Functions of the Operating System
Resource Allocation
Input/Output
File management
User interface
Memory management
The five main functions of the OS concerning Input/Output are:
This section of the operating system organises and keeps track of files.
The functions of file management are:
- Keep timing between devices and the processor consistent and aligned
- Providing a connection between the file the user sees and the file's actual location
- Allowing the data in files to be altered, such as creating, altering or deleting files
- Maintaining a directory of where files are stored on the storage devices
- Requesting the transfer of data with input or output devices
The functions of a UI are:
- Ensuring all devices are ready to communicate with the processor
- The user performs an action and the UI processes it and sends it the appropriate part of the OS. (Such as mouse clicks and menu selections.)
- Ensures all data is transferred correctly
- Maintain the speed of transfer between main memory and the processors
The function of Resource Allocation on an operating system is:
- Stopping a process and restoring the system facilities so that they can be accessed by other processes
- Allocating resources to processes. (Such as memory, files or buffers)
- Scheduling time spent by the processor conducting operations
- Regulating process to search for errors
Memory management is concerned with how data is stored in the main memory.
The three main functions of memory management are
- Loading programs into memory so they all have the correctly allocated amount of memory.
- Keeping an eye of what goes in and out of memory.
- Keeping track of used memory so it can be freed up when no longer in use.
- The user interface (UI) involves how the user of the OS interacts with the computer