6 - Operating Systems

Abstract

This chapter briefly describes operating systems. The chapter looks at Linux and other open source operating systems, and then examines what goes into an operating system distribution and how to choose one. Applications developed for Linux run on all the distributions and versions without change. A Linux vendor could discontinue distribution, but the systems distributed could be migrated to other Linux versions without a large disruption. This issue is actually more of a concern for closed code products. At times, closed code vendors have gone bankrupt, been acquired, or just discontinued a product, and their customers were into migration to a replacement at an inopportune time. This happened with the DEC TOPS-20 and OS/2 operating systems, for example. Linux distributions are sufficiently similar that a customer can always select another distributor. Applications and custom solutions developed for one distribution will work with another. It is simply the best operating system in many respects and for most purposes. It is more secure than other general-purpose operating systems, has the fastest networking stack of any system, scales to the smallest appliances and the largest clusters, and is constantly improving.