Lecture – 1

Introduction to operating systems

 Outline
Overview of Computer system
❑ Introduction to operating systems
✓ History
✓ Definition
✓ Basics of operating systems
✓ Types of operating systems/Classification
✓ Functions of operating systems
✓ Components of operating systems
❑ Operating System Structures
✓System calls
✓Virtual machines OS
Computer System Overview
 Computer System…
There are four main structural elements:
▪ Processor: Controls the operation of the computer
and performs its data processing functions.
▪ Main memory: Stores data and programs. It is
volatile; that is, when the computer is shut down,
the contents of the memory are lost.
 Computer System…
I/O modules: Move data between the computer
and its external environment.
System bus: Provides for communication
among processors, main memory, and I/O
modules.
BIOS(Basic Input Output System)
✓It is the first step when you press the power button on your CPU.
✓It is software stored on a small memory chip (firmware) on the
motherboard which is manufacturer-dependent code.
✓The function of BIOS is to initialize the hardware on the computer,
check the integrity, and initialize the first-level boot loader!
✓The BIOS instructs the computer on how to perform basic functions
such as booting and keyboard control.
✓BIOS is used to identify and configure the hardware in a computer
such as the hard drive, floppy disk, optical drive, CPU, memory, and
related equipment.
 Boot loader
✓It is a program that is called by the BIOS

✓It loads Kernel images from secondary storage to RAM.

✓The kernel is a core element of the OS that converts the

user query into the machine language.
 Computer System Components
❖Hardware
✓Provides basic computing resources (CPU, memory, I/O devices).
❖Operating System
✓Controls and coordinates the use of hardware among application
programs.
❖Application Programs
✓Solve computing problems of users (compilers, database systems, video
games, business programs such as banking software).
❖Users
✓People, machines, other computers
 Instruction Execution
▪ A program to be executed by a processor consists of a set of
instructions stored in memory.
 Common Interrupts
Program condition that occurs as a result of an instruction execution,
such as arithmetic overflow, division by zero, attempt to
execute an illegal machine instruction, and reference outside
a user’s allowed memory space.
Timer Generated by a timer within the processor. This allows the
operating system to perform certain functions on a regular
basis. E.g.
Automatic saving of a document after a certain time period.
I/O Generated by an I/O controller, to signal normal completion
of an operation error conditions.
Hardware Generated by a failure, such as power failure or memory
failure parity error.
 History of OS
▪ Early computers were built to perform a series of single tasks,

like a calculator.

▪ Basic operating system features were developed in the 1950s.

▪ Operating systems did not exist in their modern and more

complex forms until the early 1960s.
 History of OS …cont.
▪ Hardware features were added, that enabled use of
runtime libraries interrupts, and parallel processing.

▪ When personal computers became popular in the 1980s,

operating systems were made for them similar in concept
to those used on larger computers.
 Operating System (OS) - Definition
▪ An operating system is a package of data and software that
manages a computer’s hardware.
▪ It acts as an intermediary between the computer user and the
computer hardware.
▪ Operating systems perform two basically unrelated functions,
extending the machine and managing resources.
▪ OS provides a basis for application programs.
▪ It is an initial program that is stored in a ROM portion.
Fig. Abstract view of the components of a computer system.
Operating system Functions
✓ It controls & coordinates the computer’s hardware and software
resources.

✓Execute user programs and make solving user problems easier

✓ Make the computer system convenient to use

✓ Use the computer hardware in an efficient manner

✓Improve overall system reliability

✓Make application software portable and versatile.

fig. A view of operating system services.
Operating System Structure
Multiprogramming needed for efficiency.
✓Single user cannot keep CPU and I/O devices busy at all times.

✓Multiprogramming organizes jobs (code and data) so CPU

always has one to execute.

✓A subset of total jobs in system is kept in memory.

✓One job selected and run via job scheduling.

✓When it has to wait (for I/O for example), OS switches to

another job.
 Operating System Structure
Timesharing (multitasking) is logical extension in which CPU switches jobs
so frequently that users can interact with each job while it is running,
creating interactive computing.
✓Response time should be < 1 second
✓Each user has at least one program executing in memory process
✓If several jobs ready to run at the same time CPU scheduling
✓If processes don’t fit in memory, swapping moves them in and out to run.
✓Virtual memory allows execution of processes not completely in memory.
 system calls
▪ The operating system provides a variety of services that programs
can obtain using special instructions called system calls.

▪ System calls are obviously needed to create files, remove files, read
files, and write files.

▪ Before a file can be read, it must be opened, and after it has been
read it should be closed, so calls are provided to do these things.

▪ System calls are the only entry points for the kernel system.
Types of System calls
Here are the five types of System Calls in OS:
✓Process Control
✓File Management
✓Device Management
✓Information Maintenance
✓Communications
✓Protection
Why do we need System Calls in OS?

✓Reading and writing from files.

✓file system wants to create or delete files.

✓It is used for the creation and management of new processes.

✓Network connections need system calls for sending and receiving packets.

✓Access to hardware devices like scanner, and printer, need a system call.
Virtual machines in OS
✓A virtual machine takes the layered approach to its logical
conclusion.
✓It treats hardware and the operating system kernel as though they
were all hardware
✓ A virtual machine provides an interface identical to the underlying
bare hardware
✓ The operating system host creates the illusion that a process has its
own processor and (virtual memory)
✓ Each guest is provided with a (virtual) copy of the underlying
computer
Virtual machines (VM)
▪ A VM is also known as “Guest”.

▪ It created with another computer environment refereed as a “host”

▪ Types of VM are:
✓System VM

✓Process VM
Question: Can one access the files of one VM from another?
 System VM
▪ Hardware VM

▪ Allow the sharing of the underlying physical machine resources

between different VM, each running its own OS.

▪ The software layer providing the virtualization is called a VM

monitoring or hypervisor.
Process VM
▪ Application VM

▪ Run as a normal app inside an OS and

support a single process.

▪ Its purpose is to provide a platform

independent programming environment.
Services Provided By Operating System
▪ Program Execution
▪ Input/output operations
▪ File system manipulation
▪ Error detection
▪ Resource allocation
▪ Protection
Operating system function
• Management Processor
• Management Random Access Memory
• Management of input/output device
• Execution Management applications
• Managing authorities
• File management
• Information management
• Error handling, Interrupt handling
Classification of the operating system according to
number of tasks
Single-task: The operating system allows the processing of one
program/process at a time.

- Most of the old systems used to be single-task/job types.

Multi-task: They are systems that support many programs or processes to

be executed at the same time.

- Most modern systems are multitasking operating systems. They can

run many processes at the same time using different techniques to achieve
that. E.g. MS windows are multitasking.
 Classification of the operating system according to
user interface

Command Line Interface (CLI)

• OS mostly uses command as the main way that the user sends the signal.
• Most server system prefers to use a command system since they require
fewer resources to execute a command.
• The main disadvantage of the command-line system is that the learning
curve for users is very stiff.
• Mostly use a keyboard to key in commands.
Classification of the operating system according to
user interface

Menu driven interface

▪ The systems replace commands with select options that users can use to
give instructions to the system.
Graphic User Interface (GUI)
▪ The commands are represented with small graphics called icons. The user
executes a command by clicking on the icon using a pointing device.
▪ Most of the end-user operating systems use GUI since it is simple to learn
and use.
Factors to consider when choosing an
operating system
▪ Hardware compatibility

▪ Consider if the hardware supports 64bit or 32ype of software.

▪ Purpose of the computer being installed the OS.

e.g. For server service purposes Linux types command based on OS

will be best since it uses fewer resources and better security.

▪ Cost or open source

Factors to consider when choosing an
operating system …cont.
▪ Resource utilization requirement: graphic-based types use more system
resources compared to command-based systems. Depending on your resource
requirement you can choose from either.

▪ User-friendly or computer-human interface. Choose either a graphic user

interface (GUI) or a command-based (Linux)

▪ Community of user support:

▪ Reliability: the operating system should be able to operate without crashing and
shutting down regardless of user error.
 Categories of operating systems
• Single user: They are a type of operating system that only allows
one user operates at a time.

- Most command-type systems are single users.

• Multi-user: They are the type of OS that allows more than one user
to operate the computer concurrently.

The user can manipulate different files of the user account and any
given time.
 Operating System Components
OS consists of a set of software that can be used to manage interactions with the
hardware.

