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UNIX Is A Multi-Tasking and Multi-User Operating System, Originally Developed On A PDP-11/20

UNIX was originally developed in 1970 by a team at AT&T Bell Labs as a multi-tasking and multi-user operating system, written first in PDP-11/20 assembly language and then C. It was designed to be portable across different hardware by writing the kernel in C rather than assembly and has since been ported to many systems. Key features of UNIX include supporting virtual memory, a hierarchical file system, multi-tasking, multi-users, and being an open system using standard protocols and technologies.

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63 views1 page

UNIX Is A Multi-Tasking and Multi-User Operating System, Originally Developed On A PDP-11/20

UNIX was originally developed in 1970 by a team at AT&T Bell Labs as a multi-tasking and multi-user operating system, written first in PDP-11/20 assembly language and then C. It was designed to be portable across different hardware by writing the kernel in C rather than assembly and has since been ported to many systems. Key features of UNIX include supporting virtual memory, a hierarchical file system, multi-tasking, multi-users, and being an open system using standard protocols and technologies.

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kalaraiju
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UNIX is a multi-tasking and multi-user operating system, originally developed on a PDP-11/20

computer by a team of AT&T Bell Labs employees, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Douglas
McIlroy and Rudd Canaday in 1970.
UNIX was initially called "Unics", because it was based on a previous experimental operating system
called "Multics".
The first version of UNIX was written in PDP-11/20 assembly language and had only two application
programs: a text formatting program called "roff" and a text editor.
In 1973, UNIX was rewritten in the C programming language and became a portable operating
system. Since them, UNIX has been ported to a wide range of computers.
Main features of UNIX operating systems:
UNIX Is Portable - UNIX kernel is written in C language instead of assembly language. Porting
UNIX from one hardware platform to another is easy, requiring only a small amount of
machine-dependent code to be replaced.
UNIX Supports Virtual Memory - A portion of the hard disk space is used to extend the
physical memory using memory paging and swapping techniques.
UNIX Supports Hierarchical File System - All storage devices and some other resources are
organized into a single directory tree structure.
UNIX Systems Are Open - UNIX systems use industry-standard technologies, like TCP/IP
protocols for communication, X-Windows for user interface, and NFS for remote storage
sharing.
UNIX Supports Multi-Tasking - Each user can perform multiple tasks simultaneously, like
formatting a disk, running a large numeric simulation program, and editing a file at the same
time.
UNIX Supports Multi-User - Multiple users can log in to a single UNIX system and performing
their own tasks at the same time.
UNIX Kernel Is Small - Command interpreter (shell) and user commands are provided as
separate programs to keep the kernel small and allow new command interpreters and
commands to be added easily.
UNIX Supports Command Pipelines - Multiple commands can be linked with data producer-
consumer relations.

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