Types of Operating Systems

An Operating System performs all the basic tasks like managing file, process, and memory.
Thus operating system acts as manager of all the resources, i.e. resource manager. Thus
operating system becomes an interface between user and machine.
Types of Operating Systems: Some of the widely used operating systems are as follows-
1. Batch Operating System –
In a batch processing operating system environment user submit jobs to a central
place where these jobs are collected into a batch, and subsequently placed on an input
queue at the computer where they will be run. In this case, the user has no interaction
with the job during its processing, and the computer’s response time is the turnaround
time-the time from submission of the job until execution is complete, and the results
are ready for return to the person who submitted the job
This type of operating system does not interact with the computer directly. There is an
operator which takes similar jobs having same requirement and group them into
batches. It is the responsibility of operator to sort the jobs with similar needs.

Advantages of Batch Operating System:

• It is very difficult to guess or know the time required by any job to complete. Processors
of the batch systems know how long the job would be when it is in queue
• Multiple users can share the batch systems
• The idle time for batch system is very less
• It is easy to manage large work repeatedly in batch systems
Disadvantages of Batch Operating System:
 • The computer operators should be well known with batch systems
• Batch systems are hard to debug
• It is sometime costly
• The other jobs will have to wait for an unknown time if any job fails
Examples of Batch based Operating System: Payroll System, Bank Statements etc.
2. Time-Sharing Operating Systems –
Another mode for delivering computing services is provided by time sharing
operating systems. In this environment a computer provides computing services to
several or many users concurrently on-line. Here, the various users are sharing the
central processor, the memory, and other resources of the computer system in a
manner facilitated, controlled, and monitored by the operating system. The user, in
this environment, has nearly full interaction with the program during its execution,
and the computer’s response time may be expected to be no more than a few second.
Each task is given some time to execute, so that all the tasks work smoothly. Each
user gets time of CPU as they use single system. These systems are also known as
Multitasking Systems. The task can be from single user or from different users also.
The time that each task gets to execute is called quantum. After this time interval is
over OS switches over to next task.

Advantages of Time-Sharing OS:

• Each task gets an equal opportunity
• Less chances of duplication of software
• CPU idle time can be reduced
Disadvantages of Time-Sharing OS:
• Reliability problem
• One must have to take care of security and integrity of user programs and data
• Data communication problem
Examples of Time-Sharing OSs are: Multics, Unix etc.
3. Distributed Operating System –
A distributed computing system consists of a number of computers that are connected
and managed so that they automatically share the job processing load among the
constituent computers, or separate the job load as appropriate particularly configured
processors. Such a system requires an operating system which, in addition to the typical
stand-alone functionality, provides coordination of the operations and information flow
among the component computers. The networked and distributed computing
environments and their respective operating systems are designed with more complex
functional capabilities. A distributed operating system is one that appears to its users as
a traditional uni-processor system, even though it is actually composed of multiple
processors. In a true distributed system, users should not be aware of where their
programs are being run or where their files are located; that should all be handled
automatically and efficiently by the operating system.
These types of operating system is a recent advancement in the world of computer
technology and are being widely accepted all-over the world and, that too, with a great
pace. Various autonomous interconnected computers communicate each other using a
shared communication network. Independent systems possess their own memory unit
and CPU. These are referred as loosely coupled systems or distributed systems. These
system’s processors differ in size and function. The major benefit of working with these
types of operating system is that it is always possible that one user can access the files
or software which are not actually present on his system but on some other system
connected within this network i.e., remote access is enabled within the devices
connected in that network.
Advantages of Distributed Operating System:
• Failure of one will not affect the other network communication, as all systems are
independent from each other
• Electronic mail increases the data exchange speed
• Since resources are being shared, computation is highly fast and durable
• Load on host computer reduces
• These systems are easily scalable as many systems can be easily added to the network
• Delay in data processing reduces
Disadvantages of Distributed Operating System:
• Failure of the main network will stop the entire communication
• To establish distributed systems the language which are used are not well defined yet
• These types of systems are not readily available as they are very expensive. Not only
that the underlying software is highly complex and not understood well yet
Examples of Distributed Operating System are- LOCUS etc.

