StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

What is the operating system - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The operating system is the software that, essentially, takes care of all programs that run on a computer. It can be defined as a collection of software used for the management…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER92.4% of users find it useful
What is the operating system
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "What is the operating system"

Operating Systems An operating system, or the OS, is the most fundamental and important software used to run a computer. The operating system is the software that, essentially, takes care of all programs that run on a computer. It can be defined as a collection of software used for the management computer hardware (Haldar & Haldar 3). They are also used for the provision common services required for all computer programs. It is a fundamental component in a computer system’s system software. In order to function, application programs will normally need an operating system.

While most of the computers in use are using one form of OS, which perform similar functions, the operating systems can be divided into various types of OS. These are batch operating systems, real time operating systems, single user operating systems, multi-user operating systems, and the distributed operating systems. A batch processing operating system involves interaction between the processor and the computer user that is limited (Haldar & Haldar). The interaction can also be non-existent during the period when the computer is being used.

The programs, as well as the data that are required in processing are collected and bunched together in the form of a bunch and are executed at the same time. This operating system is ideal where similar data is being processed; large data amounts are being processed, and where similar processing is used in the execution of data. The batch processing operating system is capable of identifying periods during which the processor is not in use, during which time the batches can be processed. The processing is automatic, which means that any intervention by the computer user is not needed.

The real time operating system is another example. This operating system is capable of processing input simultaneously, as well as fast enough to impact the following process or input (Haldar & Haldar 25). This operating system is normally utilized for the control of complex computer systems that need increased processing like industrial systems and machinery. Another form of an operating system is the single user operating system that, as suggested by its title, is designed for use by one user for them to use the computer at one time.

The multi-tasking operating system is an OS with several applications, which can be loaded at the same time and utilized in memory (Haldar & Haldar 35). The processor is capable of handling only a single application at one time. However, it is capable of switching from one application to a new one effectively, and simultaneously executing every application. Currently this OS is now commonplace everywhere and it is the most popular variety of an operating system with the Windows OS being a perfect example of the OS.

An additional example of an operating system is the multi user operating system. This OS lets more than one computer user utilize the system while the processor is capable of splitting its resources to cater to more than a single user at one time (Haldar & Haldar 40). The efficiency and speed at which the processor is capable of doing this shows that there are many users simultaneously making use of the system. A few network systems prefer to use this operating system. Finally, we have the distributed operating system, where the data and software may be distributed among files, programs, and systems stored on separate storage devices that are in different geographical locations.

These storage devices can be accessed from different terminals (Haldar & Haldar 56). Work CitedHaldar, Sibsankar. & Alex, Aravind. Operating systems. Upper Saddle River : Pearson, 2010. Print.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“What is the operating system Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1615552-what-is-the-operating-system
(What Is the Operating System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words)
https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1615552-what-is-the-operating-system.
“What Is the Operating System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1615552-what-is-the-operating-system.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF What is the operating system

The Traditional Definition of an Operating System

The importance of the operating system to any computing device can never be overstated.... As a resource manager, the operating system generally functions by "implementing the user interface, sharing hardware among users, allowing users to share data among themselves, preventing users from interfering with one another, scheduling resources among users, facilitating input/output, recovering from errors, accounting for resource usage, facilitating parallel operations, organizing data for secure and rapid access, and handling network communications" (Muhammad 4)....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Choice of operating system

Our operating system is the nerve centre of our entire organization.... Choice of operating system, therefore, is one of the most important decisions which an organization makes, as is the decision to upgrade the OS or implement another.... The implementation of a Windows operating system together with the related security software, costs organizations several thousand dollars, often running into high four or, possibly, five figure sums (Silberschatz et al....
4 Pages (1000 words) Case Study

Operating Systems

The following report highlights the major achievements that have been recognized in the evolution of the operating system. This was… Each user used the machine for a specific period of time with his program and data.... These days virtual memory software has been developed to serve the functions that were initially done by the operating system.... the operating system is in form of levels.... This structured operating system breaks the problem into sub problems which are manageable (Johnston, 2005)....
3 Pages (750 words) Term Paper

Operating System

In the essay “operating system” the author looks at a high level of productivity operating systems manufacturer who came up with different support options present on their websites.... I would prefer Knowledge Base Search as a support option if encountered an operating system related problem....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

Monitoring the Performance of the Computer

This is because during an I/O operation, such as disk read information, the operating system kernel checks for data in the page cache to facilitate fast reading of the data. The advancements Operating Systems The two sections that important for this discussion are the Linux I/O and Windows I/O.... This is because during an I/O operation, such as disk read information, the operating system kernel checks for data in the page cache to facilitate fast reading of the data....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

Operating system

An operating system is a program that acts as an interface between the user and the computer hardware and controls the execution of all kinds of programs.... It keeps tracks of processor and status COMPUTER SCIENCES AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY operating system An operating system is a program that acts as an interface between the user and the computer hardware and controls the execution of all kinds of programs.... (Anonymous, 2010)Functions of an operating SystemThe operating system is important and it has the following functions; (Maxwell, 2011)I....
2 Pages (500 words) Assignment

Operating System Concepts

The present assignment entitled "operating system Concepts" dwells on the concept of a user-level thread library.... here exists one CPU in this system, which may run one program at a time.... As the author puts it, a user-level thread library provides support for thread creation, scheduling, and management with no support from the kernel....
4 Pages (1000 words) Assignment

Operating System Theory

The author of this paper "Operating System Theory" discusses the role of the dynamic loading in the operating system, the basic method of implementing paging, the role of segmentation and demand paging, a second chance algorithm, the functions of the operating systems, a logic file system.... On the other hand, the operating system can aid the programmer by offering library routines to execute dynamic loading.... A demand paging system is comparable to a paging framework with swapping....
6 Pages (1500 words) Assignment
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us