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Functions of an Operating System
An operating system perform various functions. Some of them are:
Arranging Files and Folders: An operating system
helps to arrange the files and folders stored on
the hard disk. It also keeps a track of information
about when a file is created, copied and modified.
Assigning Tasks to CPU: An operating system
assigns the tasks to the CPU according to the
instructions given by the user. It also helps to
control the execution of the tasks. It also helps to
assign the resources that are required to complete
the task.
Functioning of an Operating System
Managing Memory: An operating system manges
the memory space for multiple processes. It keeps track of every memory location, regardless
of either it is allocated to some process or it is free. It also allocates memory to the files and
folders. When we delete a file or folder, the operating system de-allocates the memory space
allocated for it.
Managing Resources: An operating system keeps a track of the hardware and software
requirements of the processes. It works as a manager of the resources and allocates them to
different programs.
Managing Devices: An operating system manages and controls all the input and output
devices connected to the computer. When we give an instruction to the computer by using
an input device, the computer process the instruction and produces the desired result on
the output device.
Security: An operating system has in-built security module to protect the programs and data
stored on the computer system against the unauthorised access.
Types of Operating Systems
There are different types of operating systems. The operating system can be categorised on the basis
of control and application they support. Let us discuss briefly important types of operating systems.
Single-user Operating System: This type of operating system allows only one user can access
the computer system at a time. The most commonly used single-user operating systems are
Palm computer and DOS.
Multi-processor Operating System: A multi-processor operating system has more than one
Central Processing Units (CPUs) to manage the functioning of the computer. All these CPUs
are able to communicate with one another to coordinate operations. This type of operating
systems provide higher speed and capable to run multiple applications at the same time.
Multi-tasking Operating System: A multi-tasking operating system allows users to
execute multiple tasks on one computer at a time. All the tasks share a common processing
resource like CPU. In this type of operating systems, priority of tasks can also be changed
according to the requirement. The most commonly used multitasking operating systems
are Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 10, UNIX and Linux.
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