'Multi User Operating Systems Essay\r'

'An direct ashes is a primed(p) of softw be broadcasts, which manage information touch agreement troublesomew be in a controlled fashion. The operating administration controls the file- dust, process circumspection, memory management and peripherals.\r\nMulti- substance absubstance absubstance abuser operating systems ar use on abundant primary(prenominal)frame calculators. A important(prenominal)frame calculator system has whiz very powerful processing unit, which may engage m whatsoever micro processors. M whatsoever users provide completely handle this processing unit. They use end pointinals (a keyboard and a monitor) to gravel the mainframe information processing system.\r\nA multi-user operating system lets much that oneness user work on a mainframe computer at the uniform quantify.\r\nFeatures of a MUOS\r\nThe main features of multi user operating systems argon preference sharing, multi tasking and background processing.\r\n· Using resource sharing in a multi-user operating system allocates the processor while of the mainframe computer surrounded by the different users. separately user in turn is disposed a comminuted time slice of the CPU time. Because these time slices be very small the users believe that they atomic number 18 all use the mainframe at the same time. Resource sharing also lets users shargon peripherals much(prenominal) as scrapeers or hard drives and also lets users shargon files on a ne twork.\r\n· Multi-tasking lets the operating system menstruate more than one program at a time. One example of a multi tasking could be redact a word document while shop the Internet. The elbow room this is done is by the processor using time slice.\r\n· Background processing is a term which means when commands are not processed swell away but rather executed â€Å"in the background”, often while other programs are interfacing with the system in real time.\r\nTypes of MUOS\r\n in that res pect are three main shells of multi user operating system. These are distributed systems, time sliced systems and multi processor systems.\r\n· In a distributed system, to the user it appears to be a single computer system but in fact is make up from a number of different inscribetain computers, which are connected together. This is completely hidden from the user. altogether decisions about what computer for each one user allow for connect to would be put forwardn by the distributed system’s operating system. Each individual multitude within much(prenominal) a distributed could be whatsoever type of computer at all.\r\n· Time sliced systems split each users time of use of the system to fairly allocate each user a fair amount of time of use. These time slices are so small that it appears to the user that their programs are lead continuously when in fact the CPU is bound from user to user. Each time slice is milliseconds pine so each user is actually given s everal time slices all second. The more each user tries to do the slower their programs will return as their time slice has to split between their different tasks.\r\n· Multi processor systems use more than one processor in a single computer to make themselves much more powerful and g concordtle the load of sharing the operating system and CPU. Users will again be distributed time slices but since on that point will be more than one processor on that point will be more allotment of time to each user rather than if there were only one processor.\r\nMain Components of a MUOS\r\n in that location are many components that are needed to run a multi user operating system. These include the processor, memory, occupyive information storage devices, terminals and stimulus/output devices.\r\n· The processor, also know as CPU or central processing unit In terms of computing power, the CPU is the most important element of a computer system. The CPU is the brains of the computer. Sometimes referred to simply as the processor or central processor, the CPU is where most calculations take place. On bombastic machines, CPUs require one or more printed circuit boards. On personal computers and small workstations, the CPU is ho apply in a single tab called a microprocessor.\r\n· Memory refers to the physical memory that is inwrought to the computer. Sometimes mistaken for mass storage devices such as hard drives the word ‘main’ is used to differentiate it from this. Memory is usual known as RAM or Random Access Memory. The computer drive out only manipulate entropy that is in main memory, therefore, every program that you execute and every file that you access mustiness be copied from a storage device such as a hard drive into main memory. The amount of main memory on a computer is all-important(a) because it determines how many programs bay windowful be run at one time and how much information can be readily available to a program.\r\nà ‚· There is a couple of data storage devices used in multi user operating systems. The term unremarkably refers to mass storage devices such as hard phonograph recording drives or tape drives. Large amounts of data such as the operating system itself and any other programs that are installed on the computer are all kept on such devices so that can be accessed by the RAM and thusly processed to be used by the user. The main types of storage are: â€\r\no Hard magnetic disk drives: The most common type of mass data storage used on a computer because of the large amounts of data which can be held and the look sharp it can be accessed at.\r\no Floppy disks: a lot slower than hard drives and hold very teeny-weeny data but are easy takeout and inexpensive.\r\no Optical disks: This method uses lasers to read and lay aside data. Optical drives hold a large readiness but are not as unbendable as hard drives but are as portable as floppy disks and with the right equipment (CD Wr iter) can be used to read and write data.\r\no Tapes: Not too expensive and hold large amounts of data but do not yield random access of data.\r\n· There are two main types of terminal used to access multi user operating systems. One is a dumb terminal, which serious consists of a computer and a keyboard, but lots no processing power. They allow a user to carry out work on the contrasted server, minicomputer or mainframe. Smart terminals provide additional resources to transact local editing and simple processing. Basically, smart terminals are low cost PC platforms with no external storage like hard drives booting from a network.\r\n· comment/Output devices refers to devices with allow the user to put data and receive data to and from the computer system. For instance an input device may be a keyboard or a mouse and output devices can be things such as monitors and printers.\r\nSoftware Components of a MUOS\r\nThe main software components of a multi user operating syst em are the kernel, device tutors, spoolers and the user larboard.\r\n· The kernel of an operating system is the most protected and privileged floor of the operating system and acts as a timepiece and regulator for the system, controlling any time slicing for multi user or multi tasking functions. This ensures fairness in the way resources are allocated and used, and dealing with interrupts having different priorities, which arrive to taper internal and external events.\r\n· A device handler is a small program, which controls a particular type of device connected to a computer. There are device drivers for every hardware component on a computer. If a complex device is added to the machine then a device handler must be added to the operating software because this will contain the code needed to communicate with the device.\r\n· A spooler puts jobs on a queue and takes them off one at a time. Most operating systems come with one or more spoolers, such as a print spooler f or spooling documents. In addition, some applications include spoolers. some(prenominal) word processors, for example, include their own print spooler. A good print spooler should allow you to change the ensnare of documents in the queue and to cancel specific print jobs. Acronym for simultaneous peripheral operations on-line, spooling refers to putting jobs in a pilot burner, a special area in memory or on a disk where a device can access them when it is ready. Spooling is recyclable because devices access data at different rates. The buffer provides a waiting station where data can rest while the slower device catches up.\r\n· The user interface is the junction between a user and a computer program. An interface is a set of commands or menus through which a user communicates with a program. A command-driven interface is one in which you enter commands. A menu-driven interface is one in which you select command choices from various menus displayed on the screen. The user int erface is one of the most important parts of any program because it determines how easily you can make the program do what you want. A powerful program with a poorly designed user interface has micro value. Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) that use windows, icons, and pop-up menus have have standard on personal computers.\r\n'