UNIT 2 TASK 2 (P2)

Explain the purpose of operating systems

The presentation should contain screen shots or images and has to cover:

• machine and peripheral management
• security
• file management
• device drivers

Operating systems

An operating system is the most important hardware in the computer, also known as OS is a program that once it has been booted by the computer it can manage the programs that are in the computer system. The other programs are called applications and they make use of the operating system by making requests for services through an application program interface (API). Additionally the user can interact directly with the OS through an interface like a command language or a graphical user interface (GUI). A multitasking operating system can have multiple systems running at the same time and the OS determines what program or application should run in what order. It also manages the internal memory of the multiple applications. It can handle input and output to and from external devices like HDD, printers and dial-up ports. On computers that can deal with parallel processing an OS can manage how to divide the program so it can run on more than one processor at a time. All computers need an operating system in order to function and some operating systems can include Linux, Windows, VMS, OS/400 and AIX.

Machine and Peripheral Management

Windows:
Machine and peripheral management: The OS controls the whole computer as well as its components. It also controls the peripherals like the keyboard, mouse and printers etc. In Windows you can change the screen resolution and mouse cursor and so on by going on the Control Panel program.
Security: An operating system needs to be protected from any harm that and this is so the operating system will continue to function properly. Windows has security section like the user accounts that comes with password protection and a firewall.
File management: All operating systems need to have file management to show, create and delete files and other functions related to the files. Windows have a file management called explorer.exe.
Device drivers: Drivers are very useful when it comes to the OS as it tells it what to do with a specific program. For example in order for a graphics card to work you need to install the necessary drivers for it to function correctly.






















 
MacOS: 
Machine and peripheral management: MacOS control of computer components are very similar, but almost all of devices need to be bought especially for Macs. For example MacOS can control keyboard by changing the input language. For other devices like iPhone MacOS controls screen by changing it to landscape mode.

Security: MacOS got security features like blocking the ports that are potential security issues. It also got security features that checks if the downloaded content is safe or not. In email programs attachments are not opened automatically so they can’t harm user computer without his knowledge. 

File management: The program for file management that MacOS use is called Finder. It is pretty the same as Windows’ explorer, it got appropriate icon for every file type, the tree navigation system and trash on desktop.

Device drivers: Same as Windows’, the drivers are programs that controls the devices. In MacOS case, when the system is closed and you can’t really upgrade anything, every needed driver to run the computer is included in system. But when you want to install new printer, you got to install version of driver for MacOS.