What is Operating System? Types of OS, Features and Examples

What is an Operating System?

An Operating System (OS) is a software that acts as an interface between computer hardware components and the user. Every computer system must have at least one operating system to run other programs. Applications like Browsers, MS Office, Notepad Games, etc., need some environment to run and perform its tasks.

The OS helps you to communicate with the computer without knowing how to speak the computer’s language. It is not possible for the user to use any computer or mobile device without having an operating system. Introduction to Operating System

History Of OS

• Operating systems were first developed in the late 1950s to manage tape storage
• The General Motors Research Lab implemented the first OS in the early 1950s for their IBM 701
• In the mid-1960s, operating systems started to use disks
• In the late 1960s, the first version of the Unix OS was developed
• The first OS built by Microsoft was DOS. It was built in 1981 by purchasing the 86-DOS software from a Seattle company
• The present-day popular OS Windows first came to existence in 1985 when a GUI was created and paired with MS-DOS.

Examples of Operating System with Market Share

Following are the examples of Operating System with the latest Market Share

OS Name	Share
Windows	40.34
Android	37.95
iOS	15.44
Mac OS	4.34
Linux	0.95
Chrome OS	0.14
Windows Phone OS	0.06

Types of Operating System (OS)

Following are the popular types of Operating System:

• Batch Operating System
• Multitasking/Time Sharing OS
• Multiprocessing OS
• Real Time OS
• Distributed OS
• Network OS
• Mobile OS

Batch Operating System

Some computer processes are very lengthy and time-consuming. To speed the same process, a job with a similar type of needs are batched together and run as a group.

The user of a batch operating system never directly interacts with the computer. In this type of OS, every user prepares his or her job on an offline device like a punch card and submit it to the computer operator.

Multi-Tasking/Time-sharing Operating systems

Time-sharing operating system enables people located at a different terminal(shell) to use a single computer system at the same time. The processor time (CPU) which is shared among multiple users is termed as time sharing.

Real time OS

A real time operating system time interval to process and respond to inputs is very small. Examples: Military Software Systems, Space Software Systems are the Real time OS example.

Distributed Operating System

Distributed systems use many processors located in different machines to provide very fast computation to its users.

Network Operating System

Network Operating System runs on a server. It provides the capability to serve to manage data, user, groups, security, application, and other networking functions.

Mobile OS

Mobile operating systems are those OS which is especially that are designed to power smartphones, tablets, and wearables devices.

Some most famous mobile operating systems are Android and iOS, but others include BlackBerry, Web, and watchOS.

Functions of Operating System

Below are the main functions of Operating System: Functions of Operating System

In an operating system software performs each of the function:

1. Process management:- Process management helps OS to create and delete processes. It also provides mechanisms for synchronization and communication among processes.

1. Memory management:- Memory management module performs the task of allocation and de-allocation of memory space to programs in need of this resources.

1. File management:- It manages all the file-related activities such as organization storage, retrieval, naming, sharing, and protection of files.

1. Device Management: Device management keeps tracks of all devices. This module also responsible for this task is known as the I/O controller. It also performs the task of allocation and de-allocation of the devices.

1. I/O System Management: One of the main objects of any OS is to hide the peculiarities of that hardware devices from the user.

1. Secondary-Storage Management: Systems have several levels of storage which includes primary storage, secondary storage, and cache storage. Instructions and data must be stored in primary storage or cache so that a running program can reference it.

1. Security:- Security module protects the data and information of a computer system against malware threat and authorized access.

1. Command interpretation: This module is interpreting commands given by the and acting system resources to process that commands.

1. Networking: A distributed system is a group of processors which do not share memory, hardware devices, or a clock. The processors communicate with one another through the network.

1. Job accounting: Keeping track of time & resource used by various job and users.

1. Communication management: Coordination and assignment of compilers, interpreters, and another software resource of the various users of the computer systems.

