Structure of Linux Operating System

    Linux is an open source operating system.  The source code of Linux is available to read as well as modify as you wish. This makes it a great tool to learn about operating systems and what goes inside them.

    So in this post we are going to see the structure of the Linux operating system. Linux operating system has a structure similar to commercial operating systems. However, Linux is closer to Unix operating system.

The main structure of Linux consists of :-

1.       Hardware

2.       Kernel

3.       Device drivers

4.       Standard library of procedures

5.       Standard library of utilities

6.       Applications

   The layered architecture of Linux operating system is shown in the following diagram:-

Architecture of Operating System

The architecture of Linux operating system consists of four layers:-

1.       Hardware:- The innermost layer(circle) comprises of hardware which is essential to run the operating system on.  Hardware does the actual calculations by the processor.

2.       Kernel: - Kernel is an interface between hardware and operating system(software). Every process scheduled at operating system passes through kernel. In Linux, kernel contains device drivers used which are specific to the hardware of the system. These device drivers can interact directly with the hardware.

    Kernel is also responsible for memory management as well as resource management of the system. Kernel decides the permissions given to the user in terms of operations. Kernel is the brain of the operating system. Read further: http://craxylinux.blogspot.com/2016/04/operating-system-kernel-overview_22.html

3.       Shell:-  Shell is the command prompt of Linux. The Terminal used in Linux uses shell to communicate with commands given by users. Shell is a lot powerful than command prompt that you use in windows. It can be mended for convenience by shell scripting.

            Shell scripting allows you to modify system as per convenience.

4.       Applications:- The outermost layer comprises of Applications and utilities. Applications like media, games, editors run in the outermost layer. The processes produced by these applications run through kernel to processing.

    The third and fourth layer do not have access to hardware. Only kernel has that privilage.

So, this is the structure of Linux operating system. Each of these layers can be studied in further detail. Do not forget to leave feedback. Thanks.

Also read further about kernel:http://craxylinux.blogspot.com/2016/04/operating-system-kernel-overview_22.html