CS 354: Introduction to Operating Systems

This course teaches the basic operating system abstractions, mechanisms, & implementations. The core of the course contains concurrent programming (threads & synchronization), inter-process communication, & an intro to distributed operating systems.

Enroll Today to Save Tuition

Course Curriculum

1. Introduction
1. OS Functions
2. System Management
3. Communication Services
4. Security
5. Hardware Services
6. Software Services
7. Lesson Summary
8. Quiz 1.1
1. Application vs. Operating System
2. GUI
3. Desktop, Icons and Shortcuts
4. Recycle Bin
5. Background and Wallpaper
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 1.2
1. Computer Software Definition
2. Computer Software Examples
3. Types of Computer Software
4. System Software
5. Application Software
6. Software vs. Hardware
7. History of Computer Software
8. Lesson Summary
9. Quiz 1.3
1. Types of Operating Systems
2. Personal Operating Systems
3. Workgroup Operating Systems
4. Enterprise Operating Systems
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 1.4
1. Managing Complexity
2. What Is an Operating System?
3. Layered Operating System
4. Architecture
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 1.5
1. What Is a GUI?
2. GUI Definition
3. History of the Graphical User Interface
4. GUI Components
5. How GUIs Work
6. GUI Examples
7. Lesson Summary
8. Quiz 1.6
1. Picking a Side
2. What's a Mobile Operating System?
3. Mobile Operating System Types
4. Mobile OS Features
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 1.7
1. Computer User Interface
2. Command-Line Interface
3. Mainframes
4. Modern-Day Command Line
5. Commands, Parameters & Options
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 1.8
1. What Is a Batch File?
2. Batch Files Overview & Examples
3. Lesson Summary
4. Quiz 1.9
1. What Is Booting a Computer?
2. Boot Process
3. Troubleshooting
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 1.10
1. Introduction
1. Types of Computer Processing
2. Multiprocessing Capabilities
3. Multiprocessing Architecture
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 2.1
1. The Heart of Program Execution
2. Process Classification
3. Process Scheduling
4. Process States
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 2.2
1. System Calls
2. Importance
3. Categories
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 2.3
1. What Is Multitasking?
2. Multitasking & Resource Utilization
3. Multitasking & Latency
4. Parallel Execution
5. Context Switching
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 2.4
1. Operating Systems
2. What is a Job?
3. Job Scheduling
4. Uses of Job Scheduling in an OS
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 2.5
1. Scheduling
2. Criteria for Scheduling
3. Scheduling Policies
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 2.6
1. Process Scheduling in an OS
2. Preemptive Scheduling
3. Non-Preemptive Scheduling
4. Differences
5. Scheduling Algorithms
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 2.7
1. Thread Definition in Computing
2. Types of Threads in an Operating System
3. Benefits of Threading in Computer Science
4. Multi-Thread Computing
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 2.8
1. Managing Threads
2. Thread State Diagram
3. Scheduling & Switching Threads
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 2.9
1. Process Synchronization
2. Critical Section
3. Semaphores
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 2.10
1. Introduction
2. What is an Interrupt?
3. Atomic Operations
4. Dispatching and Context Switching
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 2.11
1. Concurrency
2. Programming Issues
3. Mutual Exclusion
4. Solutions & Techniques
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 2.12
1. What is Deadlock?
2. Coffman Conditions
3. Examples of Deadlock
4. Deadlock Detection
5. Recovery
6. Livelock vs. Deadlock
7. Lesson Summary
8. Quiz 2.13
1. What is a Computer Transaction?
2. Operating System Transactions
3. Database Transactions
4. Committed and Rolled Back Transactions
5. ACID Properties of Database Transactions
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 2.14
1. OS Cooperation
2. Types of Processes
3. Process Categories
4. Producer-Consumer
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 2.15
1. Introduction
1. What is Computer Memory?
2. What is RAM?
3. What Does RAM Do?
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 3.1
1. Computer Memory and Function
2. Memory's Place in a Computer
3. How a Computer Uses Memory
4. Caching and Virtual Memory
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 3.2
1. Data Storage Units
2. Data Storage Units: Smallest to Largest
3. What Is the Smallest Unit of Data Storage?
4. Kilobyte (KB)
5. Megabyte (MB)
6. Gigabyte (GB)
7. Terabyte (TB)
8. What Is the Largest Unit of Data Storage?
9. Data Storage Units: Examples and Solutions
10. Data Storage Unit vs Data Speed
11. Lesson Summary
12. Quiz 3.3
1. Data Storage
2. The First Electronic Memory
