Home > Online IT Degrees > Operating Systems Courses
This course takes students from a general overview of modern computer operating systems concepts, and leads students into more specific discussions of advanced server operating systems topics. Eventually, students will take a practical look at how network operating systems are used to leverage those concepts in viable business situations. Not only will students install and analyze two operating systems during the course, but they will also note common principles of design while becoming familiar with how they differ in terms of implementation strategies.During this course, students will learn what exactly an operating system is and how it communicates with the rest of the computer’s hardware.Operating systems come in many varieties. For example, a desktop operating system is typically installed on a PC, which may (or may not) be connected to a network. A server operating system is typically installed on a heartier computer that is connected to a network. This can then enable multiple users to access information. A network operating system (NOS) is a set of instructions to computer hardware that enables a computer to communicate with other computers through network cables or wireless transmission and it enables coordination of communication, including file sharing, printing and the restriction of access to network resources.There are a number of components to think of when operating system software including the API, BIOS, system kernel, device drivers and resource managers. While all computers require the input and output functions provided by the BIOS which serves as an intermediary between the operating system and the hardware, they also require the general functions of the processor, disk, memory and other components central to the computer's basic operation. It is important to ensure that hardware resources are properly matched to the operating system.
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