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• Assigning Tasks to the CPU: An Operating system handles the scheduling, synchronization,
processing suspension and resumption of processes. Operating system can independently
prioritize jobs for processing.
• Managing Memory: It is the process of coordinating and controlling the use of memory in a
computer system. It allocates a job to a free memory partition.
• Managing Resources: An operating system keeps 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: At the time of execution of any program, operating system directly
controls the operation of the input-output (I/O) devices like controlling the action of the
printer, CD-ROM drives, etc. When we give an instruction to the computer by using an input
device, the computer processes the instruction and produces the desired result on the output
device.
• Security: An Operating system protects information and resources against unauthorised
access using login and password.
i + TYPES OF OPERATING SYSTEMS
There are different types of operating systems. The operating system can be categorised on
the basis of control and applications they support. Let us briefly discuss the important types of
operating systems.
• Single-user Operating System: A single-user operating system provides access to a single
user at a time. The most commonly used single-user operating system is DOS.
• Multi-processing Operating System: In this operating system, processing is carried
independently in more than one location but with sharing of computational capacity. It is
accessed by set of computers interconnected by a network. It gives an impression to the user
that he is working on a single system. This type of operating system provides higher speed
and the capability to run multiple applications at the same time.
• Multi-tasking Operating System: Such operating systems allow the computer to work on
more than one application by switching among them. The switching occurs so frequently
that the user can interact with each program conveniently. All the tasks share a common
processing resource like a CPU. In this type of operating system, the priority of tasks can also
be changed according to the requirements. The most commonly used multitasking operating
systems are Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 10, UNIX and Linux.
• Multi-user Operating System: Some operating systems allow access to two or more users
to run the same programs at the same time on a network. Some operating systems permit
hundreds or even thousands of concurrent users. Examples of multi-user operating systems
are Linux, Windows, etc.
• Real-time Operating System: It processes instructions and produces a response within
a specified time. It is a computing environment that reacts to input within specified time.
Example: ATM, traffic signal, etc.
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Operating System