3. Introduction of the Hard Drive
4. SSD - Solid State Drives
5. Disk Storage
6. Portable Data Storage
7. Cloud Storage
8. Lesson Summary
9. Quiz 3.4
1. What is Memory Management?
2. Error Messages
3. Disk Defragmenting
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 3.5
1. Operating Systems and Memory
2. Managing Applications and Programs
3. Address Memory in an OS
4. Keeping It All Under Control
5. Swapping
6. Paging
7. Segmentation
8. Protecting Processes
9. Lesson Summary
10. Quiz 3.6
1. What is Virtual Memory?
2. The Relationship Between RAM and Virtual Memory
3. The Issue With Swapping Memory
4. Changing Swap File Settings (Windows 10)
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 3.7
1. What Is Memory Paging?
2. Memory Structure
3. Memory Page Allocation
4. Internal Fragmentation
5. Demand and Page Tables
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 3.8
1. Cache Memory & Related Definitions
2. CPU Cache
3. How the CPU Cache Works
4. Multi-Level Caches
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 3.9
1. Memory Coherence
2. Memory Consistency
3. Consistency Models
4. Weak Consistency
5. MESI Protocol
6. Coherency Models
7. Snooping
8. Directory-Based
9. Lesson Summary
10. Quiz 3.10
1. Memory Management
2. Memory Address
3. Memory Allocation
4. Best-Fit Memory Allocation
5. First-Fit Memory Allocation
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 3.11
1. Garbage Collection
2. Garbage Collection Strategies
3. Mark and Sweep
4. Semi-Space
5. Mark, Reclaim, Compact
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 3.12
1. Introduction
1. What Are the Peripheral Devices of a Computer?
2. Computer Devices & Computer Peripherals
3. Main Categories of Computer Peripherals: Uses & Examples
4. Input Devices
5. Output Devices
6. Input/Output and Storage Devices
7. Connecting Peripheral Devices
8. Lesson Summary
9. Quiz 4.1
1. IPOS
2. IPOS in Action
3. Lesson Summary
4. Quiz 4.2
1. Bus in Computer - Definition
2. System Bus
3. Three Types of System Bus
4. Address Bus
5. Data Bus
6. Control Bus
7. Lesson Summary
8. Quiz 4.3
1. How Does This Thing Plug In?
2. Classifying Peripherals
3. Peripherals and the Operating System
4. Two More Takes on Virtual Devices
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 4.4
1. Direct & Sequential Access
2. Sequential Access
3. Direct Access
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 4.5
1. Computing Devices that Talk to Each Other
2. Methods of Device Intercommunication
3. Polling
4. Interrupting
5. Direct Memory Access
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 4.6
1. Ports & Bus
2. Processor
3. Memory
4. Peripherals & Parallel Port
5. SCSI & USB
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 4.7
1. Pace of Information
2. Data Storage Device Definition
3. Data Storage Device Types
4. Reasons for Types
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 4.8
1. A Long Way From Floppy Discs
2. CD-ROM Structure
3. Timeline of Optical Storage
4. 1984: Compact Disc - Read Only Memory (CD-ROM)
5. 1989: CD-ROM/Extended Architecture (CD-ROM/XA)
6. 1990: Write Once (CD-WO)
7. 1995: CD Read/Write (CD-RW)
8. 1997: DVD-ROM
9. 2003 Blu-Ray
10. The Future of Optical Discs?
11. Lesson Summary
12. Quiz 4.9
1. Definition
2. Differences From Older Style Hard Drives
3. Lesson Summary
4. Quiz 4.10
1. RAID
2. Striping
3. RAID 0
4. RAID 1
5. Higher RAID Levels
6. Disadvantages
7. Lesson Summary
8. Quiz 4.11
1. Introduction
1. Data Storage Overview
2. Data Storage Technologies
3. Random Access Memory (RAM)
4. Hard Disk Drive
5. Flash Drive
6. SD (Secure Digital) Card
7. CDs and DVDs
8. Magnetic Tapes
9. Solid-State Drive (SSD)
10. M.2 Storage
11. Lesson Summary
12. Quiz 5.1
1. A World of Data
2. Files
3. Directories
4. File Allocation
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 5.2
1. File Manager
2. Directories and Folders
3. Common File Manager Tasks
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 5.3
1. Disk Storage
2. Contiguous Storage
3. Linked Storage
4. Indexed Storage
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 5.4
1. File Extensions
2. Why File Extensions?
3. Some Key Extensions
4. MIME Types
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 5.5
1. Operating Systems - Links
2. Hard Links
3. Soft Links
4. Differences Between Hard Links and Soft Links
5. Summary
6. Quiz 5.6
1. File Access Control
2. Setting Permissions
3. Combining Permissions
4. Inheritance
5. Viewing & Modifying
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 5.7
1. Why File Systems Matter
2. How Data Are Stored
3. FAT
4. NTFS
5. HFS+
6. Other Considerations
7. Lesson Summary
8. Quiz 5.8
1. Accessing Computer Files Locally
2. Accessing Computer Files Remotely
3. File Sharing
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 5.9
1. Introduction
1. Networks of Different Sizes
2. Personal Area Network
3. Local Area Network
4. Metropolitan Area Network
5. Wide Area Network
6. Wireless Networks
7. Lesson Summary
8. Quiz 6.1
1. What is the OSI Model?
2. The OSI Model Explained
