OPERATING SYSTEMS

and Network Operating

Systems
• Operating System:
• Systems Software
• Functions of OS
• Types of OS
– MS-DOS
– Microsoft Windows
– Mac OS
– UNIX
– LINUX
– Network Operating System NOS
 Operating System

• Definition – provides access to all resources

• Kernel
– Manages the operating system
– Memory resident
– Loads set of programs that lies between applications
software and the hardware
– Fundamental software that controls non-resident portions of
the OS as needed
• Booting – Loads the kernel into memory
 Systems Software

• Definition:
– All programs related to coordinating
computer operations
• Components
– Operating System
– Utility programs
– Program language translators
 Functions of OS
• Manage the computer’s resources
– CPU
– Memory
– Disk drives
– Printers
• Establish a user interface
• Execute and provide services for applications
software
• Carries out all input and output operation
 User Interface
• Facilitates communication between the user and
the operating system

• Two forms
– Command line
• Text-based
• Key commands
• Examples: MS-DOS, Unix
– Graphical user interface (GUI)
• Visual images
• Menus
• Examples: Windows, Mac OS, Linux
 Platform

• Definition:
Computer hardware and operating
system software that dictate what other
software can run

• Wintel
Intel-based PC running Microsoft
Windows
 OS is Hidden
• User interested in application
software to make the PC
useful
• Application software is
platform specific
• User must be aware of the
type of OS
• User should be aware of the
functions of OS
 Types of OS

Command line
Single user PC
Network Operating System (NOS)
 MS-DOS

• Command-line interface
• Prompt – system is waiting for you to do
something
• Key a command
• Not user-friendly
 Microsoft Windows
• Graphical user
interface
• Eases access to
the OS
• Most new
computers come
with Windows
already installed
 GUI
• On-screen pictures
– Icons
– Menus
• Pull down
• Pop up
– Click to activate a
command or function
• Fast
• Easy
• Intuitive
 Early Days of Windows

Operating environment for MS-DOS

Shell – layer added between users

and DOS
 Windows Today
• Home/consumer market
– Windows 95
– Windows 98
– Windows Millennium Edition (ME)
• Corporate market
– Windows NT
– Windows 2000
• Windows XP
• Pocket computers and Internet appliances
– Windows CE
 Windows 95 and 98
• Self-contained OS
• DOS commands still available
• Start programs by
– Start button
– Double clicking the icon
• Task bar permits movement between open
programs
• Long file names up to 255 characters
• Plug and play
• Object linking and embedding (OLE)
 Windows 98 Additions

• Internet / intranet browsing

• Support for DVD and additional
multimedia components
• Support for large hard drives
• TV viewer and broadcast ability
• Wizards
Improved Windows Features

• Backup
• Interfaces with other software
• Networking features
• Security
 Windows
Helps reduce the cost of owning and
maintaining a PC
 Windows ME
Millennium Edition
Multimedia support -- Windows Media Player 7
• Jukebox
– Record music CDs as digital files
• Windows Movie Maker
– Basic video editing
• Windows Image Acquisition
– Scanner and digital camera
 Windows ME
Millennium Edition
• Reliability Features
– System File Protection
– AutoUpdate
– System Restore
• Help Center
• Home Network Support
– Wizard for connecting multiple computers and
peripherals
– Multiple users can share a single Internet
connection
 Windows NT
New Technology
• Engineered for stability
• Strong security
• Versions
– NT Workstation
– NT Server
• Drawbacks
– Lacks support for older Windows and MS-DOS
software and hardware
– Complex to learn and use
– Requires more memory and processing power
 Windows 2000
• Stability features
• Security features
• Uses simple approach to hardware setup
from Windows 98
• Versions
– Windows 2000 Professional for individual users
– Windows 2000 for network servers
• Was intended for both the corporate and
home use, replacing Win NT and Win 98
 Windows 2000
• Complex
• Heavy demand for computer resources
• Improvements over windows NT
– Maintains user preferences
– Self-healing applications software
– Supports Windows 98 file structure
– Uses plug and play
– Provides improved support for laptops
 Windows XP

• Extends Windows ME and provides a

more stable environment
• Two categories
– Network server
• 3 versions based upon network complexity
– Desktop computer
• 2 versions
– Professional Client
– Personal Client
 Windows CE
Consumer Electronics
Where used
• Embedded systems
– Industrial controllers
– Robots
– Office equipment
– Cameras
– Telephones
– Home entertainment devices
– Automobile navigation systems
• Pocket PC
• Internet appliance market
 Windows CE
Consumer Electronics
Subset of Windows
• Less memory
• Smaller screens
• Little or no file storage
• Provides Internet connectivity
Mac OS

• First
commercially
successful GUI
(1984)

• Served as a
model to other
GUI systems
 UNIX
• Supports
– Multi-user
– Time-sharing
• Character-based system
• Command-line interface
• Runs on various processors and many
types of computers
• Primary OS used on Internet servers
 LINUX
• UNIX-like OS
• Open-source software
– Download it free
– Make changes
– Distribute copies
– Restriction – any changes must be freely available to the
public
• PC Setup
– PC comes with Windows installed
– Install LINUX in a dual-boot configuration
 LINUX

• Advantages over Windows

– Extremely stable
– Internet support
– Reinstallation is simpler

• Disadvantage
– Scarcity of applications
 Network Operating System
NOS
• Designed to permit computers on a network
to share resources
• Examples
– Windows 2000 Server
– Novell Net Ware
• Provides
– Data security
– Troubleshooting
– Administrative control
 NOS Functions
• Split between client and server computers
• Server
– File management
• Client
– Requests to the server
– Messaging
– Has own local OS
• Makes the resources appear as if they are
local to the client’s computer