Operating System Comparisons
Operating System Comparisons
PRG/355
February 4, 2013
Operating System Comparisons
Table of Contents Introduction 3 Memory Management 3 Process Management 6 File Management 7 Security 8 Conclusion 9 References 11
Introduction An operating system (OS) is software that manages the hardware and software resources of a computer system. Basically an OS is a set of libraries or functions which programs may use to perform specific tasks relating to interfacing with computer system components (The Computer Technology Documentation Project, n.d.). Advantages and disadvantages exist in every operating system. Reviewed in this paper is a comparison of some of the primary responsibilities of popular operating systems. Although Microsoft Windows has taken its own approach as an operating system, Mac OS X is based heavily on the UNIX core. The review includes Unix/Linux, Mac OS X, and Microsoft Windows operating systems.
Memory Management
An important function of the OS is to manage the computer systems memory. Programs, processes, and resource do not simply float around in memory haphazardly. Memory is shared among these processes and resources. Accordingly, managed by the OS is an organized structure of locating processes in computer memory locations. The two primary types of memory controlled by an OS are main memory and virtual memory. Main memory is the location of data moved to the CPU for process execution. Virtual memory is used to swap processes too large to fit completely into main memory. Intended memory management requirements include relocation, protection, sharing, logical organization, and physical organization. Paging permits the physical address space of a process to be noncontiguous. Because paging has advantages over earlier methods it is prominent in most operating systems. Processes are swapped from main memory to virtual memory and back again as needed. The original memory location may not be available at the
PRG/355
February 4, 2013
Operating System Comparisons
Table of Contents Introduction 3 Memory Management 3 Process Management 6 File Management 7 Security 8 Conclusion 9 References 11
Introduction An operating system (OS) is software that manages the hardware and software resources of a computer system. Basically an OS is a set of libraries or functions which programs may use to perform specific tasks relating to interfacing with computer system components (The Computer Technology Documentation Project, n.d.). Advantages and disadvantages exist in every operating system. Reviewed in this paper is a comparison of some of the primary responsibilities of popular operating systems. Although Microsoft Windows has taken its own approach as an operating system, Mac OS X is based heavily on the UNIX core. The review includes Unix/Linux, Mac OS X, and Microsoft Windows operating systems.
Memory Management
An important function of the OS is to manage the computer systems memory. Programs, processes, and resource do not simply float around in memory haphazardly. Memory is shared among these processes and resources. Accordingly, managed by the OS is an organized structure of locating processes in computer memory locations. The two primary types of memory controlled by an OS are main memory and virtual memory. Main memory is the location of data moved to the CPU for process execution. Virtual memory is used to swap processes too large to fit completely into main memory. Intended memory management requirements include relocation, protection, sharing, logical organization, and physical organization. Paging permits the physical address space of a process to be noncontiguous. Because paging has advantages over earlier methods it is prominent in most operating systems. Processes are swapped from main memory to virtual memory and back again as needed. The original memory location may not be available at the
References: OSX Daily. (2010, Oct). Mac Virtual Memory – What it is, the Swap Location, and How to Disable Swap in Mac OS X. Retrieved from http://osxdaily.com/2010/10/08/mac-virtual-memory-swap/ Scribd, Inc. (n.d). Advantages and Disadvantages of Virtual Memory Schemes. Retrieved from http://www.scribd.com/doc/59018943/Advantages-and-Disadvantages-of-Virtual-Memory-Management-Schemes Stallings, W. (2012). Operating Systems: Internals and Design Principles (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. The Computer Technology Documentation Project. (n.d.). Operating System Functions. Retrieved from http://www.comptechdoc.org/basic/basictut/osintro.html University of Washington. (n.d.). Introduction to Operating System Security. Retrieved from http://www.washington.edu/lst/help/computing_fundamentals/computermgmt/secure_intro Apple Inc. (2013). Why you’ll Love a Mac. Retrieved from http://www.apple.com/why-mac/better-os/ Rashid, F. (2013, October) Windows 8 Security: What 's New? PCMag.com Ferreira, D. (n.d.). Mac or PC: Does It Matter for Computer Security Anymore? Retrieved from http://anti-virus-software-review.toptenreviews.com/mac-or-pc-does-it-matter-for-computer-security-anymore-.htm