System software is a computer program designed to run the computer’s hardware and application programs. If we consider a computer system as a layered model, the system software is the interface between the hardware and the user applications. The operating system (OS) is the best known example of system software. The OS manages all other programs on the computer.
The operating system software organizes the operation of all the components of the computer and the devices connected to it.
DSS should meet the following requirements: manufacturability, reliability, convenience, efficiency. Products in this group are designed mainly for professionals in the field: network administrators, operators and programmers. However, users of computers, which independently serve the programs, data and the computer as a whole, not just work with them, should also have an idea of LSS. A user who performs a complete service of his computer should have a minimum set of knowledge and skills in this area. With the help of knowledge about STRs the user ensures reliability and productivity, and also extends the life of the computer hardware itself.
Software is usually divided into service and basic (except for some rare cases).
Basic system software includes the following components:
OS (operating system) plus its drivers;
Interface (operating) graphics and text shells, for proper user control of the operating system and file system management;
File management systems;
A network operating system that provides users with different kinds of network services, such as mail (email). Network and file management processes are also handled by a network operating system.
Service software are programs and their complexes, which give more opportunities to basic software, which provide the user with the most comfortable working environment. Usually such programs are called utilities, this term can not be applied to anti-virus programs.
Software structure:
Basic software includes the network operating system, operating system, and operating shell;
Service software includes programs for computer diagnostics, anti-viruses, disk and network maintenance programs, and archiver programs.
Programs serving for computer maintenance operations (data processing, diagnostics, disk space usage, recovery of destroyed or damaged information) are called utilities.
Utilities are used to optimize the testing work, adjustment in the event of failure of the system or its part, and procedures for setting up the entire computer system. On the basis of functionality these programs have the following classification:
Not supplied as part of the operating system drivers of specific and special devices.
Designed to control software installation procedures, installation monitors.
Tools for monitoring and controlling the procedures which take place in the computer system.
Diagnostic tools on the health of a computer device, used to optimize performance and troubleshooting. As an example, consider the utility “Disk defragmentation”, thanks to which the data, which belong to the same file, but are scattered in different segments of the disk, can be easily combined in one place for future storage.
Means of security (passive and active) against damage, unwanted unauthorized access, viewing and changing data. Passive protections include programs that maintain the disk, while active protections include anti-viruses capable of detecting and repairing corrupted files. Passive tools provide file control on all levels (physical and logical), magnetic disk quality (integrity of its surface) is checked, disk compression is performed and a backup copy of the data is created.
Archiving programs, the purpose of which is to create archives that simplify the process of storing information by compressing files. The most famous archiving programs are WinZip, 7Zip, WinRAR.
File system maintainers, file managers. They are used for most of the file serving operations: navigating, creating folders and directories, deleting, moving, copying, searching for file system items. The most popular for “Windows” are “Total Commander” and “Far Manager”, for “Linux” – “Midnight Commander”.
Programs designed to serve the network – to communicate with remote computers, provide transmission of e-mail messages. Thanks to them, it is also possible to participate in teleconferences.