OPERATING SYSTEMS AND UTILITY PROGRAMS

Describe the two types of software

Two types of software are application software and system software.

Application software consists of programs that perform specific tasks for users, such as a word processing program, e-mail program, or Web browser.

System software consists of the programs that control the operations of a computer and its devices. The two types of system software are operating systems and utility programs.

An operating system (OS) is a set of programs containing instructions that coordinate all the activities among computer hardware devices.

A utility program performs a specific task, usually related to managing a computer, its devices, or its programs.

Understand the start-up process for a personal computer

Booting is the process of starting or restarting a computer.

·         When you turn on the computer, the power supply sends an electrical signal to devices located in the system unit.

·         The processor chip resets itself and looks for the ROM chip that contains the BIOS (basic input/output system), which is firmware that holds the startup instructions.

·         The BIOS executes the power-on self test (POST) to make sure hardware is connected properly and operating correctly.

·         The POST results are compared with data in a CMOS chip on the motherboard. If the POST completes successfully, the BIOS searches for specific operating system files called system files.

·         Once located, the boot drive (the drive from which your personal computer starts), loads the system files from storage (the hard disk – usually drive C) into memory (RAM) and executes them.

·         Next, the kernel of the operating system loads into memory and takes control of the computer.

·         The operating system loads configuration information. In Windows XP, the registry consists of several file that contain the system configuration information.

·         When complete, the Windows XP desktop and icons display, and programs in the Start-Up folder are executed.

Describe the term user interface

A user interface controls how you enter data and instructions and how information displays on the screen. Two types of user interfaces are command-line and graphical.

·         With a command-line interface, you type keywords or press special keys to enter data or instructions.

·         A graphical user interface (GUI) allows you to use menus and visual images such as icons, buttons, and other graphical objects to issue commands.

·         A menu is a set of commands from which you can choose.

·         An icon is a small image that represents a program, an instruction, a file, or some other object.

Explain features common to most operating systems

Most operating systems perform similar functions that include managing programs, managing memory, scheduling jobs, configuring devices, accessing the Web, monitoring performance, providing housekeeping services, and administering security. Managing programs directly affects your productivity.

·         A single user/single tasking operating system allows only one user to run one program at a time.

·         A multitasking operating system allows a single user to work on two or more applications that reside in memory at the same time.

·         A multi-user operating system enables two or more users to run a program simultaneously.

·         A multiprocessing operating system can support two or more CPUs running programs at the same time. Managing memory involves assigning items to an area of memory while they are being processed. The purpose of memory management is to optimize use of random access memory (RAM).

·         With virtual memory (VM), the operating system optimizes memory by allocating a portion of a storage medium, usually the hard disk, to function as additional RAM.

·         Scheduling jobs (operations the processor manages) involves determining the order in which jobs are processed.

Spooling increases efficiency by placing print jobs in a buffer (an area of memory or storage where data resides while waiting to be transferred) until the printer is ready, freeing the processor for other tasks. Configuring devices establishes communication with each device in the computer. A device driver is a small program that tells the operating system how to communicate with a device. Accessing the Web may entail including a Web browser and e-mail program in the operating system. Monitoring performance helps to identify and solve system problems.

A performance monitor is a program that assesses and reports information about various system resources and devices. Providing housekeeping services entails performing storage and file management functions. A file manager performs such functions as formatting and copying disks; listing the files on a storage medium; checking the amount of used and unused space on a storage medium; organizing, copying, deleting, moving, and sorting files; and creating shortcuts (icons on the desktop that run a program when clicked).

Administering security involves establishing user accounts on a network. Each account typically requires a user name and a password to log on, or access, the network.

Know the difference between stand-alone operating systems and network operating systems

A stand-alone operating system is a complete operating system that works on a desktop or notebook computer. A network operating system (also called network OS or NOS) is an operating system that supports a network. A network is a collection of computers and devices connected together via communications media and devices such as cables, telephone lines, and modems. In some networks, the server is the computer that controls access to the hardware and software on a network and provides a centralized storage area. The other computers on the network, called clients, rely on the server(s) for resources.

Identify various stand-alone operating systems

Stand-alone operating systems include DOS, Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows NT Workstation, Windows 98, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional Edition, Mac OS, OS/2 Warp Client, UNIX, and Linux. UNIX and Linux also function as network operating systems.

·         DOS (Disk Operating System) refers to several single user, command-line and menu-driven operating systems developed in the early 1980s for personal computers.

