Everyone who works with a computer uses an operating system. You have learned that there are many different operating systems and a variety of operating system types. As an information technology (IT) professional, you must understand the purpose of an operating system, the components of an operating system, and how to manage an operating system (whether for personal or for business reasons).
Imagine that you are the owner of a computer consulting business. You have been engaged by a retirement community to provide operating system training to its residents. You should prepare a handout. This should be a document of 3–4 pages that covers operating systems. Include the following in your document:•Discuss the purpose of operating systems. •Describe the components that comprise operating systems and the functions of each of these components. •Compare at least 3 different operating systems. •Lis the approximate cost for each of the operating systems that you discuss. •Outline the environment where each operating system would be appropriate. For example, gamers might be interested in one operating system, mobile users may prefer another operating system, and office users could require a different operating system. •State the reasons for your operating system choices, and explain why they would be appropriate for the environment that you described.
Prepare a Word document of 3–4 pages. It should be professional in appearance and appropriate as a handout for individuals who are novices in the area of operating systems.
TO BE RE-WRITTEN FROM THE SCRATCH
Today the world of technology is expanding and everyone uses a computer either for business purposes or personal issues. For computers to be functional they require an operating system. An operating system as many defines it is a system software that is usually used to manage computer hardware as well as software resources, which is used to provide the common services used by computer programs (O’Brien andMarakas, 2011). It is a component of the system software that is used in computer system. Usually for computer application programs to operate they require an operating system. This report will cover the purposes of an operating system, its components, various types of operating system and the environment they operate in, the reason for using these operating systems as well as the cost associated with these operating systems.
Purpose of Operating Systems
The main purpose of an operating system in a computer is to service the computer hardware as well as software services. It is used to run the applications inside a computer. Additionally, an operating system is used to perform the basic tasks of a computer such as recognizing and responding to input from the keyboard, sending different output to the display screen of a computer, keep track of directories and files on the computer disk as well as control peripheral devices such as printers as well as disk drivers (Silberschatz et. al, 2008). In large computer systems, the operating system has same and even bigger responsibilities and capabilities. It ensures that different programs and users do not interfere with each other and is also in charge of security that is ensuring that unauthorised users do not run the system.
Components of Operating System
Generally, there are five main components of operating system namely, process management, networking, memory management, disk and system files and security (Bic and Shaw, 2003).
Process Management
Every system that is running in a computer either services or application, is a process. Process management in a computer entail distributing and computing the CPU resources and time. Operating system enables any process in a computer to be assigned different tasks according to its operation purposes and its allocation time in the CPU. It also employs some of feedback in which the operational task the user is working on receives priority.
Memory Management
Computer architectures have a way to arrange the computer’s memory in a manner of their operations starting from the fastest systems, disk storage, CPU cache and random access memory. The operating system is in charge of memory management ensuring that various types of memory are coordinated by tracking the available ones. The memory is allocated and deallocated according to how data moves among them.
Security
The operating system especially in large systems is used for security purposes. It is used to restrict unwanted users from operating various systems in a computer. Additionally, it enables the authorised users to set their security system according to their preferences.
Networking
Today’s operating systems are able to manage the networking process using the protocols of IP/TCP networking. This ensures that a system can operate in another platform and share resources such as printers, files and scanners using either wired connection or wireless connections. Operating system allocates different protocols specific tasks to be used by the computer.
Disks and System Files
Modern operating systems arrange directories in form of hierarchy…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Purpose of operating systems