OS as Resource Manager

When a computer has multiple users, the need for managing and protecting the memory, I/O devices and other devices is even greater. The primary task of OS is to keep track of who is using which resource, to grant resource requests, to mediate conflicting requests from different programs etc. Users often need to share not only hardware, but information(File, Database) as well. Resource management is done by sharing resources based on two factors i.e. Time and Memory Space.

Time based sharing includes

• “Who goes next and for how long”- is the main task for time based resource management in OS.
• More than one program or user take turns using it.
• Multiple programs will run by allocating the CPU through OS.
• OS chooses When another program gets to use the CPU.
• Sharing the printer is the ideal example for time multiplexing .

Memory Space based sharing includes

• Main memory is normally divided up among several running programs
• OS assume enough memory to hold multiple programs
• OS hold several programs in memory at once instead of completing one by one.
• The issues of fairness, protection and so on will solve by OS.
• Hard disk is another resource manager for space multiplexed.

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