4. Network Operating System –

 A networked computing system is a collection of physical interconnected computers.
The operating system of each of the interconnected computers must contain, in
addition to its own stand-alone functionality, provisions for handing communication
and transfer of program and data among the other computers with which it is
connected. Network operating systems are not fundamentally different from single
processor operating systems. They obviously need a network interface controller and
some low-level software to drive it, as well as programs to achieve remote login and
remote files access, but these additions do not change the essential structure of the
operating systems
These systems run on a server and provide the capability to manage data, users,
groups, security, applications, and other networking functions. These types of
operating systems allow shared access of files, printers, security, applications, and
other networking functions over a small private network. One more important aspect
of Network Operating Systems is that all the users are well aware of the underlying
configuration, of all other users within the network, their individual connections etc.
and that’s why these computers are popularly known as tightly coupled systems.

Advantages of Network Operating System:

• Highly stable centralized servers
• Security concerns are handled through servers
• New technologies and hardware up-gradation are easily integrated to the system
• Server access are possible remotely from different locations and types of systems
Disadvantages of Network Operating System:
 • Servers are costly
• User has to depend on central location for most operations
• Maintenance and updates are required regularly
Examples of Network Operating System are: Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft
Windows Server 2008, UNIX, Linux, Mac OS X, Novell NetWare, and BSD etc.

Difference between Network OS and Distributed OS

Sl No Network Operating System Distributed Operating System
Network Operating System’s main Distributed Operating System’s main
objective is to provide the local objective is to manage the hardware
1. services to remote client. resources.

In Network Operating System, In Distributed Operating System,

Communication takes place on the Communication takes place on the basis
2. basis of files. of messages and shared memory.

Network Operating System is more Distributed Operating System is less

scalable than Distributed Operating scalable than Network Operating
3. System. System.

In Network Operating System, While in Distributed Operating System,

4. fault tolerance is less. fault tolerance is high.

Rate of autonomy in Network While The rate of autonomy in

5. Operating System is high. Distributed Operating System is less.

Ease of implementation in Network While in Distributed Operating System

6. Operating System is also high. Ease of implementation is less.

In Network Operating System, All

nodes can have different operating While in Distributed Operating System,
7. system. All nodes have same operating system.

5. Real-Time Operating System –

The next class of OS is the real time operating systems, which are designed to service those
applications where response time is of the essence in order to prevent error, misrepresentation
or even disaster. Examples of real time operating systems are those which handle airlines
reservations, machine tool control, and monitoring of a nuclear power station. The systems,
in this case, are designed to be interrupted by external signals that require the immediate
attention of the computer system. These real time operating systems are used to control
machinery, scientific instruments and industrial systems. An RTOS typically has very little
user-interface capability, and no end-user utilities. A very important part of an RTOS is
managing the resources of the computer so that a particular operation executes in precisely
the same amount of time every time it occurs. In a complex machine, having a part move
more quickly just because system resources are available may be just as catastrophic as
having it not move at all because the system is busy.
These types of OSs serves the real-time systems. The time interval required to process and
respond to inputs is very small. This time interval is called response time.
Real-time systems are used when there are time requirements are very strict like missile
systems, air traffic control systems, robots etc.
Two types of Real-Time Operating System which are as follows:
• Hard Real-Time Systems:
These OSs are meant for the applications where time constraints are very strict and even
the shortest possible delay is not acceptable. These systems are built for saving life like
automatic parachutes or air bags which are required to be readily available in case of
any accident. Virtual memory is almost never found in these systems.
• Soft Real-Time Systems:
These OSs are for applications where for time-constraint is less strict.

