ZSYS H1201 - Operating Systems

Module Title:Operating Systems
Credits: 10
NFQ Level:6
Module Delivered In 1 programme(s)
Teaching & Learning Strategies: Learning is divided into a one hour lecture and three hour practical session over thirty weeks. The practical sessions will provide students with hands on experience in installing, using, configuring and managing operating systems. It will also provide the opportunity to implement and reinforce some of the material presented in the lectures and to learn by doing.
Module Aim: To provide students with practical skills and working knowledge of industry standard operating systems.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner should be able to:
LO1 Demonstrate practical skills in the operation and management of contemporary operating systems.
LO2 Explain the operation of the file manager and processor manager components of an operating system.
LO3 Install and configure Windows and Linux operating systems with appropriate security considerations.
LO4 Automate simple tasks by using system commands to write and execute scripts.
LO5 Differentiate between paging, segmentation and virtual memory in terms of memory management.
LO6 Describe the architecture and operation the input/output subsystem.
Pre-requisite learning
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is recommended before enrolment in this module.

No recommendations listed
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module.
No incompatible modules listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Requirements
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed.
No requirements listed
 

Module Content & Assessment

Indicative Content
Familiarisation with Windows and Linux environments:
Use of GUI and CLI interfaces, customizing the desktop, passwords; Use of operating system utilities for example: disk defragmentation programs, file compression/decompression programs.
System Software (OS)
Bootstrapping and the boot process, dual booting; application software versus system software; OS architecture, types of operating systems and categories of OS, examples of OS.
Files and File Management:
File and directory management, file types, access and storage; File systems; for example NTFS, exFAT, ext4
Installation:
Getting ready for installation, disk partitioning, dual boot, installing via the internet or CD, creating a boot disk.
Configuration of the OS:
Mounting and unmounting file systems, plug and play features, device drives, loading operating system components, installing and configuring application software, troubleshooting.
OS Commands:
For example; input and output redirection commands and file and directory management commands, writing batch files/shell scripts to automate tasks.
Basic Computer Security:
Viruses and firewalls, basic system administration; add users, changing access rights.
Process Management:
Process control blocks, process states and the process life cycles, process scheduling policies.
Memory Management:
Memory hierarchy, paging, segmentation and virtual memory; Demand paging, page replacement policies. Windows (pagefile.sys) versus Linux swap space.
Choosing an OS:
Hardware considerations, ease of use, cost, file portability, applications available for use, comparing the different versions of Linux and Windows operating systems on the market.
Assessment Breakdown%
Continuous Assessment100.00%
Continuous Assessment
Assessment Type Assessment Description Outcome addressed % of total Assessment Date
Multiple Choice Questions Early Diagnostic 2 10.00 Week 8
Examination Written Theory Exam (Jan and End April) 2,5,6 40.00 n/a
Practical/Skills Evaluation Practical Lab Exam (Dec and Start April) 1,3,4 30.00 n/a
Practical/Skills Evaluation Group Script Assignment and Lab Demo 4 10.00 Week 20
Other Lab Completion and Participation 1,3,4 10.00 Every Week
No Project
No Practical
No End of Module Formal Examination

SETU Carlow Campus reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload
Lecture 30 Weeks per Stage 1.00
Laboratory 30 Weeks per Stage 3.00
Estimated Learner Hours 30 Weeks per Stage 2.67
Total Hours 200.00
 

Module Delivered In

Programme Code Programme Semester Delivery
CW_KWCAP_C Higher Certificate in Computing 1 Mandatory