2.1 Systems software (operating systems)

What are the roles of the Operating system?

• Resource management

• File management

• Interrupt handling

• Security

• Providing a platform for software to run

• Providing a user interface

• Providing utilities

What are examples of security programs of a computer?

• Fire wall

• Virus scanning

• File encryption

What do operating systems provide?

• They provide an interface between the user and the hardware, allowing the user to interact with the system and run applications

How do operating systems provide interaction?

• Operating systems provide interaction in 2 ways: visually through a graphical user interface (GUI) or text-based through a command-line interface (CLI)

What is the role of utility programs?

• Utility programs help with system maintenance and security

What are examples of some utility programs?

file encryption, file compression, disk defragmentation, system backup, disk cleanup

What does file encryption allow for?

• File encryption allows users to send files over networks securely

What does file compression do?

• File compression reduces the size of a file, which helps send large files over a network

What does disk defragmentation do?

• Disk defragmentation physically reorganises files on the hard disk so they can be found and accessed faster

What does disk cleanup do?

• Disk cleanup scans the hard disk for duplicate and corrupt files and deletes them to create more space on the disk

What does backup software allow for?

• Backup software allows users to restore their system to a point in history