Advantages of RTOS:
• Maximum Consumption: Maximum utilization of devices and system, thus more
output from all the resources
 • Task Shifting: Time assigned for shifting tasks in these systems are very less. For
example in older systems it takes about 10 micro seconds in shifting one task to another
and in latest systems it takes 3 micro seconds.
• Focus on Application: Focus on running applications and less importance to
applications which are in queue.
• Real time operating system in embedded system: Since size of programs are small,
RTOS can also be used in embedded systems like in transport and others.
• Error Free: These types of systems are error free.
• Memory Allocation: Memory allocation is best managed in these type of systems.
Disadvantages of RTOS:
• Limited Tasks: Very few tasks run at the same time and their concentration is very less
on few applications to avoid errors.
• Use heavy system resources: Sometimes the system resources are not so good and they
are expensive as well.
• Complex Algorithms: The algorithms are very complex and difficult for the designer
to write on.
• Device driver and interrupt signals: It needs specific device drivers and interrupt
signals to response earliest to interrupts.
• Thread Priority: It is not good to set thread priority as these systems are very less
prone to switching tasks.
Examples of Real-Time Operating Systems are: Scientific experiments, medical imaging
systems, industrial control systems, weapon systems, robots, air traffic control systems, etc.
6. Multiprogramming Operating System
A multiprogramming operating system is a system that allows more than one active user
program (or part of user program) to be stored in main memory simultaneously. Thus, it is
evident that a time-sharing system is a multiprogramming system, but note that a
multiprogramming system is not necessarily a time-sharing system. A batch or real time
operating system could, and indeed usually does, have more than one active user program
simultaneously in main storage. Another important, and all too similar, term is
“multiprocessing”.
7. Operating Systems for Embedded Devices
As embedded systems (PDAs, cellphones, point-of-sale devices, VCR’s, industrial robot
control, or even your toaster) become more complex hardware-wise with every generation,
and more features are put into them day-by-day, applications they run require more and more
to run on actual operating system code in order to keep the development time reasonable.
Some of the popular OS are:
• Nexus’s Conix - an embedded operating system for ARM processors.
• Sun’s Java OS - a standalone virtual machine not running on top of any other OS;
mainly targeted at embedded systems.
• Palm Computing’s Palm OS - Currently the leader OS for PDAs, has many
applications and supporting companies.
• Microsoft’s Windows CE and Windows NT Embedded OS.

OS Structure
Linux based OS Structure

• Kernel is the central program of the operating system.

• The Kernel performs the lowest level functions of the Operating System like Process
management, File Management, Memory management, Device management, Memory
management, Device management, Input/output communication.
 • Types of Kernel include: Hydrid kernel, Exo kernel, Nano-kernel, Monolithic kernel
and Micro kernel. The most widely used kernel are monolithic and micro kernel.
• The kernel acts as an interface between the user level programs and the hardware.
• Kernel plays an important role in memory management, task management, process
management and disk management.
• The kernel is that program of the operating system which gets loaded into the memory
before any other program in the operating system.
• All operating system needs kernel to run.
• Examples of kernel include QNX, Symbian, L4 Linux which are microkernel kernel
and Linux, BSD, Solaris, OS-9, OpenVMS, xts-400, HP-UX which are monolithic
kernel.

DESIRABLE QUALITIES OF OS
The desirable qualities of an operating system are in terms of: Usability, Facilities, Cost, and
Adaptability.
• Usability:
• Robustness
• Accept all valid inputs and can handle them.
• Consistency
• Proportionality
• Convenience
• Powerful with high level facilities.
• Facilities:
• Sufficient for intended use
• Complete
• Appropriate.
• Costs:
• Want low cost and efficient services.
• Good algorithms.
Make use of space/time trade-offs, special hardware.
• Low overhead.
Cost of doing nothing should be low. E.g., idle time at a terminal.
• Low maintenance cost.
System should not require constant attention.
• Adaptability:
 • Tailored to the environment.
Support necessary activities. Do not impose unnecessary restrictions. What are
the things people do most -- make them easy.
• Changeable over time.
Adapt as needs and resources change. e.g., expanding memory and new
devices, or new user population.
• Extendible-Extensible
Adding new facilities and features - which look like the old ones.

MODERN OPERATING SYSTEM

Modern Operating Systems (mostly known as MOS) is a popular book across the globe and includes
the fundamentals of an operating system with small amounts of code written in autonomous C
language.

What makes an operating system modern?

According to author Andrew Tanenbaum, it is the awareness of high-demand computer applications--

primarily in the areas of multimedia, parallel and distributed computing, and security. The
development of faster and more advanced hardware has driven progress in software, including
enhancements to the operating system. It is one thing to run an old operating system on current
hardware, and another to effectively leverage current hardware to best serve modern software
applications.

Characteristics of Modern OS can be understood with this figure