3. 7 Layers of the OSI Model
4. Application Layer
5. Presentation Layer
6. Session Layer
7. Transport Layer
8. Network Layer
9. Data Link Layer
10. Physical Layer
11. OSI Model Example
12. Lesson Summary
13. Quiz 6.2
1. What Is the OSI Model?
2. Data Link Layer
3. Regulating Data Flow
4. Protocols
5. Data Flow to the Network Layer
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 6.3
1. The Network Layer
2. Network Layer Functions
3. Design Issues of the OSI Model
4. Insecurity & Network Anxiety Disorder
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 6.4
1. What is the Presentation Layer?
2. The OSI Model
3. Roles, Functions and Protocols
4. Sublayers in the Presentation Layer
5. Responsibilities of the Presentation Layer
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 6.5
1. Layers of the OSI Model
2. Transport Layer
3. Services
4. Functions
5. Protocols
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 6.6
1. What Is the Session Layer?
2. What Is the Open Systems Interconnect Model?
3. Understanding the Session Layer
4. Session Layer Functions and Protocols
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 6.7
1. History of Internet
2. History of the Internet Timeline
3. Network History
4. Difference Between ARPANET and World Wide Web
5. Who Invented the Internet?
6. Email and Internet
7. Internet Uses
8. Globalization and Internet
9. Lesson Summary
10. Quiz 6.8
1. Basic Principles
2. Key Terms
3. Data Packet Description
4. Data Packet Composition
5. Packet Loss
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 6.9
1. Introduction to TCP/IP
2. Terminology
3. Description
4. IP Addressing
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 6.10
1. Network Sockets
2. Types of Network Sockets
3. Stream Sockets
4. Datagram Sockets
5. Raw Sockets
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 6.11
1. Network OS
2. Network Servers
3. Managing Networks
4. Network Security
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 6.12
1. Introduction
1. Defining Computer Security
2. Components of Computer Systems
3. The CIA Triad
4. Computer Security Controls
5. Selecting Appropriate Controls
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 7.1
1. What is a Computer Virus?
2. Common Types of Computer Viruses
3. Where Do Computer Viruses Come From?
4. What Does a Computer Virus Look Like?
5. Types of Virus Protection
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 7.2
1. What Is a Computer Security Risk?
2. Viruses, Worms, & Ransomware
3. Spyware & Trojan Horses
4. Misconfiguration
5. Unsafe Computing Habits
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 7.3
1. Types of Computer Security
2. Physical Security
3. OS Security
4. Access Control
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 7.4
1. What Are Policies?
2. Remote Access Security
3. General Security Policies
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 7.5
1. Introduction to Computer Security
2. Security Threats
3. Security Defenses
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 7.6
1. Security Threats
2. System Security
3. Firewall
4. Encryption
5. Passwords
6. Biometrics
7. Lesson Summary
8. Quiz 7.7
1. Operating System & Security
2. Maintaining Security
3. Information Security
4. Backup and Restore
5. Intrusion Detection and Prevention
6. Prevent Viruses, Malware, and Trojans
7. Firewalls
8. Encryption
9. Lesson Summary
10. Quiz 7.8
1. What Is User Access Security in Computing?
2. Securing User Access Using the Operating System
3. Limiting User Accounts
4. Password Policies
5. User Permissions
6. Network Services Security
7. Logging, Monitoring and System audits
8. Lesson Summary
9. Quiz 7.9
1. Multi-User Operating System
2. Multi-User Operating System Security
3. Assigning Roles and Groups in an OS
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 7.10
1. Definition of Antivirus Software
2. How Does Antivirus Software Work?
3. Examples of Antivirus Software
4. Lesson Summary
5. Quiz 7.11
1. Introduction
1. Taming the Beast
2. What is Virtualization?
3. How is Virtualization Used?
4. What are the Benefits of Virtualization?
5. Lesson Summary
6. Quiz 8.1
1. What Is a Virtual Machine?
2. Types of Hypervisors
3. Virtual Machine Applications
4. VirtualBox
5. VMware
6. Virtual PCs
7. Parallels
8. VMLM
9. Lesson Summary
10. Quiz 8.2
1. The Idea Behind Virtual Machines
2. How Virtual Machines Use OS Functions
3. Scheduling Your Virtual Needs
4. The Scoop On Input/Output
5. Drawbacks
6. Ballooning The Memory
7. Lesson Summary
8. Quiz 8.3
1. What is Virtualization?
2. Importance of Virtualization
3. Oracle VM VirtualBox
4. Downloading VirtualBox
5. Installing VirtualBox
6. Starting VirtualBox
7. Lesson Summary
1. Oracle VM VirtualBox
2. Installing a Linux distribution on VirtualBox
3. Getting Ubuntu iso images
4. Installing Ubuntu
5. Lesson Summary
1. Java Virtual Machine (JVM)
2. Example
3. JVM Internal Structure
4. Just In Time Compiler
5. Garbage collection
6. Lesson Summary
7. Quiz 8.6
1. Assignment
2. Download sample.java
1. Final Exam