Features of Operating System (OS)

Here is a list important features of OS:

• Protected and supervisor mode
• Allows disk access and file systems Device drivers Networking Security
• Program Execution
• Memory management Virtual Memory Multitasking
• Handling I/O operations
• Manipulation of the file system
• Error Detection and handling
• Resource allocation
• Information and Resource Protection

Advantage of using Operating System

• Allows you to hide details of hardware by creating an abstraction
• Easy to use with a GUI
• Offers an environment in which a user may execute programs/applications
• The operating system must make sure that the computer system convenient to use
• Operating System acts as an intermediary among applications and the hardware components
• It provides the computer system resources with easy to use format
• Acts as an intermediator between all hardware’s and software’s of the system

Disadvantages of using Operating System

• If any issue occurs in OS, you may lose all the contents which have been stored in your system
• Operating system’s software is quite expensive for small size organization which adds burden on them. Example Windows
• It is never entirely secure as a threat can occur at any time

What is a Kernel?

The kernel is the central component of a computer operating systems. The only job performed by the kernel is to the manage the communication between the software and the hardware. A Kernel is at the nucleus of a computer. It makes the communication between the hardware and software possible. While the Kernel is the innermost part of an operating system, a shell is the outermost one.

Features of Kennel

• Low-level scheduling of processes
• Inter-process communication
• Process synchronization
• Context switching

Types of Kernels

There are many types of kernels that exists, but among them, the two most popular kernels are:

1.Monolithic

A monolithic kernel is a single code or block of the program. It provides all the required services offered by the operating system. It is a simplistic design which creates a distinct communication layer between the hardware and software.

2. Microkernels

Microkernel manages all system resources. In this type of kernel, services are implemented in different address space. The user services are stored in user address space, and kernel services are stored under kernel address space. So, it helps to reduce the size of both the kernel and operating system.

Operating System Classes

The Operating System category groups classes that represent operating system related objects. They denote the various configurations and settings that define a computing environment. Examples include: the boot configuration, Component Object Model (COM) settings, desktop environment settings, drivers, security settings, user settings, and registry settings.

The Operating System category is grouped into the following subcategories:

The COM subcategory groups classes that represent COM and DCOM settings, classes, and client application settings.

Class	Description
Win32_ClassicCOMApplicationClasses	Association class Relates a DCOM application and a COM component grouped under it.
Win32_ClassicCOMClass	Instance class Represents the properties of a COM component.
Win32_ClassicCOMClassSettings	Association class Relates a COM class and the settings used to configure instances of the COM class.
Win32_ClientApplicationSetting	Association class Relates an executable and a DCOM application that contains the DCOM configuration options for the executable file.
Win32_COMApplication	Instance class Represents a COM application.
Win32_COMApplicationClasses	Association class Relates a COM component and the COM application where it resides.
Win32_COMApplicationSettings	Association class Relates a DCOM application and its configuration settings.
Win32_COMClass	Instance class Represents the properties of a COM component.
Win32_ComClassAutoEmulator	Association class Relates a COM class and another COM class that it automatically emulates.
Win32_ComClassEmulator	Association class Relates two versions of a COM class.
Win32_ComponentCategory	Instance class Represents a component category.
Win32_COMSetting	Instance class Represents the settings associated with a COM component or COM application.
Win32_DCOMApplication	Instance class Represents the properties of a DCOM application.
Win32_DCOMApplicationAccessAllowedSetting	Association class Relates the Win32_DCOMApplication instance and the user security identifications (SID) that can access it.
Win32_DCOMApplicationLaunchAllowedSetting	Association class Relates the Win32_DCOMApplication instance and the user SIDs that can launch it.
Win32_DCOMApplicationSetting	Instance class Represents the settings of a DCOM application.
Win32_ImplementedCategory	Association class Relates a component category and the COM class using its interfaces.

Desktop

The Desktop subcategory groups classes that represent objects that define a specific desktop configuration.

Class	Description
Win32_Desktop	Instance class Represents the common characteristics of a user’s desktop.
Win32_Environment	Instance class Represents an environment or system environment setting on a computer system running Windows.
Win32_TimeZone	Instance class Represents the time zone information for a computer system running Windows.
Win32_UserDesktop	Association class Relates a user account and the desktop settings that are specific to it.

Drivers

The Drivers subcategory groups classes that represent virtual device drivers and system drivers for base services.

Class	Description
Win32_SystemDriver	Instance class Represents the system driver for a base service.

File System

The File System subcategory groups classes that represent the way a hard disk is logically arranged. This includes the type of file system used, the directory structure, and way the disk is partitioned.

