2.1.10
Types of Operating System
Types of Operating System
Types of Operating System
There are many types of operating systems used in many different capacities.


Distributed
Distributed
- A distributed operating system is one that runs across lots of individual computers, but appears to be one system to the end user.
- The operating system is run across all of these systems and synchronizes what each system is doing.
- The users of the system see one unified system for them to use.


Embedded
Embedded
- An embedded operating system is one usually found in a piece of hardware that serves a single purpose.
- For example, a household washing machine.
- The OS is usually stored in ROM so it is unchangeable.
- The OS accepts data from a variety of sensors to control what is happening.


Multitasking
Multitasking
- A multitasking operating system is one that is designed to allow the user to do multiple things at the same time.
- Laptops, PCs and smartphones all have multitasking operating systems where you can be listening to music whilst working on a document.
- The more things you do, the more system resources are being used, so trying to do too much will slow the system down.


Multi-user
Multi-user
- Multi-user operating systems are usually found on supercomputers.
- A supercomputer is too large and powerful to only allow one person to be able to access it at a time, so they have multiple terminals.
- Multiple users can login to the system via these terminals and work on the computer at the same time.
- Each get a share of the computing power of the supercomputer.


Real-Time
Real-Time
- A real-time operating system reacts to inputs in as close to real time as possible.
- This is important for situations where something needs to be monitored constantly.
- For example, medical tracking systems when tracking heart rates.
- The OS is usually stored in ROM so that it cannot be changed.
- The OS will accept data from sensors and make adjustments or actions based on this data.
1Components of a Computer
1.1Structure & Function of the Processor
1.2Types of Processors
1.3Input, Output & Storage
1.3.1Elements of Computer Systems
1.3.2Types of Computer Systems
1.3.3How Magnetic Storage Works
1.3.4Properties of Magnetic Storage
1.3.5Examples of Magnetic Storage
1.3.6How Optical Storage Works
1.3.7Properties of Optical Storage
1.3.8Examples of Optical Storage
1.3.9Types of Optical Disc
1.3.10Random Access Memory
1.3.11Read Only Memory
1.3.12Uses of Flash Memory
1.3.13Properties of Flash Memory
1.3.14What to do When We Run Out of Memory
1.3.15How Virtual Memory Works
2Software & Software Development
2.1Systems Software
2.2Applications Generation
2.2.1Applications Software
2.2.2Utilities
2.2.3Encryption Software
2.2.4Defragmentation Software
2.2.5Data Compression Software
2.2.6Backup Software
2.2.7Open Source Software
2.2.8Proprietary Software
2.2.9Licensing Issues
2.2.10Compilers
2.2.11Interpreters
2.2.12Assemblers
2.2.13Compiling a Program
2.2.14Lexical Analysis
2.2.15Compilation Stages
2.2.16Linkers, Loaders & Libraries
2.3Software Development
2.3.1Algorithmic Thinking
2.3.2Waterfall Lifecycle
2.3.3Waterfall Lifecycle - Strengths & Weaknesses
2.3.4Agile Methodology
2.3.5Agile Methodology - Strengths & Weaknesses
2.3.6Extreme Programming
2.3.7Extreme Programming - Strengths & Weaknesses
2.3.8Spiral Methodology
2.3.9Spiral Methodology - Strengths & Weaknesses
2.3.10Rapid Application Development
2.3.11RAD - Strengths & Weaknesse
2.4Types of Programming Language
3Exchanging Data
3.1Compression, Encryption & Hashing
3.2Databases
3.3Networks
3.3.1The Benefits of Networks
3.3.2Network Performance
3.3.3Types of Networks
3.3.4Network Protocols
3.3.5Transmission Protocols
3.3.6What is the Internet?
3.3.7Uniform Resource Locators
3.3.8Domain Name Service
3.3.9Web Hosting
3.3.10Layering Concepts
3.3.11TCP &. OSI Models
3.3.12The Advantages of Layering
3.3.13What's in a Packet?
3.3.14How do Packets get Routed?
3.3.15Did my Data Arrive Safely?
3.3.16Network Hardware
3.3.17Transmission Media
3.3.18Firewalls
3.3.19Proxies
3.3.20Client-Server Model
3.3.21Advantages of the Client Server Model
3.3.22Disadvantages of the Client Server Model
3.3.23Peer-to-Peer Model
3.3.24Advantages of the Peer-to-Peer Model
3.3.25Disadvantages of the Peer-to-Peer Model
4Data Types, Data Structures & Algorithms
4.1Data Types
4.1.1Data Types
4.1.2Casting
4.1.3Arrays
4.1.42D Arrays
4.1.5Strings
4.1.6Binary
4.1.7Sign & Magnitude
4.1.8Binary Addition
4.1.9Binary Shifts
4.1.10Hexadecimal
4.1.11Using Hexadecimal
4.1.12Converting Binary & Hexadecimal
4.1.13Converting Denary & Hexadecimal
4.1.14Floating Points in Binary
4.1.15Normalisation of Floating Points
