Operating Systems

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Purpose Of This Module

To explore popular operating systems and to understand what they do and  how they work.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: What do we hope to accomplish here?
Demonstrate an understanding of the important functions of an operating system and how operating systems differ.

  1. Primary functions of an operating system.
  2. Comparative understanding of various operating systems.
  3. Competence in extracting important information from Operating System Documentation.
  4. (Optional) Install and test a multi-user operating system.

BACKGROUND & DISCUSSION

You already know what an operating system is and how at least one operates. Find the rest in our discussions and the documentation. You should have answers to the following:
 
  1. What are the primarary tasks of an operating system?
  2. What differentiates a single user, single task operating system from a single user multi task operating system?
  3. What's the difference between fully pre-emptive operating systems and non pre-emptive(cooperative)?
  4. What differentiates single user multi task from multi user multi task operating system?
  5. What are daemons, servers, or similar programs?  How do they work?

INSTRUCTIONS:

Exercise Description -------- Procedures for completing this exercise

Write a two page report for your notebook which answers the questions of this module.  Be prepared to discuss all topics in class at the end of week 3.

Explore three operating systems' ways of accomplishing the same things. {brief seminar in class}

  1. From your various resources study the primary principles and functions of an operating system.  It isn't just point and click.  What's the kernel?  How does it schedule and execute tasks?  Is it multi-user?  Multi-tasking?  What does it do.?  I want a two page write-up in your notebook and and intelligent discussion in class.
  2. Install Windows 95 or Windows 98
  3. Document in your notebook the problems you run into in installing these operating systems.
  4. Participate actively in a discussion of the principles of these operating systems.

EVALUATION CRITERIA:

Can you describe what an operating system is and how it does its thing?
How informative and how complete is your written report? 

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