The Core Functions of an Operating System
The OS is the software program that really understands the hardware and knows how to work with it. Because the OS is so knowledgeable, the programs, the hardware devices, and the user don't have to be as aware. Table 5.1 provides an overview of the five key functions of the OS. Each will be covered in turn.
| Operating system function | Example |
|---|---|
| System supervision | manages memory, starts and controls processes |
| Services to hardware | drivers for various devices (drives, displays, etc.) |
| Services to software | support to other programs such as the user inter-face (UI), file systems, etc. |
| Communications services | redirects requests for information from the local system to an external one; ... |
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