About this course

601 lessons
1750+ Transfer Colleges
ACE & NCCRS Approved
Globally Recognized

Answers You Didn't Know You Needed!

General Questions

Is there any time commitment we have to give?

With UPI, you determine your own level of time commitment. You can move through coursework quickly or slow down your pace.
Are there exams? How is the course grading done?
YES, there are exams—held online on our platform and are proctored. Your course grade distribution is:

25% Attendance

25% Quiz

25% Assignments

25% Final Exam

Content Questions

How to check if your university will accept credits from UPI study?

To ensure your UPI Study courses transfer to your university, check two things:

1) Is your university listed? If it's one of the 1,500 universities listed with NCCRS, you're all set.

OR

2) Check your university's credit policy. If it says they accept credits from "regionally accredited" universities, you're good to go! As long as you meet one of these criteria, your courses should transfer without a hitch.

Check the list of colleges here.

Membership Questions

Will there be hand holding to help transfer courses?

Yes, that is what differentiates UPI. With each student their advisor will guide them on how to move forward.

CHAPTER 1 - Operating System Fundamentals

Ch 1.1 - OS Functions: Security, System Management, Communication and Hardware & Software Services

Ch 1.2 - Computer Operating Systems: Managing Hardware and Software Resources

Ch 1.3 - What is Computer Software? - Definition & Applications

Ch 1.4 - Enterprise, Workgroup & Personal Operating Systems

Ch 1.5 - Layered Operating System: Architecture, Approach & Structure

Ch 1.6 - What is a Graphical User Interface (GUI)? - Definition, Components & Examples

