Function of Operating System.

We don’t have to bother about ‘where’ and ‘how’ the Data has to be ‘stored’ in the memory. It also keeps the track of the currently used memory and allocates new memory for the data to be used.

Job Scheduling Functions:

The Operating System undertakes the Job Scheduling Functions. If multiple tasks are there, it schedules the jobs according to their priority and keeps track of which task/work is to be carried out next. It also ensures that they do not interfere with each other and we do not get ‘errored’ data.

Protection and Security function:

It decides how strong a computer is so that the data stored in the computer is safe. It protects the computer from unauthorized usage through access Control Mechanisms, Passwords and security Policies for networks and also from various ‘bad programs’ that might damage the data.

Device Management:

It controls the Input/output Devices and how they will interpret an Instruction of the User when they are in use. It controls the action of the Peripheral Devices like printer, disk drives, scanner, etc. by generating signals at proper time intervals. The signals passed according to which the computer gets to know which Device are free and can be used, which devices are in use and the time for which they remain in use.

File and Data management Functions:

The Files and Programs that are made will be stored in the memory. The Operating System keeps track of ‘how’ and ‘when’ a particular File or program was ‘accessed’. It keeps records of files, makes them available for use, closes them and keeps them safely in the memory again after they have been used.

File and Data management Functions:

The Files and Programs that are made will be stored in the memory. The Operating System keeps track of ‘how’ and ‘when’ a particular File or program was ‘accessed’. It keeps records of files, makes them available for use, closes them and keeps them in the memory again after they have used.

Communication between Processes:

There are instances where processes need to communicate with each other to exchange information. This communication might take place between process running on the ‘same’ computer or running on the different computer. When communication take place between processes located on different computer, it is done through Customized Application Programs that are designed according to the specific of the hardware. These programs pass messages and provide service interface through the operating system.

Error Detection:

An error in the system may cause mal-functioning of the complete system. Fatal Errors can even lead to ‘system’ failure. To avoid such a situation, the operating system constantly monitors the system to Detect Errors. When the operating system Detects Errors, in some cases:

• It fixes Error for smooth functioning of a system. For this purpose, the operating system performs Alteration of memory, that is, it changes the memory space assigned to a faulty process.
• Performs De-allocation Of Memory, that is , it takes back the memory occupied by a process which stops responding.

Understanding Process Concept:

Process:

A process is an instance of program under execution by a processor. At any point of time, many tasks or

Programs may reside in memory, but the instance of a program under execution by the processor is known as a Process.

The cycle of a Process is shown below: