1.8 - Operating System Overview

Question 1

Why do you need an OS?

Answer 1

• Control interaction between components
  – Memory, hard drives, keyboard, CPU
• A common platform for applications
  – You’re going to do some work, right?
• Humans need a way to interact with the machine
  – The “user interface” - Hardware can’t do everything!

Question 2

Standard OS features

Answer 2

• File management
  – Add, delete, rename
• Application support
  – Memory management, swap file management
• Input and Output support
  – Printers, keyboards, storage drives, USB drives
• Operating system configuration and management tools

Question 3

Microsoft Windows

Answer 3

• Major market presence
  – Many different versions
  – Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server
• Advantages
  – Large industry support
  – Broad selection of OS options
  – Wide variety of software support
• Disadvantages
  – Large install base provides a big target for
  security exploitation
  – Large hardware support can create challenging
  integration exercises

Question 4

Linux

Answer 4

• Free Unix-compatible software system
  – Unix-like, but not Unix
• Many (many) different distributions
  – Ubuntu, Debian, Red Hat / Fedora
• Advantages
  – Cost. Free!
  – Works on wide variety of hardware
  – Passionate and active user community
• Disadvantages
  – Limited driver support, especially with laptops
  – Limited support options

Question 5

Apple macOS

Answer 5

• macOS - Desktop OS running on Apple hardware
• Advantages
  – Easy to use
  – Extremely compatible
  – Relatively fewer security concerns
• Disadvantages
  – Requires Apple hardware
  – Less industry support than the PC platform
  – Higher initial hardware cost

Question 6

Chrome OS

Answer 6

• Google’s operating system
  – Based on the Linux kernel
• Centers around Chrome web browser
  – Most apps are web-based
• Many different manufacturers
  – Relatively less expensive
• Relies on the cloud - Connect to the Internet

Question 7

Apple iPadOS

Answer 7

• Operating system for Apple’s iPad tablets
  – A variant of Apple’s phone iOS
• Tablet features
  – Desktop browser (Safari)
  – Second monitor (Sidecar)
  – Keyboard support
  – Multitasking

Question 8

Apple iOS

Answer 8

• Apple iOS
  – Apple iPhones
  – Based on Unix
  – Closed-source - No access to source code
  – Exclusive to Apple products
• iOS Apps
  – Apps are developed with iOS SDK on macOS
  – Apps must be approved by Apple before release
  – Apps are available to users in the Apple App Store

Question 9

Google Android

Answer 9

• Google Android
  – Open Handset Alliance
  – Open-source OS, based on Linux
  – Supported on many different manufacturer’s devices
• Android Apps
  – Apps are developed on Windows, macOS, and
  – Linux with the Android SDK
  – Apps available from Google Play
  – Apps also available from third-party sites
  (i.e., Amazon Appstore)

Question 10

Vendor-specific limitations

Answer 10

• End-of-life
  – Different companies set their own EOL policies
• Updating
  – iOS, Android, and Windows check and
  prompt for updates
  – Chrome OS will update automatically
• Compatibility between operating systems
  – Some movies and music can be shared
• Almost no direct application compatibility
  – Fortunately, many apps have been built to run on
  different OSes
  – Some data files can be moved across systems
  – Web-based apps have potential