DistOS 2014W Lecture 1: Difference between revisions

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'''What is an OS?''' Here are some ideas of what it could mean:
'''What is an OS?''' An OS allows you to run on (slightly) different hardware. Here are some ideas of what and OS could mean and some functionalities and responsibilities that OSes include::
* a hardware abstraction
* A hardware abstraction such that hardware resources can be accessed by software
* Consistent execution environment. (ie. code written to interface -- think portable code)
* Provides consistent execution environment, which hardware doesn't provide (ie. code written to interface -- think portable code)
* manages I/O
* Manages I/O (such as user I/O, machine I/O i.e. network I/O, sensors, videos, etc.)
* Resource management/Multiplexing
* Resource management through multiplexing and policy use
** Multiplexing (sharing): one resource wanted by multiple users
* Communication infrastructure (example Inter Process Communication mechanisms) between the users (process, applications) of the Operating System.
* Communication infrastructure (example Inter Process Communication mechanisms) between the users (process, applications) of the Operating System.
* OS turns a computer you want to a computer you want to program
* Manages synchronization and concurrency issues


An OS can be defined by the role it plays in the programming of systems. It takes care of resource management and creates abstraction. An OS turns hardware into the computer/api/interface you WANT to program.
An OS can be defined by the role it plays in the programming of systems. It takes care of resource management and creates abstraction. An OS turns hardware into the computer/api/interface you WANT to program.
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the way of truth. These concepts to do not fit into well defined classes.
the way of truth. These concepts to do not fit into well defined classes.


'''Anil's definition''': "taking the distributed pieces of a system you have and
'''Anil's definition''' (following up on the similar note on what a traditional OS is, as seen above): "taking the distributed pieces of a system you have and
turning it into the system you WANT."
turning it into the system you WANT."


It is good to think about about DOS's within the context of who/what is in
It is good to think about about DOS's within the context of who/what is in
control, in terms of who makes and enforces decisions in DOS. The traditional kernel-process model is a dictatorship. Authoritarian
control, in terms of who makes and enforces decisions in DOS. In essence, who is in charge? The traditional kernel-process model is a dictatorship. Authoritarian
model of control. The kernel controls what lives or dies.  The internet, by
model of control. The kernel controls what lives or dies.  The internet, by
contrast, is decentralised (eg. DNS). Distributed systems may have distributed
contrast, is decentralised (eg. DNS). Distributed systems may have distributed
policies where there is not one source of power.Even in DOS paradigm we can see instances of authoritarian/centralized approaches one example being the walled garden model employed by Apple iOS. Anil's observation is that centralized systems has an inherent fragility built into and these kind of systems comes to existence and disappear after a while. Examples being AOL, Myspace. Even the Facebook also looks to be a possible candidate for a similar fate.
policies where there is not one source of power. Even in DOS paradigm we can see instances of authoritarian/centralized approaches one example being the walled garden model employed by Apple iOS. Anil's observation is that centralized systems has an inherent fragility built into and these kind of systems come into existence and disappear after a while. Examples being AOL, Myspace. Even the Facebook also looks to be a possible candidate for a similar fate. Also, concentrations on policy will tend to fall apart in the future.
 
 
----
 
 
'''''This section below needs to be integrated into the notes above. Anyone can feel free to do this'''''
 
 
Yuan Liu's Notes 
 
'''(Normal) Operating Systems'''
 
OS allows you to run on (slightly) different hardware. Functionalities and responsibilities of OSes include:
 
* abstracts hardware such that hardware resources can be accessed by software
* provides consistent execution environment (which hardware doesn't provide)
* manages I/O (such as user I/O, machine I/O i.e. network I/O, sensors, videos, etc.)
* manages resources via mulitplexing
* multiplexing (sharing): one resource wanted by multiple users
* O/S turns a computer you want to a computer you want to program
* manages synchronization and concurrency issues
* resource management and abstraction
* uses policies to manage resources
 
'''Distributed O/S'''
* turns a distributed system (with their hardware) into a distributed system you want to program
* resource management: who is in charge?
* in local O/S, the kernel is the boss
* in distributed O/S, the control is decentralized
* different humans control their machine
* has distributed policies for managing resources
* who decides control? different than local O/S
 
'''Other thoughts'''
* a more centralized system will become fragile later
* concentration of policy tend to fall apart in the future, according to Anil

Revision as of 19:49, 14 January 2014

What is an OS? An OS allows you to run on (slightly) different hardware. Here are some ideas of what and OS could mean and some functionalities and responsibilities that OSes include::

  • A hardware abstraction such that hardware resources can be accessed by software
  • Provides consistent execution environment, which hardware doesn't provide (ie. code written to interface -- think portable code)
  • Manages I/O (such as user I/O, machine I/O i.e. network I/O, sensors, videos, etc.)
  • Resource management through multiplexing and policy use
    • Multiplexing (sharing): one resource wanted by multiple users
  • Communication infrastructure (example Inter Process Communication mechanisms) between the users (process, applications) of the Operating System.
  • OS turns a computer you want to a computer you want to program
  • Manages synchronization and concurrency issues

An OS can be defined by the role it plays in the programming of systems. It takes care of resource management and creates abstraction. An OS turns hardware into the computer/api/interface you WANT to program.

This is similar to how the browser is becoming the OS of the web. The browser is the key abstraction needed to run web apps. It is the interface web developers target. It doesn't matter what you consume a given website on (eg. a phone, tablet, etc.), the browser abstracts the device's hardware and OS away.

So, what's a distributed OS?

Anil prefers to think of this 'logically' than functionally/physically. This is because the old distributed operating system (DOS) model applies to today's systems (ie. managing multiple cores, etc). The traditional definition is systems that manage their resources over a Network.

A lot of these definitions are hard to peg down because simplicity always gets in the way of truth. These concepts to do not fit into well defined classes.

Anil's definition (following up on the similar note on what a traditional OS is, as seen above): "taking the distributed pieces of a system you have and turning it into the system you WANT."

It is good to think about about DOS's within the context of who/what is in control, in terms of who makes and enforces decisions in DOS. In essence, who is in charge? The traditional kernel-process model is a dictatorship. Authoritarian model of control. The kernel controls what lives or dies. The internet, by contrast, is decentralised (eg. DNS). Distributed systems may have distributed policies where there is not one source of power. Even in DOS paradigm we can see instances of authoritarian/centralized approaches one example being the walled garden model employed by Apple iOS. Anil's observation is that centralized systems has an inherent fragility built into and these kind of systems come into existence and disappear after a while. Examples being AOL, Myspace. Even the Facebook also looks to be a possible candidate for a similar fate. Also, concentrations on policy will tend to fall apart in the future.