Function of operating system
Following are some of important functions of an operating System.
Memory Management :-
- Memory management refers to management of Primary Memory or Main Memory. Main memory is a large array of words or bytes
- Main memory provides a fast storage that can be accessed directly by the CPU. For a program to be executed, it must in the main memory.
Its done following work for memory management :-
- Keeps tracks of primary memory, i.e., what part of it are in use by whom, what part are not in use.
- In multiprogramming, the OS decides which process will get memory when and how much.
- Allocates and de-allocates the memory as per requirement.
Processor Management :-
- In multiprogramming environment, the OS decides which process gets the processor when and for how much time. This function is called process scheduling.
- Keeps tracks of processor and status of process. The program responsible for this task is known astraffic controller.
- Allocates the processor (CPU) to a process.
- De-allocates processor when a process is no longer required.
Device Management :-
- An Operating System manages device communication via their respective It does the following activities for device management −
- Keeps tracks of all devices. Program responsible for this task is known as theI/O controller.
- Decides which process gets the device when and for how much time.
- Allocates and de-allocates the device in the efficient way.
File Management :-
A file system is normally organized into directories for easy navigation and usage. These directories may contain files and other directions.
- Keeps track of information, location, uses, status etc. The collective facilities are often known as file system.
- Decides who gets the resources.
- Allocates and de-allocates the resources.
Following are some of the important activities that an Operating System performs −
- Security− By means of password and similar other techniques, it prevents unauthorized access to programs and data.
- Control over system performance− Recording delays between request for a service and response from the system.
- Job accounting− Keeping track of time and resources used by various jobs and users.
- Error detecting aids − Production of dumps, traces, error messages, and other debugging and error detecting aids.