Class	Description
Win32_CIMLogicalDeviceCIMDataFile	Association class Relates logical devices and data files, indicating the driver files used by the device.
Win32_Directory	Instance class Represents a directory entry on a computer system running Windows.
Win32_DirectorySpecification	Instance class Represents the directory layout for the product.
Win32_DiskDriveToDiskPartition	Association class Relates a disk drive and a partition existing on it.
Win32_DiskPartition	Instance class Represents the capabilities and management capacity of a partitioned area of a physical disk on a computer system running Windows.
Win32_DiskQuota	Association class Tracks disk space usage for NTFS file system volumes.
Win32_LogicalDisk	Represents a data source that resolves to an actual local storage device on a computer system running Windows.
Win32_LogicalDiskRootDirectory	Association class Relates a logical disk and its directory structure.
Win32_LogicalDiskToPartition	Association class Relates a logical disk drive and the disk partition it resides on.
Win32_MappedLogicalDisk	Represents network storage devices that are mapped as logical disks on the computer system running Windows.
Win32_OperatingSystemAutochkSetting	Association class Represents the association between a CIM_ManagedSystemElement instance and the settings defined for it.
Win32_QuotaSetting	Instance class Contains setting information for disk quotas on a volume.
Win32_ShortcutFile	Instance class Represents files that are shortcuts to other files, directories, and commands.
Win32_SubDirectory	Association class Relates a directory (folder) and one of its subdirectories (subfolders).
Win32_SystemPartitions	Association class Relates a computer system and a disk partition on that system.
Win32_Volume	Instance class Represents an area of storage on a hard disk.
Win32_VolumeQuota	Association class Relates a volume to the per volume quota settings.
Win32_VolumeQuotaSetting	Association class Relates disk quota settings with a specific disk volume.
Win32_VolumeUserQuota	Association class Relates per user quotas to quota-enabled volumes.

Job Objects

The Job Objects subcategory groups classes that represent classes that provide the means of instrumenting named job objects. An unnamed job object cannot be instrumented.

Class	Description
Win32_CollectionStatistics	Association class Relates a managed system element collection and the class representing statistical information about the collection.
Win32_LUID	Instance class Represents a locally unique identifier (LUID)
Win32_LUIDandAttributes	Instance class Represents a LUID and its attributes.
Win32_NamedJobObject	Instance class Represents a kernel object that is used to group processes for the sake of controlling the life and resources of the processes within the job object.
Win32_NamedJobObjectActgInfo	Instance class Represents the I/O accounting information for a job object.
Win32_NamedJobObjectLimit	Instance class Represents an association between a job object and the job object limit settings.
Win32_NamedJobObjectLimitSetting	Instance class Represents the limit settings for a job object.
Win32_NamedJobObjectProcess	Instance class Relates a job object and the process contained in the job object.
Win32_NamedJobObjectSecLimit	Instance class Relates a job object and the job object security limit settings.
Win32_NamedJobObjectSecLimitSetting	Instance class Represents the security limit settings for a job object.
Win32_NamedJobObjectStatistics	Instance class Represents an association between a job object and the job object I/O accounting information class.
Win32_SIDandAttributes	Instance class Represents a security identifier (SID) and its attributes.
Win32_TokenGroups	Event class Represents information about the group SIDs in an access token.
Win32_TokenPrivileges	Event class Represents information about a set of privileges for an access token.

Memory and Page Files

The Memory and Page files subcategory groups classes that represent page file configuration settings.

Class	Description
Win32_PageFile	Instance class Represents the file used for handling virtual memory file swapping on a Windows system.
Win32_PageFileElementSetting	Association class Relates the initial settings of a page file and the state of those settings during normal use.
Win32_PageFileSetting	Instance class Represents the settings of a page file.
Win32_PageFileUsage	Instance class Represents the file used for handling virtual memory file swapping on a computer system running Windows.

Multimedia Audio or Visual

The class in the Multimedia Audio or Visual subcategory represents properties of the audio or video codec installed on the computer system.

Class	Description
Win32_CodecFile	Instance class Represents the audio or video codec installed on the computer system.

Networking

The Networking subcategory groups classes that represent network connections, network clients, and network connection settings such as the protocol used.

Class	Description
Win32_ActiveRoute	Association class Relates the current IP4 route to the persisted IP route table.
Win32_IP4PersistedRouteTable	Instance class Represents persisted IP routes.
Win32_IP4RouteTable	Instance class Represents information that governs the routing of network data packets.
Win32_IP4RouteTableEvent	Event class Represents IP route change events.
Win32_NetworkClient	Instance class Represents a network client on a computer system running Windows.
Win32_NetworkConnection	Instance class Represents an active network connection in a Windows environment.
Win32_NetworkProtocol	Instance class Represents a protocol and its network characteristics on a computer system running Windows.
Win32_NTDomain	Instance class Represents a Windows NT domain.
Win32_PingStatus	Instance class Represents the values returned by the standard ping command.
Win32_ProtocolBinding	Association class Relates a system-level driver, network protocol, and network adapter.

Operating System Events

The Operating System Events subcategory groups classes that represent events in the operating system related to processes, threads, and system shutdown.

Class	Description
Win32_ComputerShutdownEvent	Event class Represents computer shutdown events.
Win32_ComputerSystemEvent	Event class Represents events related to a computer system.
Win32_DeviceChangeEvent	Event class Represents device change events resulting from the addition, removal, or modification of devices on the computer system.
Win32_ModuleLoadTrace	Event class Indicates that a process has loaded a new module.
Win32_ModuleTrace	Event class Base event for module events.
Win32_ProcessStartTrace	Event class Indicates that a new process has started.
Win32_ProcessStopTrace	Event class Indicates that a process has terminated.
Win32_ProcessTrace	Event class Base event for process events.
Win32_SystemConfigurationChangeEvent	Event class Indicates that the device list on the system has been refreshed (a device has been added or removed, or the configuration changed).
Win32_SystemTrace	Event class Base class for all system trace events, including module, process, and thread traces.
Win32_ThreadStartTrace	Event class Indicates a new thread has started.
Win32_ThreadStopTrace	Event class Indicates that a thread has stopped.
Win32_ThreadTrace	Event class Base event class for thread events.
Win32_VolumeChangeEvent	Event class Represents a network-mapped drive event resulting from the addition of a network drive letter or mounted drive on the computer system.

Operating System Settings

The Operating System Settings subcategory groups classes that represent the Operating System and its settings.

Class	Description
Win32_BootConfiguration	Instance class Represents the boot configuration of a computer system running Windows.
Win32_ComputerSystem	Instance class Represents a computer system operating in a Windows environment.
Win32_ComputerSystemProcessor	Association class Relates a computer system and a processor running on that system.
Win32_ComputerSystemProduct	Instance class Represents a product.
Win32_DependentService	Association class Relates two interdependent base services.
Win32_LoadOrderGroup	Instance class Represents a group of system services that define execution dependencies.
Win32_LoadOrderGroupServiceDependencies	Instance class Represents an association between a base service and a load order group that the service depends on to start running.
Win32_LoadOrderGroupServiceMembers	Association class Relates a load order group and a base service.
Win32_OperatingSystem	Instance class Represents an operating system installed on a computer system running Windows.
Win32_OperatingSystemQFE	Association class Relates an operating system and product updates applied as represented in Win32_QuickFixEngineering.
Win32_OSRecoveryConfiguration	Instance class Represents the types of information that will be gathered from memory when the operating system fails.
Win32_QuickFixEngineering	Instance class Represents system-wide Quick Fix Engineering (QFE) or updates that have been applied to the current operating system.
Win32_StartupCommand	Instance class Represents a command that runs automatically when a user logs onto the computer system.
Win32_SystemBootConfiguration	Association class Relates a computer system and its boot configuration.
Win32_SystemDesktop	Association class Relates a computer system and its desktop configuration.
Win32_SystemDevices	Association class Relates a computer system and a logical device installed on that system.
Win32_SystemLoadOrderGroups	Association class Relates a computer system and a load order group.
Win32_SystemNetworkConnections	Association class Relates a network connection and the computer system on which it resides.
Win32_SystemOperatingSystem	Association class Relates a computer system and its operating system.
Win32_SystemProcesses	Association class Relates a computer system and a process running on that system.
Win32_SystemProgramGroups	Association class Relates a computer system and a logical program group.
Win32_SystemResources	Association class Relates a system resource and the computer system it resides on.
Win32_SystemServices	Association class Relates a computer system and a service program that exists on the system.
Win32_SystemSetting	Association class Relates a computer system and a general setting on that system.
Win32_SystemSystemDriver	Association class Relates a computer system and a system driver running on that computer system.
Win32_SystemTimeZone	Association class Relates a computer system and a time zone.
Win32_SystemUsers	Association class Relates a computer system and a user account on that system.

