Computer Applications
An operating system is a type of computer software.
(a) Give four tasks that are carried out by all operating systems.
(b) Describe one additional task that a multi-tasking operating system would be able to carry out
(c) Describe one additional task that a multi-user operating system would be able to carry out.
OS & GUI
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Answer
(a) The four tasks that are carried out by an operating system are:
- Processor Management — The Processor management function of an OS allocates an important computer resource CPU to various running programs or applications. This function of an OS prepares, schedules, controls, and monitors jobs or processes submitted for execution to ensure the most efficient processing.
- Memory Management — The memory management function allocates memory to the running processes and de-allocates memory from the process, when it gets completed.
- Device Management — This function of an operating system is responsible for proper handling of input and output devices. This function ensures smooth reading of data from the input devices and sending the data to correct output devices.
- User Interface — The OS establishes a standard means of communication between users and their computer systems. It does this by providing a user interface and a standard set of commands that control the hardware.
(b) Multi-tasking operating systems can handle the execution of multiple processes concurrently, often on a single CPU core. Task scheduling is a crucial function that decides which process gets CPU time and for how long. The OS uses scheduling algorithms to switch between processes rapidly, giving an illusion of simultaneous execution to the user.
(c) Multi-user operating systems support multiple user accounts, and one of their essential tasks is to authenticate users during login. After successful authentication, the OS enforces access control, determining which resources each user is allowed to access and what level of permissions they have. This ensures data security and privacy, preventing unauthorized access to sensitive information and system settings.
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