The Architecture of Computer Hardware, Systems Software, & Networking: An Information Technology Approach, 5th Edition

CHAPTER 15

OPERATING SYSTEMS: AN OVERVIEW

FOXTROT © 2001 Bill Amend. Reprinted with permission of UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE. All rights reserved

15.0 INTRODUCTION

In Chapter 2, we introduced the modern computer system as a synergistic set of components that work together to make the computer's capabilities and facilities accessible and productive to the user. The operating system (OS) software component provides the basic functionality of the system by offering programs that operate, control, and support the fundamental resources of the computer. Those resources include both CPU and peripheral hardware, network services, application programs, short-term program and data storage for use while a program is executing, time in which to execute programs, and overall access to the system. The operating system programs make system resources available to the user(s), the user's application programs, and to other application programs running on the computer. The operating system also provides and controls access to other, interconnected systems through its networking and clustering capabilities. Although the operating system programs are tailored to the specific hardware provided on a particular system, it is possible to offer different operating systems on a particular hardware platform and to offer the same operating system on different hardware platforms.

The hardware and the operating ...