Everything You Need To Know About Process Management In Operating Systems

If you’re thinking about joining the field of IT and pursuing it professionally, then it’s important that you have a solid understanding of the basics of IT. This includes the process management aspect in operating systems. CompTIA A+ training is definitely the first step you should take and with the second step being ITSM training. Both of these training programs will help shape you into a well-rounded IT professional, opening a world of opportunities for career advancement in IT.

When we talk about the basics of IT, process management plays a vital role and is an integral aspect of modern-day operating systems. To help you get started, we’ll provide you with all the information you need to know about process management in modern-day operating systems.

Process Management In Terms Of Modern-Day OS And Olden Days OS  

Back in the day, computers allowed the execution of one program at a time so it had access to and complete power of the system and its resources. However, today the scenario is completely different. Current computers allow multiple programs to load and execute concurrently. This is predominantly because of the processor installed in today’s PC that has the ability to execute millions of program instructions/second—facilitating the OS to allocate every program some processor time. The multi-core processor is what allows the system to execute many processes or threads.

In today’s multiprogramming environment, the processor helps execute multiple programs which are arranged by the process manager. In other words, the process manager arranges the execution of the processes or programs by making schedule for to ensure efficient use of the resources which includes both software and hardware.

Now let’s take a deeper dive to understand how it’s performed and carried by breaking down the complex process management functions:

Process — What Is It?

A process is basically a program that is in its execution phase. The execution of the process should be carried in a sequential order which is based on algorithms. Processing can be divided into four sections—heap, data, text and stack. Once you complete and get your CompTIA certification, you’ll be able to master all these complex terminologies easily.

The process manager briefly assigns each process to the processor so that all the processes are executed in a short period. When a process is being executed, it has full control over the processor. However, at some point the OS has to regain the control for assigning the next process in line.

When an application program is started by the user, the high-level scheduler of the OS loads all or some parts of the program code from the secondary storage to the memory. This helps create a Process Control Block (PCB) which is also known as the data structure. It is created to hold process information like current status of the process and its location in the memory. Also, the OS maintains a process table separately in the memory that basically lists all the processes that are loading or running currently. Therefore, when a new process is added, it is assigned a different Process Identification Number (PIN) for better process management.

Furthermore, it is also allocated memory space, along with resources like access to disk space and I/O devices, if needed. All the information about the resources that are allocated to the process is held inside the process control block. On the other hand, the low-level scheduler of the operating system allocates CPU time for each process.

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Process Control Blocks

As mentioned earlier, PCB maintain information that is needed by the operating system for managing processes. It typically includes information like

• Process ID
• The number of the upcoming program instructions to be run and executed
• The process starting address in the memory
• The current process state (running, blocked or ready)

The Process Control Blocks are also responsible for storing the contents of processor registers. These are basically saved when the process moves from the running state and then returns back to it. The information is quickly updated in the PCB by the operating system as soon as the process makes the state transition. Once the process is completed and terminated, the OS removes it from the table and clears up the memory space and frees the resources assigned to the process thereby making them available for processes that need to be executed. This change over between processes is recognized as context switch.

Process Scheduling

A major aspect or element of the process management, process scheduling affects the efficiency of the processor. Therefore, it must be done correctly to manage queues properly and minimize delay thereby making the best use of the processor time. Process scheduling can be divided into four types:

• High level or long-term scheduling,
• Medium term scheduling
• Low level or short-term scheduling
• I/O scheduling  

The long-term scheduler is responsible for determining which programs are assigned for processing while medium-term scheduling has the swapping function. The swapping function primarily refers to transferring the process out of the main memory into the virtual memory. This usually occurs when the main memory needs to create space for new processes. The short-term scheduler acts like a dispatcher that determines what process will be executed next.

For more information about process management in operating systems, enroll in CompTIA A+ training program. The program provides information and knowledge about IT basics and process management. This training is also great for CompTIA A+ exam prep. Once you complete and clear the certification program, you’ll be able to apply for and secure a lucrative job in the field of IT.

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