Components of Operating System

The parts of an operating system all exist so as to make the various parts of a computer system work together. All user software program has to undergo the operating system in order to utilize any of the hardware, whether it be as basic as a mouse or keyboard or as complicated as an Internet component.

Kernel

The kernel gives one of the most fundamental level of control over all the computer’s hardware devices. The kernel is the central component of an operating system (OS). It is the component of the operating system that loads initially, and it lingers in main memory. It manages memory accessibility for programs in the RAM, it establishes which programs get access to which hardware resources. It establishes or resets the CPU’s operating states for optimum operation in all times.

Process Execution

The operating system offers an interface in between an application program and the hardware, so that an application program can connect with the hardware just by following principles and procedures configured into the operating system. Executing an application program includes the creation of a process by the operating system kernel which appoints memory space and various other resources.

Interrupt

Interrupts are primary to operating systems, as they offer a reliable method for the operating system to interact with and respond to its environment. An interrupt is a signal from a device connected to a computer system or from a program within the computer system that needs the operating system to quit and determine exactly what to do next. When an interrupt is received, the computer’s hardware automatically puts on hold whatever program is presently running, saves its status, and runs computer system code formerly associated with the interrupt.

Memory Management

This makes sure that a program does not conflict with memory currently being used by an additional program. Since programs time share, each program has to have independent access to memory. To puts it simply, the MMU is in charge of all aspects of memory management. It is normally integrated right into the cpu, although in some systems it takes up a separate IC (integrated circuit) chip.

We can divide the work of Memory Management into 3 significant groups:

• Hardware memory management.
• OS (operating system) memory management.
• Application memory management.

Multitasking

Multitasking describes the operating of multiple independent computer programs on the same computer system. The operating system has the ability to keep an eye on where you are in these jobs and go from one to the various other without losing information. Since a lot of computers can do at most one or two things at once, this is usually done using time-sharing, which means that each program utilizes a share of the computer’s time to perform.

Networking

The processors interact with each other via communication lines called network. The communication-network design should consider routing and connection techniques, and the troubles of opinion and safety and security. Presently most operating systems sustain a range of networking methods, hardware, and applications for using them. This implies that computers running different operating systems could take part in a common network for sharing resources such as computing, data, printers, and scanners making use of either wired or wireless connections.

Security

If a computer systems has several individuals and enables the simultaneous operation of multiple processes, then the numerous processes have to be secured from each other’s activities. A computer system being safe and secure depends upon a variety of technologies working effectively. A modern-day operating system offers access to a number of resources, which are readily available to software working on the system, and to external devices like networks by means of the kernel. The operating system should be capable of differentiating between demands which ought to be allowed to be processed, and others which need to not be processed. In addition to allow or disallow version of security, a system with a high level of protection likewise gives auditing options. These would permit monitoring of requests for accessibility to resources (such as, “who has read this file?”).

User Interface

It is everything created into an information device with which an individual might interact. The user interface is generally described as a shell and is vital if human communication is to be supported. The user interface checks out the directory framework and requests services from the operating system that will obtain information from input hardware devices and demands operating system services to display prompts, status messages and such on output hardware devices. The expanding dependancy of lots of companies on web applications and mobile applications has actually led numerous companies to place enhanced concern on UI in an effort to improve the individual’s entire experience.

Components of Operating Systems

What are OS Components?

An operating system is a large and complex system that can only be created by partitioning into small pieces. These pieces should be a well-defined portion of the system, which carefully defined inputs, outputs, and functions.

Although Mac, Unix, Linux, Windows, and other OS do not have the same structure, most of the operating systems share similar OS system components like File, Process, Memory, I/O device management.

Let’s see each of these components in detail.

File Management

A file is a set of related information which is should define by its creator. It commonly represents programs, both source and object forms, and data. Data files can be numeric, alphabetic, or alphanumeric.

Function of file management in OS:

The operating system has the following important given activities in connections with file management:

• File and directory creation and deletion.
• For manipulating files and directories.
• Mapping files onto secondary storage.
• Backup files on stable storage media.

Process Management

The process management component is a procedure for managing the many processes that are running simultaneously on the operating system. Every software application program has one or more processes associated with them when they are running.

For example, when you use a browser like Google Chrome, there is a process running for that browser program. The OS also has many processes running, which performing various functions.

All these processes should be managed by process management, which keeps processes for running efficiently. It also uses memory allocated to them and shutting them down when needed.

The execution of a process must be sequential so, at least one instruction should be executed on behalf of the process.

Functions of process management in OS:

The following are functions of process management.

• Process creation and deletion.
• Suspension and resumption.
• Synchronization process
• Communication process

I/O Device Management

One of the important use of an operating system that helps you to hide the variations of specific hardware devices from the user.

Functions of I/O management in OS:

• It offers buffer caching system
• It provides general device driver code
• It provides drivers for particular hardware devices.
• I/O helps you to knows the individualities of a specific device.

Network Management

Network management is the process of administering and managing computer networks. It includes performance management, fault analysis, provisioning of networks, and maintaining the quality of service.

A distributed system is a collection of computers/processors that never share their own memory or a clock. In this type of system, all the processors have their local Memory, and the processors communicate with each other using different communication lines, like fiber optics or telephone lines.

The computers in the network are connected through a communication network, which can be configured in a number of different ways. With the help of network management, the network can be fully or partially connected, which helps users to design routing and connection strategies that overcome connection and security issues.

