DICT Module 1 Operating System INTRODUCTION TO OPERATING SYSTEMS DEFINITION OF OPERATING SYSTEM An operating system is a program that acts as an intermediary between the user of a computer and the computer hardware. The purpose of an operating system is to provide an environment in which a user can execute programs in a convenientand efficientmanner DEFINITION OF TERMS IN OPERATING SYSTEM (a) System Calls and System Programs System calls/monitor call System call provide an interface between the process and the operating system. It is a request made by any program to the operating system for performing task. It is used whenever a program needs to access a restricted source e.g. a file on the hard disc, any hardware device. Type of system calls: i.Process control(e.g., create and terminate processes* load ,execute* end abort* wait signal event etc.) ii.File management(e.g., open and close files,* create file, delete file* read , write) iii.Device management(e.g., read and write operations* request or release a device) iv.Information maintenance(e.g., get time or date* set process, file or device attributes* get system data) v.Communication(e.g., send and receive messages) System calls allow user-level processesto request some services from the operating system which process itself is not allowed to do. In handling the trap, the operating system will enter in the kernel mode, where it has access to privileged instructions, and can perform the desired service on the behalf of user-level process. It is because of the critical nature of operations that the operating system itself does them every time they are needed. For example, for an I/O a process involves a system call telling the OS to read or write particular area and this request is satisfied by the operating system. System programs Provide a convenient environment for program development (editors, compilers) and execution (shells). Some of them are simply user interfaces to system calls;
- Teacher: chenza joshua