Operating system: Difference between revisions

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! The OS manages  !!  Linux tools you can use
! The OS manages  !!  Linux tools you can use to understand what is going on
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| Memory || foo
| Memory || top, htop, free
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| Processes || top
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| Boot-up / Shutdown process
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| Files || File system  
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| Security
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| CPU Scheduling
| CPU Scheduling

Revision as of 14:35, 1 September 2016

Operating system placement.svg.png

An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services for computer programs. All computer programs, excluding firmware, require an operating system to function.[1]

An operating system manages:


The OS manages Linux tools you can use to understand what is going on
Memory top, htop, free
Processes top
Files File system
Security fstab
CPU Scheduling
Devices, Device I/O
Interrupts
The user interface, most often a GUI but also a CLI


An operating system also provides:

  1. Tools for managing the operating system. These are often called utilities or system tools. Click here for a brilliant graphic showing the different types of tools you can use to view inside the Linux operating system

Different operating systems[edit]

  1. Linux
  2. OS X
  3. WIndows
  4. iOS
  5. Android OS
  6. Google chrome OS (Based on Linux)


Do you understand this topic?[edit]

  • Describe the main functions of an operating system.

Do you have an advanced understanding about this topic?[edit]

  • Describe how an operating system manages the functions you have just described above.

References[edit]