Early computer models did not have this capability. This feature
gives the OS more flexibility in relinquishing control to and regaining control
from user programs.
Processor time alternates between execution of user programs and execution
of the monitor. There have been two sacrifices: Some main memory is now given
over to the monitor and some processor time is consumed by the monitor. Both of
these are forms of overhead. Even with this overhead, the simple batch system im-
proves utilization of the computer.
MULTIPROGRAMMED BATCH SYSTEMS
Even with the automatic job sequencing
provided by a simple batch OS, the processor is often idle. The problem is that I/O
devices are slow compared to the processor. Figure 8.4 details a representative cal-
culation. The calculation concerns a program that processes a file of records and
performs, on average, 100 processor instructions per record. In this example the
computer spends over 96% of its time waiting for I/O devices to finish transferring
data! Figure 8.5a illustrates this situation. The processor spends a certain amount of
time executing, until it reaches an I/O instruction. It must then wait until that I/O
instruction concludes before proceeding.