chapter 1 introduction to windows xp professional

Chapter 1Introduction to Windows XP Professional

Learning Objectives

Describe the Windows XP family of products

Describe the major features of the Windows XP environment

Understand the Windows XP intelligent user interface

Understand the two major networking models under which Windows XP can be used

Understand the architecture of Windows XP

A simplified diagram of how data and information flows in an Operating System

The User InterfaceAccepts data from input devices such as the mouse and keyboard

Outputs information to display devices.


Application Program Interface (API)

Acts as an interface for application programs, the user interface and utilities to access the internal services of the OS


The Kernel

Manages memory by locating and allocating space to programs.

Schedules time for programs to execute

Provides communications between programs that are running

Manages and arranges services and resources that are provided by other modules

Controls security


File Management SystemAllocates and manages secondary storage space

Translates file requests from their name-based form into specific I/O requests


I/O Drivers

Perform the actual storage and retrieval of files

I/O drivers provides control over one or more hardware devices that are part of the computer


Network Module

Controls interaction between the computer and networks

Windows XP (five products)

Windows Profesional XP 64-Bit Edition Designed to work with 64 bit processors

form Intel and ADM Released in spring 2003

Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Designed for computers that serve as

multimedia operating centers Tuned to maximize the experiences with

video, audio, images, television, and CD/DVD playback.


Windows XP Tablet PC Edition Designed specifically for use on Tablet

PC’s. Has improved speech and pen recognition

technologies Windows XP Home Edition

Designed specifically for stand alone home use.

Same as Windows XP professional but does not support a number of features.


Windows XP Professional Designed for stand alone use or to be part

of a workgroup or domain network client. Idea client for connecting to Windows

2003 server or Windows server 2007. The majority of the class will deal with this

version of Windows.

Windows 7 Versions

Starter Home Premium Professional Enterprise Ultimate

The Windows XP Environment (major characteristics)

Plug and Play Automatically detects presence of new

hardware. Installs the appropriate device driver.


Multiple Processors Supports true multiprocessing. Will support quad core processors.


Multitasking Mode of CPU operation in which computer

processes more than one task at a time. Windows XP supports two type of

multitasking. Preemptive Cooperative


Multithreading Individual tasks within single process

space operate independently as separate execution modules called threads.

Remember a CPU can execute only one thread of code at a time.

All threads share same memory and system resources

Allows OS to execute multiple threads from single application concurrently


Security Protected mandatory logon system Memory protection System auditing Precise controls on file and directory

access


Help and Support Services Comprehensive Help system Step-by-step guides Topical and index organizations Online help

The Windows User Interface

The Desktop Microsoft labels this as the “user

experience”

The Windows User Interface

The Start Menu

The Taskbar

Running Programs Notification Area

Quick Launch Media Player

Windows XP Architecture

Windows XP is a modular OS. Modules are small software elements

that cooperate to provide the systems computing and networking capabilities.

Each module consists of unique functions, code segments and system controls

The modules communicate with each other through well defined interfaces.

This modular system allow for easy expansion and patches as needed.


All Windows XP processes operate in one of two modes; User mode Kernel mode

These modes represent a certain level of system and hardware access.

Windows XP Architecture (User Mode)

An isolated portion of the system environment in which user applications execute.

Provides only mediated access to Windows XP system resources.

Any request for services must pass through the Executive Services components of the kernel mode to obtain access.

Windows XP Architecture (User Mode)

The Application Program Interface (API) supports three core environment sub-systems. Win 32 Win 16 DOS.

Win 16 and DOS programs run in API’s that emulate there native environment, however WIN32 controls the interface and all I/O requests.


Windows XP is an object orientated operating system.

An Object is a collection of attributes with associated data values, plus a set of related services that can be performed on that object.

Objects have an existence independent of any particular process in the Windows XP environment.


Objects are defined by Type – what attributes and servises they

support Instance – defines a specific entity of a

certain type An example

There may be many object of the type defined as “files” but only one can have a unique combination of directory specification and file name.


