OS basics

• An Operating System (OS) is required to get any functionality out of a computer system.
• OS functions include an interface to interact with the system, drivers to communicate to the hardware, applications to provide additional functionality, file management features to copy, move and delete files, network connectivity to connect to local resources and the Internet, and system security to prevent access from unauthorised users.
• Closed source OS are only available from a single organisation.
• Windows is a proprietary OS.
• Proprietary refers to an idea or object owned entirely by the owner and cannot be recreated without the consent of the owner.
• Open-source OS can be distributed by many different organisations and the code can be freely modified.
• Command Line Interface (CLI) is controlled by typing commands into a prompt, examples include DOS and Cisco’s IOS.
• Graphical user interface (GUI) is a point-and-click environment that uses graphics.
• An applet is a small computer program that performs a specific task