Disk Operating System

disk operating system
    n 1: an operating system that is on a disk [syn: {DOS}, {disk
         operating system}]
    

Disk Operating System

   <operating system> (DOS) The original {disk operating system}
   from {IBM}.

   DOS was the low-end OS of choice on the {IBM 360}, the
   high-end system was called just "{OS}".  DOS had a smaller
   {kernel} and less functionality than OS and could run on the
   typical 32K 360/30 and 64K 360/40 class machines.

   DOS was a successor to {TOS}.

   (1999-01-20)
    

disk operating system

   <operating system> (DOS) The name of a number of {operating
   systems} which include facilities for storing files on disk,
   often used to refer to {Microsoft DOS}.  Such a system must
   handle physical disk I/O, the mapping of file names to disk
   addresses and protection of files from unauthorised access (in
   a {multi-user} system).

   A DOS should present a uniform interface to different storage
   device such as {floppy disks}, {hard disks} and {magnetic
   tape} drives.  It may also provide some kind of locking to
   prevent unintentional simultaneous access by two processes to
   the same file (or {record}).

   (1998-07-08)