BN206 - Operating System Report: Linux vs Windows Server Management

This report provides a comparative analysis of Linux and Windows operating systems, focusing on their use in server management. It begins by introducing the fundamental differences between the two, highlighting Linux as an open-source, free operating system and Windows as a commercial product. The report then delves into mobile operating systems, comparing Android (based on a modified Linux Kernel) and iOS, detailing their architectures and key features. Advantages and disadvantages of both Linux and Windows are discussed, including Linux's security and customization versus Windows' software compatibility and user-friendliness. The report also covers improvements in Linux Kernel and Windows operating systems, such as enhanced networking capabilities and the integration of Cortana. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of choosing an operating system based on specific user needs, with Linux favored for its flexibility and Windows for its ease of use and broad software support. Desklib provides access to this assignment and many more resources to aid students in their studies.

Running head: LINUX VS. WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM
LINUX VS. WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM
Name of Student
ID of Student
Name of Lecturer
Name of Tutor
Name of University
Author’s Note

1LINUX VS. WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM
Introduction
Operating system is a specific program that is intended to control the hardware of the computer
and behaves as a mediator between the hardware and user. Linux and windows operating systems are
two different systems that have numerous differences. The major difference among both is that Linux is
completely free and Windows is quite costly and a marketable operating system [1]. This assignment
discusses regarding two trends on operating system named, mobile operating system and Kernel
operating system.
Background
Linux operating system is built around the Linux kernel. The particular defining component of the
Linux operating system is the operating system named Linux Kernel which was first released in
September 17, 1991. Linux is a specific open source operating system; in this users are able to access the
source code and are also able to improve that particular code with the use of that system. Microsoft
Windows is considered as a specific family of operating systems that is introduced for personal
computers. There are numerous operating system for handheld devices, mobile and services developed
by Microsoft. In windows operating system, users are not allowed to access the source code and the user
needs to be licensed in order to use this operating system.
Explanation of the topic
Mobile operating system
Like the Linux operating system and Windows operating system controls the laptop or desktop of
the user, a mobile operating system is a specific software platform where various programs are allowed
to run on the mobile devices. This operating system is able to determine the features and functions
available on the users’ device like thumb wheel, WAP, keyboards and many more [2]. Various mobile
operating systems include Android and iOS.
Windows operating system

2LINUX VS. WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM
Devices that usually run on Windows can be considered as successor of operating system
Windows Mobile of the developer of software Microsoft [4]. Microsoft has a low market share compared
to other mobile operating systems.
Technical details
The architecture of mobile operating systems is mentioned below.
Mobile OS: Android
 Has a modified Linux Kernel.
 Has an open source Libraries which are coded in C++ and C.
 An Android Runtime.
 An Application Framework.
 The required applications.
Mobile OS: iOS
This operating system is only used for numerous Apple devices such as iPhone. Its market share
has been growing continuously since few years. The features of this operating system include.
 The core OS is the Kernel operating system.
 The basic services include Fundamental system-services that are further divided into
various frameworks and are based on Objective C and C.
 It considers the high level framework that is responsible for the usage of video and audio
technologies and graphics [3].
 The operating system includes a UIKIT that is a framework which is based on Objective C
and gives access to various functionalities that are required for the development of the
application of iOS such as User Interface Management.
Various devices like computers and Phones that run on windows operating system, uses tools
and technologies that are also used in applications that are station based such as Frameworks Silverlight,
.NET Compact, XNA and Visual Studio.
Advantages and disadvantages

3LINUX VS. WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM
Advantages
Linux operating system
 Linux operating system includes a wide range of options; these options are available to various
users and increased security.
 Various distributions are available for the end users.
 Security is one of the major advantages of Linux operating system [5]. The flaws related to
security are caught before they become an issue for the organization.
Windows operating system
 There have been numerous advancements in the Windows operating system which has made
the usage of the system very reliable.
 There are numerous Microsoft users; as a result, there are more software programs, utilities,
games for windows.
 Almost all the hardware manufacturers would support the Microsoft Windows. Due to this, all
hardware devices are supported.
Disadvantages
Linux operating system
 The main issue in Linux operating system is regarding drivers [6]. Before any user can install any
sort of hardware component in their computer, the user should make sure that the hardware
has required drivers.
 Most of the hardware might not seem to be compatible with Linux in case the user decides to
switch.
 Unlike Windows operating system, Linux does not usually support out of the box. The companies
need to pay a specific amount of fees for the support if they are unable to solve a particular
issue.
Windows operating system
 Microsoft operating system is more costly when compared to Linux operating system because
every license cost around $50, 00- $ 100. 00.
 When Windows operating system is compared to Linux, it is more prone to attacks and viruses.

4LINUX VS. WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM
 This operating system needs to be rebooted time to time else there might be a possibility that
the system would hang up.
Improvements on the topic that has been made
Linux Kernel improvements
 The creator of Linux operating system had released new Linux 2.6.35 kernel which provides the
users of open source operating system with various networking capabilities as well as
performance with improvements in file system.
 The main improvement in Linux operating system is the 2.6. 35 Linux Kernel include the incoming
network traffic features regarding load-spreading like Receive Flow Steering (RFS), Receive
Packet Steering (RPS) [7]. These aim in improving the performance. These enhancements have
been contributed by the search engine named Google.
Windows operating system improvements
 Cortana is one of the improvements in this field. This is the assistant of Windows phone which is
available for Windows 10 in the form of a search pane on taskbar [8]. With the use of this, users
can trigger it just by saying “Hey Cortana” when the user starts searching in the start menu.
 Users of Windows operating systems are allowed to set reminders for various times as well as
places which appear on other Cortana gadgets, in this way the user can get their Microsoft band
to remind them to take the dustbin outside when the user walks up to their front door.
Conclusion
Usually users seek for an operating system that is reliable to use and provides proper
modification for making its performance better. On the other hand, various organizations and businesses
that work at a specific scale do not have options far from Linux because using the Windows operating
system in these situations would limit the scope of making new and easy modifications more than they
want it. Linux as well as Windows operating system provide numerous advantages as well as
disadvantages; they also have improved to a great extent. These points have been mentioned above in
details.

5LINUX VS. WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM
References
[1] S Abraham, G Gagne, and P. B. Galvin. Operating system concepts. Wiley, 2018.
[2] K Granino Interactive Dynamic-System Simulation. Crc Press, 2016.
[3] A Madhavapeddy and D Scott. "Unikernels: the rise of the virtual library operating
system." Communications of the ACM 57.1 (2014): 61-69.
[4] P Claus. "Containerization and the paas cloud." IEEE Cloud Computing 2.3 (2015): 24-31.
[5] K. Divya, and V. K. Kumar. "Comparative analysis of smart phone operating systems android, apple ios
and windows." International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Applied Science (IJSEAS) 2.2 (2016):
432-439.
[6] B Antonio, et al. "An os-level framework for anomaly detection in complex software systems." IEEE
Transactions on Dependable and Secure Computing 12.3 (2015): 366-372.
[7] L Michael Hale, et al. The art of memory forensics: detecting malware and threats in windows, linux,
and Mac memory. John Wiley & Sons, 2014.
[8] S George "Crystal structure refinement with SHELXL." Acta Crystallographica Section C: Structural
Chemistry 71.1 (2015): 3-8.