An operating system is a construct that allows the user application programs to interact with the system hardware. Operating system by itself does not provide any function but it provides an atmosphere in which different applications and programs can do useful work.The operating system can be observed from the point of view of the user or the system. This is known as the user view and the system view respectively. More details about these are given as follows −User ViewThe user view depends on the system interface that is used by the users. The different types of user view experiences ... Read More

A distributed system contains multiple nodes that are physically separate but linked together using the network. All the nodes in this system communicate with each other and handle processes in tandem. Each of these nodes contains a small part of the distributed operating system software.A diagram to better explain the distributed system is −Types of Distributed SystemsThe nodes in the distributed systems can be arranged in the form of client/server systems or peer to peer systems. Details about these are as follows −Client/Server SystemsIn client server systems, the client requests a resource and the server provides that resource. A server ... Read More

The peer to peer computing architecture contains nodes that are equal participants in data sharing. All the tasks are equally divided between all the nodes. The nodes interact with each other as required as share resources.A diagram to better understand peer to peer computing is as follows −Characteristics of Peer to Peer ComputingThe different characteristics of peer to peer networks are as follows −Peer to peer networks are usually formed by groups of a dozen or less computers. These computers all store their data using individual security but also share data with all the other nodes.The nodes in peer to ... Read More

In client server computing, the clients requests a resource and the server provides that resource. A server may serve multiple clients at the same time while a client is in contact with only one server.The different structures for two tier and three tier are given as follows −Two - Tier Client/Server StructureThe two tier architecture primarily has two parts, a client tier and a server tier.The client tier sends a request to the server tier and the server tier responds with the desired information.An example of a two tier client/server structure is a web server. It returns the required web ... Read More

In client server computing, the clients requests a resource and the server provides that resource. A server may serve multiple clients at the same time while a client is in contact with only one server. Both the client and server usually communicate via a computer network but sometimes they may reside in the same system.An illustration of the client server system is given as follows −Characteristics of Client Server ComputingThe salient points for client server computing are as follows:The client server computing works with a system of request and response. The client sends a request to the server and the ... Read More

A single processor system contains only one processor. So only one process can be executed at a time and then the process is selected from the ready queue. Most general purpose computers contain the single processor systems as they are commonly in use.A single processor system can be further described using the diagram below −As in the above diagram, there are multiple applications that need to be executed. However, the system contains a single processor and only one process can be executed at a time.Differences Between Single Processor and Multiprocessor SystemsThere are many differences between single processor and multiprocessor systems.Some ... Read More

Most computer systems are single processor systems i.e., they only have one processor. However, multiprocessor or parallel systems are increasing in importance nowadays. These systems have multiple processors working in parallel that share the computer clock, memory, bus, peripheral devices etc. An image demonstrating the multiprocessor architecture is − Types of MultiprocessorsThere are mainly two types of multiprocessors i.e. symmetric and asymmetric multiprocessors. Details about them are as follows −Symmetric MultiprocessorsIn these types of systems, each processor contains a similar copy of the operating system and they all communicate with each other. All the processors are in a peer to ... Read More

A process is an active program i.e a program that is under execution. It contains the program code, program counter, process stack, registers etc.Process StatesThe different states that a process is in during its execution are explained using the following diagram −New- The process is in new state when it has just been created.Ready - The process is waiting to be assigned the processor by the short term scheduler.Running - The process instructions are being executed by the processor.Waiting - The process is waiting for some event such as I/O to occur.Terminated - The process has completed its execution.Process Control ... Read More

Volatile and Non-Volatile storage are the two forms of storage in any computer system.Volatile StorageThis is a type of computer memory that remains while there is power and the data is lost when power is switched off. A prime example of volatile memory is RAM. It is a type of primary storage. It allows the user to randomly access any part of the data regardless of its position in roughly the same time. This is not possible using other storage devices such as hard disks, CD’s etc. because they have physical constraints such rotation speeds, arm movements etc.There are mainly ... Read More

Fiber optic cables are finding increasing usage due to a number of advantages over the traditional copper wires. However, there are a few flipsides in its usage too.Advantages of Fiber Optics Cables over Copper WiresFiber optic cables transmit data at much higher speed than copper wires. This is because the speed of light is greater than the speed of electrons.Fiber optic cables have a much larger bandwidth of over 60 Tbps in comparison to 10 Gbps bandwidth of copper wires.Fiber optic cables have very low attenuation. Repeaters need to be added only after every 50 km as compared to 5 ... Read More