Processes

The Processes subcategory groups classes that represent system processes and threads.

Class	Description
Win32_Process	Instance class Represents a sequence of events on a computer system running Windows.
Win32_ProcessStartup	Instance class Represents the startup configuration of a computer system running Windows.
Win32_Thread	Instance class Represents a thread of execution.

Registry

The class in the Registry subcategory represents the contents of the Windows registry.

Class	Description
Win32_Registry	Instance class Represents the system registry on a computer system running Windows.

Scheduler Jobs

The Scheduler Jobs subcategory groups classes that represent scheduled job settings.

Class	Description
Win32_CurrentTime	Abstract class Represents an instance in time as component seconds, minutes, day of the week, and so on.
Win32_ScheduledJob	Instance class Represents a job scheduled using the Windows schedule service.
Win32_LocalTime	Instance class Represents a point in time returned as Win32_LocalTime objects that result from a query. The Hour property is returned as the local time in a 24-hour clock.
Win32_UTCTime	Instance class Represents a point in time that is returned as Win32_UTCTime objects that result from a query. The Hour property is returned as the coordinated universal time (UTC) time in a 24 hour clock.

Security

The Security subcategory groups classes that represent system security settings.

Class	Description
Win32_AccountSID	Association class Relates a security account instance with a security descriptor instance.
Win32_ACE	Instance class Represents an access control entry (ACE).
Win32_LogicalFileAccess	Association class Relates the security settings of a file or directory and one member of its discretionary access control list (DACL).
Win32_LogicalFileAuditing	Association class Relates the security settings of a file or directory one member of its system access control list (SACL).
Win32_LogicalFileGroup	Association class Relates the security settings of a file or directory and its group.
Win32_LogicalFileOwner	Association class Relates the security settings of a file or directory and its owner.
Win32_LogicalFileSecuritySetting	Instance class Represents security settings for a logical file.
Win32_LogicalShareAccess	Association class Relates the security settings of a share and one member of its DACL.
Win32_LogicalShareAuditing	Association class Relates the security settings of a share and one member of its SACL.
Win32_LogicalShareSecuritySetting	Instance class Represents security settings for a logical file.
Win32_PrivilegesStatus	Instance class Represents information about the privileges required to complete an operation.
Win32_SecurityDescriptor	Instance class Represents a structural representation of a SECURITY_DESCRIPTOR.
Win32_SecuritySetting	Instance class Represents security settings for a managed element.
Win32_SecuritySettingAccess	Instance class Represents the rights granted and denied to a trustee for a given object.
Win32_SecuritySettingAuditing	Instance class Represents the auditing for a given trustee on a given object.
Win32_SecuritySettingGroup	Association class Relates the security of an object and its group.
Win32_SecuritySettingOfLogicalFile	Instance class Represents security settings of a file or directory object.
Win32_SecuritySettingOfLogicalShare	Instance class Represents security settings of a shared object.
Win32_SecuritySettingOfObject	Association class Relates an object to its security settings.
Win32_SecuritySettingOwner	Association class Relates the security settings of an object and its owner.
Win32_SID	Instance class Represents an arbitrary SID.
Win32_Trustee	Instance class Represents a trustee.

Services

The Services subcategory groups classes that represent services and base services.

Class	Description
Win32_BaseService	Instance class Represents executable objects that are installed in a registry database maintained by the Service Control Manager.
Win32_Service	Instance class Represents a service on a computer system running Windows.

Shares

The Shares subcategory groups classes that represent details of shared resources, such as printers and folders.

