(4)Operating System Services
Operating systems provide an environment for execution of programs and services to programs and users
One set of operating-system services provides functions that are helpful to the user:
User interface - Almost all operating systems have a user interface (UI). Varies between Command-Line (CLI), Graphics User Interface (GUI), Batch
Program execution - The system must be able to load a program into memory and to run that program, end execution, either normally or abnormally (indicating error)
(5)Operating System Services (Cont.)
Communications – Processes may exchange information, on the same computer or between computers over a network
Error detection – OS needs to be constantly aware of possible errors
(6)Operating System Services (Cont.)
Another set of OS functions exists for ensuring the efficient operation of the system itself via resource sharing
Resource allocation - When multiple users or multiple jobs running concurrently, resources must be allocated to each of them
Protection involves ensuring that all access to system resources is controlled
Security of the system from outsiders requires user authentication, extends to defending external I/O devices from invalid access attempts
If a system is to be protected and secure, precautions must be instituted throughout it. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
(7)A View of Operating System Services

(8)User Operating System Interface - CLI
CLI or command interpreter allows direct command entry
Sometimes implemented in kernel, sometimes by systems program
Sometimes multiple flavors implemented – shells
Primarily fetches a command from user and executes it
If the latter, adding new features doesn’t require shell modification
(9)Bourne Shell Command Interpreter

(10)User Operating System Interface - GUI, what is it, what to use it with ?
User-friendly desktop metaphor interface
(10)User Operating System Interface - GUI, what systems have includes CLI?
Many systems now include both CLI and GUI interfaces
(11)Touchscreen Interfaces
Touchscreen devices require new interfaces
(12)The Mac OS X GUI

(13)System Calls
Programming interface to the services provided by the OS
Typically written in a high-level language (C or C++)
Mostly accessed by programs via a high-level Application Program Interface (API) rather than direct system call use
Three most common APIs are Win32 API for Windows, POSIX API for POSIX-based systems (including virtually all versions of UNIX, Linux, and Mac OS X), and Java API for the Java virtual machine (JVM)
(13)System Calls-Why use APIs rather than system calls?
(Note that the system-call names used throughout this text are generic)
(14)Example of System Calls-
System call sequence to copy the contents of one file to another file

(15)Example of Standard API

(16)System Call Implementation
Typically, a number associated with each system call
The system call interface invokes intended system call in OS kernel and returns status of the system call and any return values
(16)System Call Implementation- user role in system calls
The caller need know nothing about how the system call is implemented
Just needs to obey API and understand what OS will do as a result call
Most details of OS interface hidden from programmer by API
(17)API – System Call – OS Relationship

(18)System Call Parameter Passing- amount of infromation ?
Often, more information is required than simply identity of desired system call
(18)System Call Parameter Passing- what are the types of method to pass parameters?
Three general methods used to pass parameters to the OS
Simplest: pass the parameters in registers
Parameters stored in a block, or table, in memory, and address of block passed as a parameter in a register
Parameters placed, or pushed, onto the stack by the program and popped off the stack by the operating system
Block and stack methods do not limit the number or length of parameters being passed
(19)Parameter Passing via Table

(20)Types of System Calls
Process control
(21)Types of System Calls
File management
(21)Types of System Calls
Device management
(22)Types of System Calls (Cont.)
Information maintenance