Types of Operating Systems | Operating System - Computer Science Engineering (CSE) PDF Download

An Operating System performs all the basic tasks like managing files, processes, and memory. Thus operating system acts as the manager of all the resources, i.e. resource manager. Thus, the operating system becomes an interface between user and machine.

Types of Operating Systems

Some widely used operating systems are as follows- 

1. Batch Operating System

This type of operating system does not interact with the computer directly. There is an operator which takes similar jobs having the same requirement and group them into batches. It is the responsibility of the operator to sort jobs with similar needs.

(i) Advantages of Batch Operating System

• It is very difficult to guess or know the time required for any job to complete. Processors of the batch systems know how long the job would be when it is in queue
• Multiple users can share the batch systems
• The idle time for the batch system is very less
• It is easy to manage large work repeatedly in batch systems

(ii) Disadvantages of Batch Operating System

• The computer operators should be well known with batch systems
• Batch systems are hard to debug
• It is sometimes costly
• The other jobs will have to wait for an unknown time if any job fails

(iii) Examples of Batch based Operating System: Payroll System, Bank Statements, etc. 

2. Time-Sharing Operating Systems

Each task is given some time to execute so that all the tasks work smoothly. Each user gets the time of CPU as they use a single system. These systems are also known as Multitasking Systems. The task can be from a single user or different users also. The time that each task gets to execute is called quantum. After this time interval is over OS switches over to the next task.

(i) Advantages of Time-Sharing OS  

• Each task gets an equal opportunity
• Fewer chances of duplication of software
• CPU idle time can be reduced

(ii) Disadvantages of Time-Sharing OS  

• Reliability problem
• One must have to take care of the security and integrity of user programs and data
• Data communication problem

(iii) Examples of Time-Sharing OSs are: Multics, Unix, etc. 

3. Distributed Operating System

These types of the operating system is a recent advancement in the world of computer technology and are being widely accepted all over the world and, that too, with a great pace. Various autonomous interconnected computers communicate with each other using a shared communication network. Independent systems possess their own memory unit and CPU. These are referred to as loosely coupled systems or distributed systems. These system’s processors differ in size and function. The major benefit of working with these types of the operating system is that it is always possible that one user can access the files or software which are not actually present on his system but some other system connected within this network i.e., remote access is enabled within the devices connected in that network.

(i) Advantages of Distributed Operating System

• Failure of one will not affect the other network communication, as all systems are independent from each other
• Electronic mail increases the data exchange speed
• Since resources are being shared, computation is highly fast and durable
• Load on host computer reduces
• These systems are easily scalable as many systems can be easily added to the network
• Delay in data processing reduces

(ii) Disadvantages of Distributed Operating System

• Failure of the main network will stop the entire communication
• To establish distributed systems the language which is used are not well defined yet
• These types of systems are not readily available as they are very expensive. Not only that the underlying software is highly complex and not understood well yet

(iii) Examples of Distributed Operating System are: LOCUS, etc. 

4. Network Operating System

(i) Advantages of Network Operating System 

• Highly stable centralized servers
• Security concerns are handled through servers
• New technologies and hardware up-gradation are easily integrated into the system
• Server access is possible remotely from different locations and types of systems

(ii) Disadvantages of Network Operating System  

• Servers are costly
• User has to depend on a central location for most operations
• Maintenance and updates are required regularly

(iii) Examples of Network Operating System are: Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows Server 2008, UNIX, Linux, Mac OS X, Novell NetWare, and BSD, etc. 

5. Real-Time Operating System

• Hard Real-Time Systems: 
  These OSs are meant for applications where time constraints are very strict and even the shortest possible delay is not acceptable. These systems are built for saving life like automatic parachutes or airbags which are required to be readily available in case of any accident. Virtual memory is rarely found in these systems.
• Soft Real-Time Systems: 
  These OSs are for applications where for time-constraint is less strict.

