ICT Os

=OPERATING SYSTEM (OS)
- The OS is the main program that controls the execution of user applications and enables the
user to access hardware or software resources.
- The OS therefore supervises all the other Programs in the computer and manages access to the
hardware.
User (Runs Application Programs)
Application Software (Sends user requests to O.S)
Operating System (Receives and executes requests)
Hardware (Receives and performs O.S commands)
Resources under the Control of Operating System (O.S)

1. Processor
2. Main Memory (R.A.M)
3. Input/output devices and ports.
4. Communication devices and ports
5. Secondary storage devices
1. Processor
- It executes tasks called processes.
- The OS arranges the tasks according to priority and has the ability to stop a particular task to
allow the processor to service another one.
2. Main memory
- The OS determines which task will remain in main memory awaiting execution and which one
would be sent back to secondary storage to wait.
- The OS is usually installed in the hard disk and must be loaded to RAM during the booting
process.
NB: It is only a small special part of the OS that is loaded to RAM during booting process
because it contains the most necessary commands and procedures for the booting process.
This special part is called the kernel.
3. Input/output devices and ports

- The OS controls all the data input and information output tasks.
- The OS controls the flow of data from the time of input to the time the user receives it as
information.
- It also ensures that the right data reaches the processor at the right time.
- The OS also defines the various input/output ports found on the computer e.g. the printer port,
USB port etc.
4. Communication devices and ports

- The OS controls the overall communication process between various tasks and computers.
- Communication can either be external or internal whereby the computer system sends and
receives messages from various devices and Programs.
- External communication can be achieved by connecting an external device to a communication
port using cables or wireless communication.
5. Secondary storage devices

- The OS manages the storage and retrieval of data on secondary storage devices.
- It also utilizes the free space on hard disks to enhance the performance of the computer by
temporarily holding tasks on it that were in R.A.M ready for processing but have to wait for
sometime.
FUNCTIONS OF OPERATING SYSTEM (OS)
1. Job Scheduling
2. Job Sequencing
3. Error Handling
4. Input/Output Handling
5. Interrupt Handling
6. Resource control & Allocation
7. Memory Management
1. Job scheduling/ Processor scheduling

- The OS determines which task to be processed first and makes sure that the one which is
currently being processed is closely monitored to avoid wasting time in the processor.
- The OS schedules, controls and monitors the tasks submitted for execution to ensure the most
efficient processing.
- The O.S schedules jobs according to priorities; the higher the priority, the higher the likelihood
of being allocated CPU time.
2. Job sequencing
- The OS keeps a list of jobs or tasks currently being run and clocks them in and out of the
processor.
- It arranges these tasks in a particular order to make it easy for the processor to execute them
and to know how and when to fetch instructions for each task.
3. Error handling
- The OS provides error correction routines to ensure smooth operations within the C.P.U and
possibly make suggestions on how to correct the errors.
- The OS does this by monitoring the status of the computer system and performing error checks
on both the hardware and software.
4. Input/output handling
- The OS co-ordinates the input or output devices and other peripherals making sure that data
flows properly between them and sorting out any possible confusion.
- The OS also governs the input and output of data and the allocation, storage and retrievals.
5. Interrupt handling
- An interrupt is a break from normal sequential processing of instructions in a programme.
- The OS determines the cause of the interrupt and transfers the control to the most appropriate
programme.
- An external request causes the processor to stop executing current tasks and do something else
before returning the control back to the process that was initially interrupted.
- Each hardware device communicates to the processor using a special unique number called
IRQ (Interrupt Request Number)
6. Memory management
- All the data and instructions must be temporarily held in the main memory before and after
processing.
- The OS therefore organizes the main memory into blocks of sizes called page frames.
- Processes are divided equally into pieces that can fit into frames called pages.
- The O.S swaps/ exchanges pages between the main memory and the secondary storage.
- When the hard disk is used to hold the pages it is referred to as a virtual memory.
- The OS constantly assigns the main memory storage pages to data and instructions.
- To access a piece of data or instruction the OS knows how to find each piece of data or
instructions as long as the correct address or the page is used.
7. Resource control and allocation

- Resource control and allocation determines which task uses a particular resource and at what
time.
- In order for the processor to recognize and prioritize the use and request for resources it gives
each resource a unique identification number called an Interrupt Request (IRQ).
- The O.S uses the IRQ number to identify the resource being requested.
- When two tasks request to use the same resource at the same time then one with higher priority
interrupt is granted control.
- When two or more tasks request for a single resource at the same time, a conflict occurs
leading to deadlock.
- Deadlock is a situation where a shared resource is being requested by two or more processes at
the same time.
- Conflict occurs when two or more resources have a common IRQ.
- NB: examples of resources that can be shared include: Processor, Memory areas protected
against modification, Read only files etc.
TYPES OF OPERATING SYSTEM (OS)

