2.2.2.2.1 Operating System (OS)

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An Operating System (OS), in its most general sense, is software that allows a user to run other applications in a computing device, as well as Virtual Machine applications, which emulate another computer. While it is possible for a software application to interface directly with hardware, it is not advisable from a portability or lifecycle perspective. Software applications that access hardware resources or other computer components directly pose a security risk.

Operating systems provide a common, well documented, and tested set of libraries, which abstract the idiosyncrasies of the host computer away from its applications.

An OS primarily manages a computer's hardware resources, including:

Input devices such as a keyboard, mouse, track pad, touch screens, camera, microphone, scanners, or sensorsOutput devices such as display monitors, speakers, printers, or faxesNetwork devices such as modems, router, wired and wireless Internet Protocol network connections, and BluetoothStorage devices such as internal and external disksMemory devicesThe OS also manages a computer's:

CPUProcessesPrivilegesCacheEnergy, i.e., power management

Standards

Technical Standards

(NOTE: See UNIX)ISO/IEC 23360-1:2006 Linux Standard Base (LSB) core specification 3.1 -- Part 1: Generic specificationISO/IEC The Linux Standard Base 5 Specification Series (LSB 5)

de facto Standards

Tools

None at this time