Windows XP controls access to individual objects.

It can control which users and groups can perform particular services related to each object.


Part of the user mode is the security subsystem.

This subsystem is responsible for the logon process.

Works directly with the kernel mode to verify the username and password.

To obtain access to the login sequence the user must be at a locally connected keyboard.


In network applications the attention sequence is used.

Ctrl+Alt+Delete This sequence can not be faked

remotely, it guarantees that the login process can not be used by remote hackers to gain access to a local computer operations.


Logging on to Windows XP in Local Mode


Logging on to Windows XP when connected to a network

Windows XP Architecture (kernel mode)

The mode which controls the inner works of the Windows XP OS.

Some key element of the kernel mode stay resident in memory at all times.

Handles process priorities and process scheduling.

Provides the ability to preempt currently running processes and schedule new processes.


The kernel mode insulates the core operating systems from the user mode subsystem.

The user application must request any access to hardware and low-level resources from the kernel mode.

Windows checks the access requests against the access permission located in the token associated with the requestor.


This approach helps maintain control over the entire computer and protect the system from ill-behaved applications.


The kernel mode may be divided into three subsystems; Executive services Kernel Hardware abstraction layer (HAL)

These three subsystems run in privileged mode which allows direct access to all system resources.

Windows XP Architecture (Executive Services)

Executive services are the interfaces that allow the kernel and user mode to communicate.

The executive services consist of the following;


I/O Services Handles all operating system input and

output. This includes

Receiving requests for I/O from applications Determining which driver is needed Requesting that drive for the application


The components for the I/O manager Cache manager – handles disk caching for

all file systems. Network drivers – the software

components that enable communication with the network

Device drivers – 32-bit and multiprocessor-compatible minidrivers that enable communication with devices.


Security Reference Monitor (SRM) Compares the access rights of the user

with the access control list (ACL) associated with an individual object.

Whenever a process is launched by a user the process inherits the rights defined by the users security token.


Internal Process Call (IPC) manager Controls application communications with

server processes such as the WIN32 subsystem.

Virtual Memory Manage Keeps track of addressable memory

spaces in the Windows XP environment Includes physical RAM and one or more

page files on disk (virtual memory).


Process Manager Tracks two kernel dispatch objects,

processes and threads. Responsible for creating and tracking

processes and threads and cleaning up after they are no longer needed.

Plug and Play Manager Handles the loading, unloading and

configuring device drivers for Plug and Play devices.

Allows the hot-swapping of devices.


Power Manager Monitors and controls the use of power.

Windows Manager Introduces a method of network-based

centralized control to Window XP File System Manager

Responsible for maintaining access and cotnrol over the file systems of the Windows XP environment.

Controls file I/O transfers fro all the file systems.


Object Manager Maintains object naming and security function for

all system objects It allocates the use of objects, monitors there use

and removes them when no longer needed Maintains the following system objects.

Directory objects ObjectType objects Link objects Event Objects Process and thread objects Port objects File objects


The Hardware Abstraction Layer The goal of this layer is to isolate any

hardware dependent code to prevent direct access to hardware

HAL is low-level hardware dependent code.

HAL is built during the initial installation of the OS

If significant changes are made to the OS, the HAL must be rebuilt, this may require reinstallation of the OS.

Windows XP Memory Architecture

Uses a flat 32-bit memory model Based on a virtual memory, demand

page method of addressing up to 4GB. Demand page is the characteristic

where an application can request (demand) a specific item from memory.

Windows XP Security Technologies

Windows Firewall Security Center Attachment Manager Encrypting File System Security management policies

The Help and Support Center

Security Center

The Roll of Windows XP in Organizations

Workgroup networks Domain networks


Simple to design and implement

Localized security Convenient for

smaller networks; does not scale well

Windows XP in a Workgroup Network


More complex to design and implement

Centralized security Required for large

networks; scales very well

Windows XP in a Domain Network

chapter 1 introduction to windows xp professional

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