OS can be classified according to:
1. Number of tasks
2. Number of users
3. User Interface
1. CLASSSIFICATION ACCORDING TO NUMBER OF TASKS

a) Single-Tasking Operating System (Single Program OS)
- The OS allows only one program at a time to run in the computer.
- This means that the user can only run one interactive program at a time. The user must exit
from the program before loading and running another program e.g. MS DOS (Microsoft Disk
Operating system)
b) Multi- Tasking Operating System (Multi-programming OS)

- It allows a single CPU to execute more than one program at the same time.
- The C.P.U switches its attention between programs as it receives requests for processing,
executing statements from one program then from another program using the concept of giving
a time slice for each program.
- This switching of attention is so fast that it appears as if the programs are being executed
simultaneously.
- Most Graphical User Interfaces are multi-tasking e.g. Windows Versions
(95/98/2000/2003/XP/Vista, 7), Linux etc.
2. CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF USERS

a) Single-User Operating System
- It allows only one user at a time to access the computer. E.g. MS DOS.
b) Multi-User Operating System (Multi-access operating system)
- It allows more than one user to interactively access a computer at the same time.
- Examples of these are: Novell, UNIX, Linux, and Windows NT/2000
3. CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO USER INTERFACE
- The term User Interface refers to the method of interaction between computer and the user and
determines how easily the user can operate the computer.
Currently, there are 3 main types of user interface:

a) Command line interface
- The user interacts with the computer by typing a command at the prompt found on a command
line.
- A computer reads instructions from the command line and executes them. After the correct
command is typed the user must press the enter key for the command to be executed. Examples
include: Earlier Versions of MS-DOS, PC-DOS, OS/2 AND UNIX.
- Command line interface operating systems have become unpopular because:
i. it’s difficult to remember the commands
ii. It cannot process complex graphics
iii. It does not make use of emerging hardware and software technologies.
b) Menu driven interface

- This type of interface provides the user with the list of options to choose from.
- This interface therefore is suitable for beginners who may have difficulties in recalling
commands.
- The user is presented with a single menu or a submenu or a sophisticated menu to choose from.
Examples include: DOS editor and DOS shell.
c) Graphical user interface (GUI)
- This type of interface represents commands as small pictures on the screen called icons.
- An icon is a graphical representation of a command or a file or a folder or an application which
is selected using a pointing device like a mouse.
- GUI has become the latest effort to make user interface more user friendly. Examples of GUI
are Linux, Apple Macintosh and Microsoft Windows etc.
Features of a User Friendly Operating System
The features are given an acronym WIMP:
a) W - Window – is a rectangular work area where different programs of files are

displayed.
b) I - Icon - is a graphical representation of a command or a file or a folder or an

application.
c) M - Menu – a list of options in form of commands to choose from.
d) P - Pointing Device – A device that enables someone to select icons of menus on the
display screen.
Factors to Consider when Choosing an Operating System
1. Hardware configuration of the computer such as memory size, hard disk capacity and
processor speed.
2. User friendliness of the operating system i.e. is it command-line or menu driven or
GUI.
3. Basic design of the computer i.e. is it an IBM compatible or an apple computer.
4. Availability in the market e.g. Microsoft windows based OS is very common.
5. The cost of the operating system.
6. Reliability i.e. can it run without crushing or hanging
7. The number of users it can support.
8. The application software intended for the computer
9. The documentation available.
Branton Julius khatete
32918
Thika university

ICT Os

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=OPERATING SYSTEM (OS)

User (Runs Application Programs)

Application Software (Sends user requests to O.S)

Operating System (Receives and executes requests)

Hardware (Receives and performs O.S commands)

Resources under the Control of Operating System (O.S)

3. Input/output devices and ports

4. Communication devices and ports

5. Secondary storage devices

1. Job scheduling/ Processor scheduling

7. Resource control and allocation

TYPES OF OPERATING SYSTEM (OS)

1. CLASSSIFICATION ACCORDING TO NUMBER OF TASKS

b) Multi- Tasking Operating System (Multi-programming OS)

2. CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF USERS

3. CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO USER INTERFACE

Currently, there are 3 main types of user interface:

ii. It cannot process complex graphics

b) Menu driven interface

Features of a User Friendly Operating System

The features are given an acronym WIMP:

a) W - Window – is a rectangular work area where different programs of files are

b) I - Icon - is a graphical representation of a command or a file or a folder or an

c) M - Menu – a list of options in form of commands to choose from.

Factors to Consider when Choosing an Operating System

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