Sumaiyya Patel

23030142017
29th AUG ‘23

OS Assignment
Q) Discuss the Architecture of the following Operating System:

Windows
Windows is an operating system developed by Microsoft. It has a layered architecture consisting
of multiple components and stages. Let's explore the Windows architecture and its steps in detail.
1. Basic mode and user mode
Windows operates in two different modes: kernel mode and user mode. Kernel mode has
unlimited access to hardware and system resources, while user mode runs applications and has
limited access to system resources. This separation ensures stability and security by preventing
user applications from directly accessing critical system components.
2. Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL)
The Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) is the layer between the hardware and the operating
system. It provides a single user interface for the operating system to interact with different
devices. The HAL abstracts the details of the hardware, allowing the operating system to be
independent of the hardware.
3. Management Services
The Executive Services layer provides the core functions of the operating system. It includes
components such as memory management, process management, and I/O management. These
services manage system resources, process scheduling, and facilitate data transfer between
various operating system components.
4. Windows subsystem
The subsystem layer of Windows supports the execution of different types of applications. It
contains a Win32 subsystem to run traditional Windows applications and a POSIX subsystem to
ensure compatibility with UNIX applications. This layer ensures compatibility and allows
applications to run smoothly on the Windows platform.
5. Hardware drivers
Hardware drivers are software components that enable the transfer of data between the
operating system and hardware. They provide an interface for the operating system to control and
communicate with hardware such as printers, network adapters, and graphics cards. Hardware
drivers are required for the hardware to function properly in a Windows environment.
Windows startup process steps
The Windows startup process consists of several stages, each of which is responsible for specific
tasks. Here are the main steps of the Windows startup process.
Preboot Phase: This phase initializes the hardware and loads the bootloader, which is responsible
for loading the Windows operating system. Bootloader Phase: The bootloader is responsible for
loading the Windows kernel and important system files into memory. It also resets the hardware
and sets the original system environment.
Kernel-Initialization Phase: In this phase, the Windows kernel initializes various system
components such as memory management, process management, and device drivers. It also
creates initial system processes and prepares the system to interact with the user.
Login Phase: After the kernel initialization is complete, the login phase begins. During this step,
the user is asked to log in to the system. The user's credentials are verified and the user's profile is
loaded.
Explorer Phase: After a successful login, a Windows shell called Explorer is loaded. It provides a
graphical user interface (GUI) and allows users to interact with the system through windows, icons,
menus, and other graphical elements.
User session phase: When the Explorer phase ends, the user session begins. This step involves
loading user-specific settings, launching user applications, and providing a smooth user
experience.
These are the main steps in the Windows boot
process, each of which plays a crucial role in
initializing the system and creating a stable and
friendly environment.
In summary, Windows architecture is based on a
layered approach with components such as kernel
mode, HAL, management services, Windows
subsystem, and hardware drivers. The Windows
startup process consists of several stages, each of
which is responsible for specific tasks. Understanding
the Windows architecture and startup process is
essential for developers and system administrators to
effectively use and troubleshoot the operating
system.
ANDROID
The Android operating system architecture is designed to provide a flexible and scalable platform
for mobile devices. It is based on a modified version of the Linux kernel and consists of several
layers that work together to provide a smooth user experience. Linux Kernel: At the heart of the
Android operating system is the Linux kernel. It provides basic functions such as device drivers,
memory management, process management and security. The Linux kernel is responsible for
managing the hardware resources and acts as an abstract layer between the hardware and the
upper layers of the Android operating system. Libraries: In addition to the Linux kernel, Android
provides libraries that are used by various parts of the operating system. These libraries include
Surface Manager, Media Framework, SQLite, WebKit and more. These libraries provide developers
with the tools and APIs needed to build apps on the Android platform.
Android Runtime: Android Runtime (ART) is the runtime environment used by Android
applications. It is responsible for running and managing the execution of Android applications. ART
uses just-in-time (JIT) compilation technology to optimize an application. Earlier versions of
Android used Dalvik Virtual Machine (DVM) instead of ART.
Application Framework: The Application
Framework layer provides high-level APIs and
services that developers can use to build
applications for Android. It includes
components such as activity management,
content providers, resource management and
notification management. These components
help manage the application lifecycle, access
and share data, and provide a unified user
interface. Applications: The top layer of the
Android architecture consists of applications
built on top of the Android framework. These
apps include pre-installed system apps like
Phone app, Contacts, Messages and more.
Additionally, users can install third-party apps
from the Google Play Store or other sources.
Android’s architecture follows a layered approach where each layer builds on the functionality
provided by lower layers. This modular structure allows for easy customization and flexibility,
making Android a popular choice for many devices. Overall, the Android operating system
architecture is designed to provide a robust and powerful platform for mobile devices that allows
developers to create innovative and versatile applications.