Chapter 8: Operating Systems and Utility Programs

1
Chapter 8 Operating Systems and Utility Programs
2
System Software

• What is system software?

Programs that control operation of computer
Two types are operating systems and utility
programs
p. 250 - 251
3
Operating Systems

• What are the functions of an operating system?

provide a user interface
start the computer
manage programs
administer security
manage memory
control a network
monitor performance
provide file management and other utilities
establish an Internet connection
schedule jobs and configure devices
p. 251 Fig. 7-1
4
Operating Systems

• What is a cross-platform application?

• Runs identically on multiple operating systems

• Operating system that computer uses is sometimes
  called the platform PowerPoint is an example of
  this.

p. 252
5
Operating System Functions

• What is booting?

• Process of starting or restarting a computer

• Cold boot Turning on computer that has been
  powered off
• Warm boot Restarting computer that is powered on

p. 252 Fig. 7-2
6
Operating System Functions

• What is a graphical user interface (GUI)?

• User interacts with menus and visual images such
  as icons and buttons

p. 253 Fig. 7-3b
7
Operating System Functions

• What is a driver?

p. 256
8
Operating System Utility Programs

• What is a utility program?

• System software that performs maintenance-type
  tasks
• Also called utility

p. 259 Fig. 7-8
9
Operating System Utility Programs

• What is a personal firewall?

• Detects and protects a personal computer from
  unauthorized intrusions

• The latest update to Windows XP automatically
  enables the built-in personal firewall upon
  installation

p. 260 Figs. 7-11
10
Operating System Utility Programs

• What is a disk defragmenter?

• Reorganizes files and unused space on hard disk
  so programs run faster

p. 261 Fig. 7-12
11
Stand-Alone Operating Systems

• What is DOS (Disk Operating System)?

p. 262
12
Stand-Alone Operating Systems

• What is Mac OS X?

• Available only for computers manufactured by
  Apple
• Macintosh operating system has been model for
  most GUIs

p. 264 Fig. 7-17
13
Stand-Alone Operating Systems

• What is UNIX?

• Used by power users because of its flexibility
  and power
• Most versions offer GUI
• Both a stand-alone and a network operating
  system

p. 264 Fig. 7-18
14
Stand-Alone Operating Systems

• What is Linux?

• Popular, free, multitasking UNIX-type operating
  system
• Open-source softwareecode is available to
  public
• Both a stand-alone and a network operating
  system

Red Hat provides a version of Linux called Red
Hat Linux.
p. 265 Fig. 7-19