4.1.16Floating Point Addition
4.1.17Floating Point Subtraction
4.1.18Bitwise Manipulation - Shifts
4.1.19Bitwise Manipulation - Masks
4.1.20Character Sets
4.1.21ASCII
4.1.22Unicode
4.2Data Structures
5Legal, Moral, Cultural & Ethical Issues
5.1Computing Related Legislation
5.2Moral & Ethical Issues
5.2.1Online Activity Tracking
5.2.2Censorship
5.2.3Positive Cultural Impacts
5.2.4Negative Cultural Impacts
5.2.5E-Waste
5.2.6Energy Consumption
5.2.7Positive Environmental Impact
5.2.8Layout, Colour Paradigms & Character Sets
5.2.9Computers in the Workplace
5.2.10Automated Decision-Making
5.2.11Artificial Intelligence
5.2.12Monitoring Behaviour
5.2.13Analysing Personal Information
5.2.14Piracy & Offensive Communication
6Elements of Computational Thinking
6.1Thinking Abstractly
6.2Thinking Ahead
6.3Thinking Procedurally
6.4Thinking Logically
6.5Thinking Concurrently
7Problem Solving & Programming
7.1Programming Techniques
7.2Programming Construction
Jump to other topics
1Components of a Computer
1.1Structure & Function of the Processor
1.2Types of Processors
1.3Input, Output & Storage
1.3.1Elements of Computer Systems
1.3.2Types of Computer Systems
1.3.3How Magnetic Storage Works
1.3.4Properties of Magnetic Storage
1.3.5Examples of Magnetic Storage
1.3.6How Optical Storage Works
1.3.7Properties of Optical Storage
1.3.8Examples of Optical Storage
1.3.9Types of Optical Disc
1.3.10Random Access Memory
1.3.11Read Only Memory
1.3.12Uses of Flash Memory
1.3.13Properties of Flash Memory
1.3.14What to do When We Run Out of Memory
1.3.15How Virtual Memory Works
2Software & Software Development
2.1Systems Software
2.2Applications Generation
2.2.1Applications Software
2.2.2Utilities
2.2.3Encryption Software
2.2.4Defragmentation Software
2.2.5Data Compression Software
2.2.6Backup Software
2.2.7Open Source Software
2.2.8Proprietary Software
2.2.9Licensing Issues
2.2.10Compilers
2.2.11Interpreters
2.2.12Assemblers
2.2.13Compiling a Program
2.2.14Lexical Analysis
2.2.15Compilation Stages
2.2.16Linkers, Loaders & Libraries
2.3Software Development
2.3.1Algorithmic Thinking
2.3.2Waterfall Lifecycle
2.3.3Waterfall Lifecycle - Strengths & Weaknesses
2.3.4Agile Methodology
2.3.5Agile Methodology - Strengths & Weaknesses
2.3.6Extreme Programming
2.3.7Extreme Programming - Strengths & Weaknesses
2.3.8Spiral Methodology
2.3.9Spiral Methodology - Strengths & Weaknesses
2.3.10Rapid Application Development
2.3.11RAD - Strengths & Weaknesse
2.4Types of Programming Language
3Exchanging Data
3.1Compression, Encryption & Hashing
3.2Databases
3.3Networks
3.3.1The Benefits of Networks
3.3.2Network Performance
3.3.3Types of Networks
3.3.4Network Protocols
3.3.5Transmission Protocols
3.3.6What is the Internet?
3.3.7Uniform Resource Locators
3.3.8Domain Name Service
3.3.9Web Hosting
3.3.10Layering Concepts
3.3.11TCP &. OSI Models
3.3.12The Advantages of Layering
3.3.13What's in a Packet?
3.3.14How do Packets get Routed?
3.3.15Did my Data Arrive Safely?
3.3.16Network Hardware
3.3.17Transmission Media
3.3.18Firewalls
3.3.19Proxies
3.3.20Client-Server Model
3.3.21Advantages of the Client Server Model
3.3.22Disadvantages of the Client Server Model
3.3.23Peer-to-Peer Model
3.3.24Advantages of the Peer-to-Peer Model
3.3.25Disadvantages of the Peer-to-Peer Model
4Data Types, Data Structures & Algorithms
4.1Data Types
4.1.1Data Types
4.1.2Casting
4.1.3Arrays
4.1.42D Arrays
4.1.5Strings
4.1.6Binary
4.1.7Sign & Magnitude
4.1.8Binary Addition
4.1.9Binary Shifts
4.1.10Hexadecimal
4.1.11Using Hexadecimal
4.1.12Converting Binary & Hexadecimal
4.1.13Converting Denary & Hexadecimal
4.1.14Floating Points in Binary
4.1.15Normalisation of Floating Points
4.1.16Floating Point Addition
4.1.17Floating Point Subtraction
4.1.18Bitwise Manipulation - Shifts
4.1.19Bitwise Manipulation - Masks
4.1.20Character Sets
4.1.21ASCII
4.1.22Unicode
4.2Data Structures
5Legal, Moral, Cultural & Ethical Issues
5.1Computing Related Legislation
5.2Moral & Ethical Issues
5.2.1Online Activity Tracking
5.2.2Censorship
5.2.3Positive Cultural Impacts
5.2.4Negative Cultural Impacts
5.2.5E-Waste
5.2.6Energy Consumption
5.2.7Positive Environmental Impact
5.2.8Layout, Colour Paradigms & Character Sets
5.2.9Computers in the Workplace
5.2.10Automated Decision-Making
5.2.11Artificial Intelligence
5.2.12Monitoring Behaviour
5.2.13Analysing Personal Information
5.2.14Piracy & Offensive Communication
6Elements of Computational Thinking
6.1Thinking Abstractly
6.2Thinking Ahead
6.3Thinking Procedurally
6.4Thinking Logically
6.5Thinking Concurrently
7Problem Solving & Programming
7.1Programming Techniques
7.2Programming Construction
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