Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Windows NT workstation

Windows NT is a single user; multitasking operating system designed to run on PC workstations and ncorporates all latest developments in operating system technology. It was introduced in 1993. It includes the following:

(a) Windows NT workstation
(b) Windows NT server, and
(c) Windows NT enterprise edition

Features of windows NT server

a) Single User Multitasking
The main feature is that even through it is meant for a single user environment, provides
multitasking. For e.g., a user may use a word processor, a drawing program, a spreadsheet
application to produce a document. Without multitasking, simultaneous use of this will not be
possible. They must process with the s/w one by one; provide alignment making changes will be
a tedious process. In a multitasking environment, the user may keep all the applications open,
prepare the documentation and make necessary change. All of these are possible with increased
speed and memory capacity of microprocessors together with the support for virtual memory.
b) Ability to support all applications
The power of Windows NT comes form its ability to support applications written for
other operating systems. This ability is provided through protected subsystems. The protected
subsystems are those parts of NT that interact with the end user.
c) Client server computing model
The way in which the executive, the protected subsystems, and the applications structured
in NT is by using the client/ server computing model, each server implemented as one or more
process. Such process waits for a request from a client for of its services, eg. memory services. A
client, which may be an applications program or another operating system module, requests a
service by sending a message. The message routed through the executive to the appropriate
server. The server performs the operation and returns the results or status information by means
of another message, which is routed through the executive back to the client.
Client/server architecture has the following advantages:
(i) It simplifies the base operating system, the NT executive
(ii) It improves reliability. Each server runs on a separate process with its partition of
memory, protected from other servers. Also, the servers cannot directly access hardware
or modify memory in which the executive the rest, the operating system.
(iii) It provides a natural base for distributed computing.
d) Support for Threads
An important feature of Windows NT is its support for threads within process. A thread is
a dispatchable unit of work. It is executed sequentially and may be interrupted so that the
processor can turn to other threads. A process is a collection of one or more areas and associated
system resources. This is similar to a program in execution. By checking an application into
multiple threads, the modularity and the timing of application related events could be
maintained.
e) Support of Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP)
In a multiprocessor system, to achieve maximum efficiency and reliability a mode of
operation known as symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) is desirable. With SMP, any process or
Thread can be assigned to any processor.
f) Windows NT uses concepts of object oriented design
Windows NT uses some concepts of object oriented design. This approach facilitates the
sharing of resources and data among processes and the protection of resources and data among
processes and the protection of resources from unauthorized access.

Advantages of Windows NT

a) It simplifies the base operating system
b) It improves reliability
c) It provides a natural base of distributed computing
d) Operating-system routines can run on any available processor and different routines can be
executed simultaneously on different processors.
e) NT supports the use of multiple threads of execution within a single process.
f) NT processes convenient mechanisms for sharing data and resources between processes.
g) NT provides flexible inter process communication capabilities.
g) Functionality-NT can communicate with many different types of computers.

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