Class	Description
Win32_DFSNode	Association class Represents a root or junction node of a domain-based or stand-alone distributed file system (DFS).
Win32_DFSNodeTarget	Association class Represents the relationship of a DFS node to one of its targets.
Win32_DFSTarget	Association class Represents the target of a DFS node.
Win32_ServerConnection	Instance class Represents the connections made from a remote computer to a shared resource on the local computer.
Win32_ServerSession	Instance class Represents the sessions that are established with the local computer by users on a remote computer.
Win32_ConnectionShare	Association class Relates a shared resource on the computer and the connection made to the shared resource.
Win32_PrinterShare	Association class Relates a local printer and the share that represents it as it is viewed over a network.
Win32_SessionConnection	Association class Represents an association between a session established with the local server by a user on a remote machine, and the connections that depend on the session.
Win32_SessionProcess	Association class Represents an association between a logon session and the processes associated with that session.
Win32_ShareToDirectory	Association class Relates a shared resource on the computer system and the directory to which it is mapped.
Win32_Share	Instance class Represents a shared resource on a computer system running Windows.

Start Menu

The Start Menu subcategory groups classes that represent program groups.

Class	Description
Win32_LogicalProgramGroup	Instance class Represents a program group in a computer system running Windows.
Win32_LogicalProgramGroupDirectory	Association class Relates logical program groups (groupings in the Start menu), and the file directories in which they are stored.
Win32_LogicalProgramGroupItem	Instance class Represents an element contained by a Win32_ProgramGroup instance, that is not itself another Win32_ProgramGroup instance.
Win32_LogicalProgramGroupItemDataFile	Association class Relates the program group items of the Start menu, and the files in which they are stored.
Win32_ProgramGroupContents	Association class Relates a program group order and an individual program group or item contained in it.
Win32_ProgramGroupOrItem	Instance class Represents a logical grouping of programs on the user’s Start|Programs menu.

Storage

The Users subcategory groups classes that represent storage information.

Class	Description
Win32_ShadowBy	Association class Represents the association between a shadow copy and the provider that creates the shadow copy.
Win32_ShadowContext	Association class Specifies how a shadow copy is to be created, queried, or deleted.
Win32_ShadowCopy	Instance class Represents a duplicate copy of the original volume at a previous time.
Win32_ShadowDiffVolumeSupport	Association class Represents an association between a shadow copy provider and a storage volume.
Win32_ShadowFor	Association class Represents an association between a shadow copy and the volume for which the shadow copy is created.
Win32_ShadowOn	Association class Represents an association between a shadow copy and where the differential data is written.
Win32_ShadowProvider	Association class Represents a component that creates and represents volume shadow copies.
Win32_ShadowStorage	Association class Represents an association between a shadow copy and where the differential data is written.
Win32_ShadowVolumeSupport	Association class Represents an association between a shadow copy provider with a supported volume.
Win32_Volume	Instance class Represents an area of storage on a hard disk.
Win32_VolumeUserQuota	Association class Represents a volume to the per volume quota settings.

Users

The Users subcategory groups classes that represent user account information, such as group membership details.

Class	Description
Win32_Account	Instance class Represents information about user accounts and group accounts known to the computer system running Windows.
Win32_Group	Instance class Represents data about a group account.
Win32_GroupInDomain	Association class Identifies the group accounts associated with a Windows NT domain.
Win32_GroupUser	Association class Relates a group and an account that is a member of that group.
Win32_LogonSession	Instance class Describes the logon session or sessions associated with a user logged on to Windows.
Win32_LogonSessionMappedDisk	Instance class Represents the mapped logical disks associated with the session.
Win32_NetworkLoginProfile	Instance class Represents the network login information of a specific user on a computer system running Windows.
Win32_SystemAccount	Instance class Represents a system account.
Win32_UserAccount	Instance class Represents information about a user account on a computer system running Windows.
Win32_UserInDomain	Association class Relates a user account and a Windows NT domain.

Windows Event Log

The Windows Event Log subcategory groups classes that represent events, event log entries, event log configuration settings, and so on.

Class	Description
Win32_NTEventlogFile	Instance class Represents data stored in a Windows Event log file.
Win32_NTLogEvent	Instance class Represents Windows events.
Win32_NTLogEventComputer	Association class Relates instances of Win32_NTLogEvent and Win32_ComputerSystem.
Win32_NTLogEventLog	Association class Relates instances of Win32_NTLogEvent and Win32_NTEventlogFile classes.
Win32_NTLogEventUser	Association class Relates instances of Win32_NTLogEvent and Win32_UserAccount.

Windows Product Activation

Windows Product Activation (WPA) is an antipiracy technology to reduce the casual copying of software.