From Hardware to Usage of Application: A Beginner’s Guide to Networking

To run an application we need to install that application in an operating system. For example, Google Chrome we can install in Windows to use. Where windows o/s is installed? Windows operating system is installed in our hardware?

But can chrome be directly installed in hardware? NO. When you install a windows, it is not directly installed on the actual hardware as an application will. It involves several layers that begin with firmware.

⚡Hardware:

The physical components (e.g., CPU, RAM, hard drive, motherboard) are where everything starts.

⚡Firmware:

Firmware is low-level software embedded directly into the hardware (e.g., motherboard, CPU, etc.). It provides basic functionality and control over the hardware. Think of it as the “instructions” for how the hardware should operate and interact with other software components.

Firmware usually exists in non-volatile memory, such as ROM on the motherboard, or even Flash memory on the motherboard.

Firmware runs when the hardware is powered on and is responsible for the system's booting, a process by which a computer starts its operation. It initializes all the hardware components like CPU, RAM, hard drive, keyboard, etc.

For example, The firmware will check whether the CPU is working correctly, initialize the RAM, and ensure the motherboard is functioning. This is part of the Power-On Self-Test (POST). After that, it looks for a bootable device (like a hard drive or SSD) that contains the operating system.

⚡Operating System :

Once the firmware initializes the hardware and performs the POST, the next step is for the operating system (like Windows) to take control. The operating system is a complex set of software that sits on top of the firmware. It acts as a bridge between the hardware and user applications. It manages hardware resources (CPU, memory, storage) and provides a platform for applications like Google Chrome to run.

The operating system is stored on your hard drive (HDD), solid-state drive (SSD), or any other storage device. When the computer starts up, the firmware checks the storage device and loads the operating system into RAM to execute.

The OS manages the system’s resources and provides services for application software. It allows applications to interact with hardware without needing to know the intricate details of the hardware.

For an example - When you start your computer, the BIOS/firmware looks for the operating system, which is typically stored on a hard disk. The OS is then loaded into RAM, taking control of the system’s resources, and managing things like memory and input/output operations.

⚡Installing Applications on Top of the OS:

Once the operating system is up and running, you can install applications like Google Chrome, Microsoft Office, etc., which use the resources provided by the OS to function.

Applications like Google Chrome are installed on your computer’s storage devices (HDD, SSD). They are then loaded into memory (RAM) when executed, with the OS managing their lifecycle (loading, executing, terminating).

Applications make use of the underlying OS services (file management, security, network connections) to perform tasks. Google Chrome, for instance, interacts with the OS to access the internet, manage files, and render web pages.

To sum it up, the installation process begins with the firmware on the hardware, which initializes and sets up the system. Then, the operating system takes over and provides a platform for installing and running applications