Functions of Network management:

• Distributed systems help you to various computing resources in size and function. They may involve microprocessors, minicomputers, and many general-purpose computer systems.
• A distributed system also offers the user access to the various resources the network shares.
• It helps to access shared resources that help computation to speed-up or offers data availability and reliability.

Main Memory management

Main Memory is a large array of storage or bytes, which has an address. The memory management process is conducted by using a sequence of reads or writes of specific memory addresses.

In order to execute a program , it should be mapped to absolute addresses and loaded inside the Memory. The selection of a memory management method depends on several factors.

However, it is mainly based on the hardware design of the system. Each algorithm requires corresponding hardware support. Main Memory offers fast storage that can be accessed directly by the CPU. It is costly and hence has a lower storage capacity. However, for a program to be executed, it must be in the main Memory.

Functions of Memory management in OS:

An Operating System performs the following functions for Memory Management:

• It helps you to keep track of primary memory.
• Determine what part of it are in use by whom, what part is not in use.
• In a multiprogramming system, the OS takes a decision about which process will get Memory and how much.
• Allocates the memory when a process requests
• It also de-allocates the Memory when a process no longer requires or has been terminated.

Secondary-Storage Management

The most important task of a computer system is to execute programs. These programs, along with the data, helps you to access, which is in the main memory during execution.

This Memory of the computer is very small to store all data and programs permanently. The computer system offers secondary storage to back up the main Memory. Today modern computers use hard drives/SSD as the primary storage of both programs and data. However, the secondary storage management also works with storage devices, like a USB flash drive, and CD/DVD drives.

Programs like assemblers, compilers, stored on the disk until it is loaded into memory, and then use the disk as a source and destination for processing.

Functions of Secondary storage management in OS:

Here, are major functions of secondary storage management in OS:

• Storage allocation
• Free space management
• Disk scheduling

Security Management

The various processes in an operating system need to be secured from each other’s activities. For that purpose, various mechanisms can be used to ensure that those processes which want to operate files, memory CPU, and other hardware resources should have proper authorization from the operating system.

For example, Memory addressing hardware helps you to confirm that a process can be executed within its own address space. The time ensures that no process has control of the CPU without renouncing it.

Lastly, no process is allowed to do its own I/O, to protect, which helps you to keep the integrity of the various peripheral devices.

Other Important Activities

Here, are some other important activities of OS:

• The user’s program can’t execute I/O operations directly. The operating system should provide some medium to perform this.
• OS checks the capability of the program to read, write, create, and delete files.
• OS facilitates an exchange of information between processes executing on the same or different systems.
• OS components help you to makes sure that you get the correct computing by detecting errors in the CPU and memory hardware.

Operating system, its Functions and Characteristics

Operating System

Operating System (OS) is one of the core software programs that runs on the hardware and makes it usable for the user to interact with the hardware so that they can send commands (input) and receive results (output). It provides a consistent environment for other software to execute commands. So we can say that the OS acts at the center through which the system hardware, other softwares, and the user communicate. The following figure shows the basic working of the operating system and how it utilizes different hardware or resources.

Operating system serves many functions but I will discuss about the major functions which all operating systems have.

Basic Functions of the Operating system

The key five basic functions of any operating system are as following

1. Interface between the user and the hardware : An OS provides an interface between user and machine. This interface can be a graphical user interface (GUI) in which users click onscreen elements to interact with the OS or a command-line interface (CLI) in which users type commands at the command-line interface (CLI) to tell the OS to do things.

2. Coordinate hardware components :An OS enables coordination of hardware components. Each hardware device speaks a different language, but the operating system can talk to them through the specific translational softwares called device drivers. Every hardware component has different drivers for Operating systems. These drivers make the communication successful between the other softwares and the hardware.

3. Provide environment for software to function: An OS provides an environment for software applications to function. An application software is a specific software which is used to perform specific task. In GUI operating systems such as Windows and macOS, applications run within a consistent, graphical desktop environment.

4. Provide structure for data management : An OS displays structure/directories for data management. We can view file and folder listings and manipulate on those files and folders like (move, copy, rename, delete, and many others).

5. Monitor system health and functionality: OS monitors the health of our system’s hardware, giving us an idea of how well (or not) it’s performing. We can see how busy our CPU is, or how quickly our hard drives retrieve data, or how much data our network card is sending etc. and it also monitors system activity for malware.

Operating System Characteristics

The Operating systems are different according to the three primary characteristics which are licensing, software compatibility, and complexity.

Licensing

There are basically three kinds of Operating systems. One is Open Source OS, another is Free OS and the third is Commercial OS.

Linux is an open source operating system which means that anyone can download and modify it for example Ubuntu etc.

A free OS doesn’t have to be open source. They are free to download and use but cannot modify them. For example, Google owns Chrome OS and makes it free to use.

Commercial operating systems are privately owned by companies that charge money for them. Examples include Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS. These require to pay for the right (or license) to use their Operating systems.

Software Compatibility

The developers make the softwares which may be compatible or incompatible in different versions within the same operating system’s type but they can’t be compatible with the other OS types. Every OS type have their own software compatibility.

Complexity

Operating systems come in basically two editions one is 32-bit and other is 64-bit editions. The 64-bit edition of an operating system best utilizes random access memory (RAM). A computer with a 64-bit CPU can run either a 32-bit or a 64-bit OS, but a computer with a 32-bit CPU can run only a 32-bit OS.