Unit 1: Introduction to Operating Systems
We will begin this course with a high level introduction to Operating Systems (OS). The Operating System acts as a platform of information exchange between your computer's hardware and the applications running on it. Most people are familiar with the Windows Operating System family (like Windows 10, XP, or Vista) or Apple's suite of Operating Systems (like Catalina, Mojave, or Sierra), but for the purposes of this course, we will focus on UNIX: the open-source OS deployed all over the world in both personal and commercial systems. First, we will start with a discussion on some of the earliest Operating Systems, including those which are considered precursors to the Operating Systems that we are familiar with today. Then, we will review the general OS structure and give a basic functional overview. We will conclude this module with a discussion of the modern Operating Systems and devices that we are familiar with.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 19 hours.
Upon successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to:
- explain what an operating system does and how it is used;
- identify the various components of a computer system and how they interact with an operating system;
- describe the differences between a 32-bit and 64-bit operating system; and
- explain the different types of operating systems and the major systems in use today.
1.1: History of Operating Systems
Watch this video from 1:09:27 to the end. This video gives a nice overview of operating systems.
Read this article.
1.2: Operating System Structure
Watch this lecture.
1.2.1: Abstract Computer Component Overview
Read this article.
1.2.2: Functional Overview
Read these 7 slides.
1.3: Different Operating Systems Overview
Read this page and click on the links for more information on specific operating systems.
1.3.1: 32-Bit vs. 64-Bit OS
Read this article.
Read these questions and answers.
1.3.2: UNIX-based
Read this white paper.
1.3.2.1: Linux (Ubuntu, Fedora, etc.)
Read this article.
1.3.2.2: Solaris
Read this article for an overview of the operating systems Solaris 8, Solaris 9, Solaris 10, and OpenSolaris.
1.3.3: Windows
Read this article for a good overview of the Windows operating system.
1.3.4: Mobile
Read this article.
Read this article.
Read this article.
1.3.5: Real-Time
Read this article, which will give you a good overview of real-time systems.
Read this article for a good overview of real-time operating systems.
Read this article for a good synopsis of many of the commercial real-time operating systems.
Read this article.
Read this article.