The core: It is the core operating system functions, such as memory

management, processes, files, inputs / main outputs, and communication
functions.

The shell: This enables communication with the operating system through a
control language, allowing the user to control the device without knowing the
characteristics of hardware, the management of physical addresses, and so on.
Types of Operating Systems
Some widely used operating systems are as follows:
➢Batch Operating System
➢Time-Sharing Operating Systems
➢Distributed Operating System
➢Network Operating System
➢Real-Time Operating System
 Examples of OS

• Windows 7 • Mac OS X Leopard

• Microsoft Windows 1.0
• Windows XP Professional
• Xandros Linux
• Ubuntu
• Microsoft Windows 3.1
• Macintosh OSX
• Unix
• Microsoft Vista
• Linux
• Fedora • …
 Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of software operating systems based on
graphical user interfaces produced by Microsoft.

The different versions of Windows are:

• Windows 1.0 • Windows XP
• Windows Vista
• Windows 2.0
• Windows 7
• Windows 3.0 • Window 8

• Windows 95 • Window 8.1

• Window 10
• Windows 98
• Window 11
Macintosh Operating System (Mac OS)
The OS was introduced in 1984 to run the company’s Macintosh line of
personal computers (PCs).
(1984–2001) Mac OS and (2001–2016) Mac OS X, an operating system
developed by the American computer company Apple Inc.
Macintosh is popular because the graphical user interface Mac OS can be
divided into two families:
• The Mac OS Classic family.
• The Mac OS X operating system.
 Mac OS Version
1. Mac OS X 10.0 (Cheetah) 10. OS X 10.9 (Mavericks)

2. Mac OS X 10.1 (Puma) 11. OS X 10.10 (Yosemite)

3. Mac OS X 10.2 (Jaguar) 12. OS X 10.11 (El Capitan)

13. macOS 10.12 (Sierra)
4. Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther)
14. macOS 10.13 (High Sierra)
5. Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
15. macOS 10.14 (Mojave)
6. Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
16. macOS 10.15 (Catalina)
7. Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)
17. macOS 11 (Big Sur)
8. Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion)
18. macOS 12 (Monterey)
9. OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion) 19. macOS 13 (Ventura)
 UNIX
• This was developed in 1969 by a group of employees of
AT & T Bell Labs

• It was developed in assembly language, but 1973 had

been almost completely recoded in C, facilitating their
development and migration to other hardware.

• This Operating System’s found on mainframes and

workstations in corporate Installations.
 Linux
✓Linux has its origin in UNIX.
✓It is developed by researchers Dennis Ritchie and Ken Thompson of AT &
T Bell Labs.
✓Andrew Tanenbaum developed a Unix-like operating system called Minix
to teach students to design an operating system.
✓Linux can be installed on all kinds of computers no matter the hardware.
✓This O.S is a leading server operative system and can run the 10 fastest
supercomputers in the entire world.
✓ the best two things about it are that you don’t get the virus and is free.
Examples of popular Linux distributions
1 Ubuntu 11 Elementary OS 21 Asahi Linux
2 Debian 12 Linux Mint 22 Lubuntu
3 CentOS Linux 13 Arch Linux 23 SUSE Linux
4 CentOS Stream 14 Manjaro 24 Knoppix
5 Red Hat Enterprise 15 Oracle Linux 25 VzLinux
Linux (RHEL)
16 Slackware 26 Peppermint OS
6 Gentoo
17 Mageia 27 Zorin OS
7 Fedora
18 Clear Linux 28 BlackArch Linux
8 OpenSUSE
19 Rocky Linux 29 SUSE Liberty Linux
9 Scientific Linux
10 CloudLinux 20 AlmaLinux 30 Navy Linux
Mobile Operating System
The mobile O.S is the Operating system that controls all mobile devices.

The different systems for mobiles are:

• Windows Mobile

• Palms OS

• BlackBerry OS

• Symbian OS

• Android

• iOS
 Questions
1. Why different OS developed worldwide?
2. What is the difference between mobile OS and computer OS?
3. List the challenges of OS software development
4. What is the difference between Server OS And Everyday OS?
5. Compare Window, Ubuntu, and Mac OS based on: Properties
✓ Flexibility
✓ Ease of use
✓ Cost
✓ Popularity
✓ Security
✓ Targeted