

Any program a user might choose to run on

a computer
Examples: word processor, spreadsheet,
database, and a computer game
An operating system manages the
communication among the applications,
the user, and the computer

Computer Education & Instructional Technology

CEIT313 Use of Operating Systms

Applicationprogramscommunicatewith
hardwarethroughtheOS

Slide 13 of 37

Computer Education & Instructional Technology

CEIT313 Use of Operating Systms

Slide 14 of 37

The Role of the BIOS

The Role of the BIOS

BIOS basic input/output system

A low-level program code that:

NVRAM chip used to store the BIOS is called a

complementary metal oxide semiconductor
(CMOS) memory chip
When a PC is turned on:

Initiates and enables communications with hardware

devices
Performs tests at startup called power-on self test (POST)
Conducts basic hardware and software communications
inside the computer
Starts a full-fledged operating system that interfaces with
the user

Every PC has a BIOS, which is stored in a nonvolatile

random access memory (NVRAM)
NVRAM is a memory chip that does not lose its contents
when the computer is turned off
Computer Education & Instructional Technology
CEIT313 Use of Operating Systms

Slide 15 of 37

The machine wakes up via the CMOS chip and runs

a startup program inside the BIOS
This program initializes the screen and keyboard,
tests hardware, initializes the hard disk and other
drives
Loads the main operating system
Computer Education & Instructional Technology
CEIT313 Use of Operating Systms

Slide 16 of 37

Understanding How Operating Systems

Work

The Role of the BIOS

Generaloperating
systemdesign

SampleBIOSsetupscreen
Computer Education & Instructional Technology
CEIT313 Use of Operating Systms

Slide 17 of 37

Computer Education & Instructional Technology

CEIT313 Use of Operating Systms

Slide 18 of 37