Serving as both a basic reference and an up-to-date survey of the state of the art, this book covers the concepts, structure, and mechanisms of operating systems. Stallings presents the nature and characteristics of modern-day operating systems clearly and completely. Updated treatment of Windows as a case study to cover Windows Vista. Online animations with references incorporated throughout. A new chapter on Embedded Operating Systems. Part Six (Distributed Systems and Security) moved online, reducing the cost and size of the book without loss of content. Expanded coverage of security. New figures added, with many existing figures updated to enhance clarity. A useful reference for programmers, systems engineers, network designers and others involved in the design of computer products, information system and computer system personnel.