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2.2.2.2.1 Operating System (OS)
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 sensors
- Output devices such as display monitors, speakers, printers or faxes
- Network devices such as modems, router, wired and wireless Internet Protocol network connections, and Bluetooth
- Storage devices such as internal and external disks
- Memory devices
OSs also manage a computer's
- CPU
- Processes
- Privileges
- Cache
- Energy, i.e., power management
Standards
Technical Standards
de facto Standards
Tools
- None at this time
