Functions of Long-Term Scheduler
- Long-term schedulers are in charge of determining the order in which processes are executed and managing the execution of processes that may take a long time to complete, such as batch jobs or background tasks.
- A long-term scheduler’s primary function is to minimize processing time by taking the mixtures of CPU-bound jobs and I/O-bound jobs.
- CPU Bound Jobs: CPU-bound jobs are tasks or processes that necessitate a significant amount of CPU processing time and resources (Central Processing Unit). These jobs can put a significant strain on the CPU, affecting system performance and responsiveness.
- I/O Bound Jobs: I/O bound jobs are tasks or processes that necessitate a large number of input/output (I/O) operations, such as reading and writing to discs or networks. These jobs are less dependent on the CPU and can put a greater strain on the system’s I/O subsystem.
Long Term Scheduler in Operating System
Pre-requisites: Process Schedulers in Operating System
A long-term scheduler, also known as a job scheduler, is an operating system component that determines which processes should be admitted to the system and when. It is used in batch processing systems and operates at a high level. The long-term scheduler is in charge of allocating resources such as processor time and memory to processes based on their needs and priorities. It also determines the order in which processes are executed and manages the execution of processes that may take a long time to complete, such as batch jobs or background tasks. Because it operates at a higher level and does not need to make scheduling decisions in real-time, the long-term scheduler is typically slower to respond than other types of schedulers, such as the short-term scheduler. However, it is an essential component of the operating system because it ensures that the system is used efficiently and effectively.