·         Windows 3.x refers to early operating environments that, although not operating systems, provided a graphical user interface to work in combination with DOS and simplify its use.

·         Windows 95 is a true multitasking operating system – not an operating environment – with an improved graphical interface.

·         Windows NT Workstation is a client operating system that can connect to a Windows NT Server.

·         Developed as an upgrade to Windows 95, the Windows 98 operating system is easier to use and more integrated with the Internet. Windows 98 includes Microsoft Internet Explorer, a popular Web browser, Windows Explorer, a file manager, and an Active Desktop™  that works similarly to Web links.

·         Windows 2000 Professional is a complete, reliable multitasking client operating system for business desktop and business notebook computers.

·         Windows Millennium Edition is an operating system that has features specifically for the home user.

·         Windows XP is Microsoft’s fastest, most reliable Windows operating system, providing quicker startup, better performance, and a new, simplified visual look.

·         Windows XP Home Edition is an upgrade to Windows Millennium Edition, while Windows XP Professional Edition is an upgrade to Windows 2000 Professional.

·         The Mac OS, the latest version of the Macintosh operating system (the first commercially successful graphical user interface), is a multitasking operating system available only on Apple computers.

·         OS/2 Warp Client is IBM’s GUI multitasking client operating system that supports networking, Java, the Internet, and speech recognition.

Identify various network operating systems

Network operating systems include NetWare, Windows NT Server, Windows 2000 Server, Windows .NET Server, OS/2 Warp Server for E-business, UNIX, Linux, and Solaris™.

·         Novell’s NetWare is a widely used network operating system designed for client/server networks.

·         Windows NT Server is the operating system used by servers in the Windows NT client/server network environment.

·         The Windows 2000 Server family consists of three products:

·         Windows 2000 Server (for the typical business network),

·         Windows 2000 Advanced Server (for e-commerce applications), and

·         Windows 2000 Database server (for demanding, large-scale applications).

·         Windows .NET Server is an upgrade to Windows 2000 Server. The Windows .NET Server family includes four products:

·         Windows .NET Standard Server (for the typical small- to medium-sized business network),

·         Windows .NET Enterprise Server (for medium- to large-sized businesses, including those with e-commerce applications),

·         Windows .NET Datacenter (for business with huge volumes of transactions and large-scale databases), and

·         Windows .NET Web Server (for Web server and Web hosting businesses).

·         OS/2 Warp Server for E-business is IBM’s network operating system designed for all sizes of business.

·         UNIX is a multitasking, command-line operating system implemented on many different types of computers. Because it is both a stand-alone operating system and a network operating system, some call UNIX a multipurpose operating system.

·         Linux is a popular, free, multitasking UNIX-type operating system.

·         Solaris™, a version of UNIX developed by Sun Microsystems, is a network operating system designed for e-commerce applications.

Recognize devices that use embedded operating systems

The operating system on most handheld computers and small devices, called an embedded operating system, resides on a ROM chip. Popular embedded operating systems include Windows CE, Pocket PC OS, and Palm OS®.

Windows CE is a scaled-down Windows operating system designed for use on wireless communications devices and smaller computers such as handheld computers, in-vehicle devices, and Web-enabled devices.

Pocket PC OS is a scaled-down operating system developed by Microsoft that works on a specific type of handheld computer, called a Pocket PC.

The Palm OS® is the operating system used on Palm handheld computers from Palm, Inc., and Visor handheld computers from Handspring™.

Discuss the purpose of the following utilities: file viewer, file compression, diagnostic, uninstaller, disk scanner, disk defragmenter, backup, and screen saver

Most operating systems include several utility programs that perform specific tasks related to managing a computer, its devices, or its programs.

·         File viewer is a utility that allows you to display and copy the contents of a file.

·         A file compression utility shrinks the size of a file.

·         A diagnostic utility compiles technical information about a computer’s hardware and certain system software programs and then prepares a report outlining any identified problems.

·         An uninstaller is a utility that removes an application, as well as any associated entries in the system files.

·         A disk scanner is a utility that (1) detects and corrects both physical and logical problems on a hard disk, and (2) searches for and removes unnecessary files.

·         A disk defragmenter is a utility that reorganizes files and unused space on a computer’s hard disk so data can be accessed more quickly and programs can run faster.

·         A backup utility copies, or backs up, selected files or an entire hard drive onto another disk or tape.

·         A screen saver is a utility that causes the monitor’s screen to display a moving image on a blank screen if no keyboard activity occurs for a specified period.