(i) Advantages of RTOS  

• Maximum Consumption: Maximum utilization of devices and system, thus more output from all the resources
• Task Shifting: The time assigned for shifting tasks in these systems are very less. For example, in older systems, it takes about 10 microseconds in shifting one task to another, and in the latest systems, it takes 3 microseconds.
• Focus on Application: Focus on running applications and less importance to applications which are in the queue.
• Real-time operating system in the embedded system: Since the size of programs are small, RTOS can also be used in embedded systems like in transport and others.
• Error Free: These types of systems are error-free.
• Memory Allocation: Memory allocation is best managed in these types of systems.

(ii) Disadvantages of RTOS  

• Limited Tasks: Very few tasks run at the same time and their concentration is very less on few applications to avoid errors.
• Use heavy system resources: Sometimes the system resources are not so good and they are expensive as well.
• Complex Algorithms: The algorithms are very complex and difficult for the designer to write on.
• Device driver and interrupt signals: It needs specific device drivers and interrupts signals to respond earliest to interrupts.
• Thread Priority: It is not good to set thread priority as these systems are very less prone to switching tasks.
• Examples of Real-Time Operating Systems are: Scientific experiments, medical imaging systems, industrial control systems, weapon systems, robots, air traffic control systems, etc.

Difference between 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems

In computing, there exist two type processor i.e., 32-bit and 64-bit. This type of processor tells us how much memory a processor can have access from a CPU register. For instance,

A 32-bit system can access 232 memory addresses, i.e 4 GB of RAM or physical memory ideally, it can access more than 4 GB of RAM also.
A 64-bit system can access 264 memory addresses, i.e actually 18-Quintillion bytes of RAM. In short, any amount of memory greater than 4 GB can be easily handled by it.

Most computers made in the 1990s and early 2000s were 32-bit machines. The CPU register stores memory addresses, which is how the processor accesses data from RAM. One bit in the register can reference an individual byte in memory, so a 32-bit system can address a maximum of 4 GB (4,294,967,296 bytes) of RAM. The actual limit is often less around 3.5 GB since part of the register is used to store other temporary values besides memory addresses. Most computers released over the past two decades were built on a 32-bit architecture, hence most operating systems were designed to run on a 32-bit processor.
A 64-bit register can theoretically reference 18,446,744,073,709,551,616 bytes, or 17,179,869,184 GB (16 exabytes) of memory. This is several million times more than an average workstation would need to access. What’s important is that a 64-bit computer (which means it has a 64-bit processor) can access more than 4 GB of RAM. If a computer has 8 GB of RAM, it better has a 64-bit processor. Otherwise, at least 4 GB of the memory will be inaccessible by the CPU.
A major difference between 32-bit processors and 64-bit processors is the number of calculations per second they can perform, which affects the speed at which they can complete tasks. 64-bit processors can come in dual-core, quad-core, six-core, and eight-core versions for home computing. Multiple cores allow for an increased number of calculations per second that can be performed, which can increase the processing power and help make a computer run faster. Software programs that require many calculations to function smoothly can operate faster and more efficiently on the multi-core 64-bit processors, for the most part. 

Advantages of 64-bit over 32-bit

• Using 64-bit one can do a lot in multi-tasking, user can easily switch between various applications without any windows hanging problems. 
• Gamers can easily play High graphical games like Modern Warfare, GTA V, or use high-end software like Photoshop or CAD which takes a lot of memory since it makes multi-tasking with big software, easy and efficient for users. However upgrading the video card instead of getting a 64-bit processor would be more beneficial.

Note: 

• A computer with a 64-bit processor can have a 64-bit or 32-bit version of an operating system installed. However, with a 32-bit operating system, the 64-bit processor would not run at its full capability.
• On a computer with a 64-bit processor, we can’t run a 16-bit legacy program. Many 32-bit programs will work with a 64-bit processor and operating system, but some older 32-bit programs may not function properly, or at all, due to limited or no compatibility.