Operating System Overview

Course Information

• Course ID: U10M12007.01

• Instructor: Tianhai Zhao

• Email: zhaoth@nwpu.edu.cn

• Office Location: 305 Chengzi building, YouYi campus

• Classroom: East building 311

• Class Schedule: Monday and Wednesday, 10:30-12:10

• Credit Hours: 3.5

• Class Weeks: 2-15

Main Topics Covered

• Overview of Operating Systems

• Process Management

• Memory Management

• Storage Management

• Protection and Security

Recommended Textbooks

• Operating System Concepts (10th Edition)

  • Authors: Avi Silberschatz, Peter Baer Galvin, Greg Gagne

  • Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

  • ISBN: 978-1-118-06333-0

• Reference Books:

  • Operating Systems: Three Easy Pieces - Remzi H. Arpaci-Dusseau, Andrea C. Arpaci-Dusseau

  • Operating Systems: Internal and Design Principles - William Stallings

  • Operating Systems: Principles and Practice - Anderson and Dahlin

Online Resources

• CS 162: Operating Systems and System Programming - Course Link

• Online Videos Available at Bilibili or YouTube

  • Bilibili Video Link

Prerequisite Courses

• Principles of Computer Organization

• Program Design & Development

• Data Structures

• Compilers

Grading Breakdown

• Final Exam: 65-75%

• Projects: 5-10%

• Homework: 10-15%

• Participation: 10%

Importance of the Course

• Designing and building operating systems or components is becoming more common.

• Essential for developing systems utilizing core concepts of operating systems.

• Understanding design and implementation enhances application development.

Learning Approach

• Quote by Xunzi on the importance of practical learning:

  • "Not hearing is not as good as hearing... true learning continues until it is put into action."

• Students encouraged to practice timely after learning.

Chapter 1: Introduction to Operating Systems

Goals for Today

• Define what an operating system is and isn't.

• Encourage active participation and questions.

What is an Operating System?

• Various operating systems examples: Linux, Microsoft Windows, Android, etc.

• Serves as an intermediary between users and computer hardware.

OS Goals and Functions

• Execute user programs efficiently.

• Enhance convenience of system use.

• Utilize hardware effectively.

Structure of Computer Systems

• Components:

  1. Hardware: CPU, memory, I/O devices

  2. Operating System: Manages and coordinates hardware use

  3. Application Programs: Define usage of system resources

  4. Users: Individuals, machines, or other computers

User and System Views of OS

• User perspective prioritizes convenience.

• System perspective emphasizes efficient resource allocation and error control.

OS Definitions

• Resources allocation and control program roles are critical.

• A universal definition is lacking; typically, an OS is viewed as managing hardware and providing services to programs.

Computer System Operation

Basics of Computer Operation

• CPUs and device controllers interact through a shared bus for memory access.

• CPUs and devices compete for memory access cycles.

Bootup Process

• A bootstrap program is loaded upon power-up, initializing all system aspects and loading the OS kernel.

Interrupts

• Improve processor utilization by allowing execution of other instructions while an I/O operation is in progress.

Types of Interrupts and Their Functions

• Interrupts lead to control transitions through interrupt handlers (ISRs) for specific conditions.

• Different classes include hardware interrupts and software-generated interrupts (traps).

Storage Structure

• Main memory is volatile, while secondary storage provides non-volatile storage capacity.

• Disk management is central to performance:

  • Magnetic disks divided into tracks and sectors.

  • SSDs gain popularity due to speed.

Caching

• Utilizes principles of spatial and temporal locality to enhance data retrieval efficiency.

• Cache memory is smaller than main storage, thus cache management is critical.

Process Management

Process Concepts

• Definition: A process is a program in execution, needing resources to accomplish tasks.

• Single-threaded vs multi-threaded processes, resource handling, and concurrency.

Process Management Activities

• Creation and deletion of processes, synchronization, communication, and deadlock management responsibilities.

Memory Management

Key Functions

• Memory management involves tracking memory usage, moving data in and out of memory, and resource allocation.

Storage Management

File System Management

• OS provides a uniform logical view of storage, maintains access control, and manages file operations.

• Disk scheduling and free-space management are vital components.

I/O Subsystem and Management

Key Goals

• Abstract hardware complexity and manage I/O operations efficiently through drivers and buffering techniques.

Protection and Security

Definitions and Importance

• Protection systems control users' access to resources; security aims to defend systems from attacks.

• User IDs and security IDs enable access control.

Computing Environments

Overview of Various Environments

• Traditional systems blur the lines with interconnectivity.

• Mobile systems like smartphones incorporate specialized OS features.

• Distributed environments integrate various systems for improved efficiency.

Cloud and Embedded Systems

• Cloud computing offers scalable services based on virtualization principles.

• Real-time embedded systems necessitate strict operation constraints.

Conclusions

• Operating systems manage resources and provide essential services, enhancing application development and user experience.