Ch 1.7 - What is a Mobile Operating System? - Features & Types

Ch 1.8 - Command Line Interface: Commands, Parameters & Options

Ch 1.9 - What is a Batch File? - Examples & Basics

Ch 1.10 - Booting a Computer: Definition & Process

CHAPTER 2 - Processes, Threads & Concurrency in Operating Systems

Ch 2.1 - What Is Multiprocessing? - Definition, Architecture & Examples

Ch 2.2 - Process in Operating Systems: Definition, Scheduling & States

Ch 2.3 - System Calls: Function, Importance & Categories

Ch 2.4 - How Operating Systems Manage Multitasking

Ch 2.5 - Job Scheduling in Operating Systems

Ch 2.6 - Scheduling Policies for Operating Systems: Importance & Criteria

Ch 2.7 - Preemptive vs. Non-Preemptive Process Scheduling

Ch 2.8 - Threads in an Operating System: Definition & Examples

Ch 2.9 - Thread State Diagrams, Scheduling & Switches

Ch 2.10 - Process Synchronization in Operating Systems: Definition & Mechanisms

Ch 2.11 - Interrupts & Atomic Operations: Definition, Use & Examples

Ch 2.12 - Concurrency & Mutual Exclusion in Operating Systems

Ch 2.13 - What is Deadlock? - Definition, Examples & Avoidance

Ch 2.14 - Operating System Transactions: Definition, Features & Examples

Ch 2.15 - Process Cooperation in Operating Systems: Definition & Examples

CHAPTER 3 - Basic Memory Management

Ch 3.1 - Computer Memory and Processing Devices: Functions & Characteristics

Ch 3.2 - How Do Computers Store Data? - Memory & Function

Ch 3.3 - Data Storage Units: KB, MB, GB, & TB

Ch 3.4 - History of Data Storage: Hard Drives, Memory & Disks

Ch 3.5 - What Is Memory Management? - Requirements, Errors & Techniques

Ch 3.6 - How Operating Systems Manages Address Space

Ch 3.7 - What Is Virtual Memory? - Definition, Settings & Management

Ch 3.8 - Paged Memory Allocation: Definition, Purpose & Structure

Ch 3.9 - Cache Memory: Definition & Concept

Ch 3.10 - Memory Coherence & Consistency: Functionality & Examples

Ch 3.11 - Memory Allocation Schemes: Definition & Uses

Ch 3.12 - Garbage Collection in Operating Systems: Definition & Strategies

CHAPTER 4 - Input/Output & Storage Management

Ch 4.1 - What Are Peripheral Devices of a Computer? - Definition, Examples & Types

Ch 4.2 - Input, Processing, Output & Feedback: Information System Components

Ch 4.3 - System Bus in Computers: Definition & Concept

Ch 4.4 - Classifying Peripheral Devices of a Computer

Ch 4.5 - Direct & Sequential Access to Peripheral Devices: Characteristics, Pros & Cons

Ch 4.6 - Polling, Interrupting & DMA as Device Intercommunication Methods

Ch 4.7 - IO Ports & Buses: Uses & Examples

Ch 4.8 - Data Storage Devices - Definition & Types

Ch 4.9 - Optical Data Storage: CD-ROMs & Discs History

Ch 4.10 - What is Flash Memory for Data Storage?

Ch 4.11 - RAID Arrays & Data Redundancy

CHAPTER 5 - File Management in Operating Systems

Ch 5.1 - What is Data Storage? - Definition & Technologies

Ch 5.2 - Files & Directories in Operating Systems: Structure, Organization & Characteristics

Ch 5.3 - Responsibilities of a File Manager in Operating Systems

Ch 5.4 - Physical Storage Allocation in Operating Systems

Ch 5.5 - File Extensions and File Types: MP3, GIF, JPG, DOCX, XLSX, EXE, & More

Ch 5.6 - Hard & Soft Links: Definition, Differences & Examples

Ch 5.7 - File Access Control in Operating Systems: Purpose & Overview

Ch 5.8 - File Systems: FAT, NTFS, and HFS+

Ch 5.9 - Computer Files: Access, Formats & Sharing

CHAPTER 6 - Networking in Operating Systems

Ch 6.1 - Computer Networks and Distributed Processing: PAN, LAN, WAN, MAN

Ch 6.2 - OSI Model: Using Open Systems Interconnection to Send and Receive Data

Ch 6.3 - Data Link Layer of the OSI Model: Protocol, Functions & Design

Ch 6.4 - Network Layer of the OSI Model: Functions, Design & Security

Ch 6.5 - Presentation Layer of the OSI Model: Definition, Functions & Protocols

Ch 6.6 - Transport Layer of the OSI Model: Functions, Security & Protocol

Ch 6.7 - Session Layer of the OSI Model: Functions, Protocols & Examples

Ch 6.8 - What is the History of the Internet? - Origins & Timeline

Ch 6.9 - Internet Packet: Definition & Explanation

Ch 6.10 - What is Communication Protocol? - TCP/IP & Explanation

Ch 6.11 - Network Socket: Uses, Types & Examples

Ch 6.12 - Network Operating Systems (NOS): Windows & Novell Net Ware

CHAPTER 7 - Computer Security Risks & Policies

Ch 7.1 - What is Computer Security? - Definition & Basics

Ch 7.2 - What is a Computer Virus? - Definition, Types & Protection

Ch 7.3 - What is a Computer Security Risk? - Definition & Types

Ch 7.4 - Types of Computer Security