Unit 594: Operating Systems Fundamentals

1. Introduction to Operating Systems

• Definition and purpose of operating systems
• Roles in managing computer hardware and software resources
• Types of operating systems:
  • Batch, Time-sharing, Distributed, Real-time, Mobile OS
  • Examples of popular operating systems (Windows, Linux, macOS, Android)

2. History of Operating Systems

• Early computing and mainframe systems
• Key milestones:
  • Batch processing systems
  • Multiprogramming and time-sharing
  • Introduction of UNIX and its impact
  • Development of graphical user interfaces
  • Emergence of mobile and real-time OS
• Influential developments and technologies

3. Operating System Structure

• Major components:
  • Kernel: Types (monolithic, microkernel)
  • User Interface: Command-line, graphical interfaces
  • File System: organization and management
  • Device Drivers: role and operation
• Interaction between components
• System calls and APIs

4. Process Management

• Definition of a process
• Process states and lifecycle
• Process creation and termination
• Scheduling algorithms:
  • First-Come-First-Served (FCFS)
  • Shortest Job Next (SJN)
  • Round Robin
  • Priority scheduling
• Process synchronization and communication:
  • Critical sections
  • Semaphores, mutexes
  • Inter-process communication (IPC)
• Multithreading concepts

5. Memory Management

• Memory hierarchy overview
• Allocation and deallocation techniques
• Virtual memory concepts
• Paging and segmentation
• Memory protection and sharing
• Swapping and thrashing

6. File System Management

• File concepts and attributes
• Directory structures and organization
• File operations: create, read, write, delete
• File system types (FAT, NTFS, ext4, etc.)
• Access control and permissions
• Mounting and unmounting file systems

7. Input/Output Management

• I/O devices and controllers
• Device management techniques
• I/O buffering and spooling
• Interrupts and interrupt handling
• Direct Memory Access (DMA)
• Communication with peripheral devices

8. Security and Protection

• Importance of OS security
• User authentication methods
• Access control mechanisms
• Encryption basics
• Firewalls and intrusion detection
• Security policies and best practices

9. Networking and Distributed Systems

• Networking basics and protocols
• Client-server architecture
• Distributed systems concepts
• Network file systems
• Communication and synchronization over networks
• Fault tolerance and scalability

10. Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS)

• Characteristics of RTOS
• Task scheduling and priorities
• Deadlines and response times
• Types of real-time systems: hard vs soft
• Applications in embedded and control systems
• Examples of RTOS (VxWorks, FreeRTOS)