2.4 Operating Systems

Question 1

What is an operating system?

Answer 1

Operating system is the essential software that links hardware and software in a computer.

Question 2

What are the functions in an operating system?

Answer 2

• Manages input and output devices
• Manages security (controlling hardware access)
• Manages applications installed (including utility software)

Question 3

What is the difference between single user and multi user operating systems?

Answer 3

Single User supports only one user at a time on a computer for example Windows. However Multi allows for multiple users to have access at one time, for example Unix servers.

Question 4

What is a single processor operating system?

Answer 4

Single processor operating system only have one single processor. The CPU processes tasks extremely quickly giving the impression that the programmes are running continuously.

Question 5

What is a multi processor operating system?

Answer 5

Multi processor operating systems have multiple processors and are able to compete tasks with improved performance as the processors are running in parallel and have less users per processor.

Question 6

What are the advantages of a single user operating system?

Answer 6

• easy to use
• requires less memory and costs less