At the core of any modern computer, tablet, smartphone or other computing device lies the operating system. The operating system is the piece of software that controls the computer’s foundational processes. It facilities the interaction of hardware and software, and between the user and the system. Microsoft’s Windows is perhaps the most well-known operating system, however the lesser known Linus is nevertheless an important operating system that along with Windows and Apple’s iOS has shaped the evolution of computer technologies. This paper will explore compare main differences between Windows and Linux. This paper will also illustrate how these differences have lead Linux to become the operating system of choice for web hosting and data center
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Android has also adopted some the open source philosophy that defines Linux. There are a large numbers of users crafting their own versions of Andriod. However, many manufactures limit support of modified android installations.
While Windows continues to dominate the desktop market, Linux has a significant market share in servers used for web hosting. Approximately 80% of websites currently online are operating on Linux based servers. Linux has some distinct advantages over Windows in the arena of web host server in terms of stability, costs, and security.
The flexibility available within the Linux operating systems allows for the creation lighter software that is able to run the server more efficiently than Windows. This is because windows is primarily focused on user interface, while Linux can be customized to only run functions relevant to server administration. Linux also does not require a graphical interface and the administrator can choose to use command line to operate the server. Furthermore, Linux does not require rebooting for updates, while rebooting is necessary on servers using Windows. The lack of the need for rebooting along with the more streamlined approach Linux can take makes for an overall more stable environment with less …show more content…
This is in part due to the idea of the “Linus law” which states that “"given enough eyeballs, all bugs are shallow". This is referring to the thinking that because of Linux’s open source status there are a large group of people actively working on improvements and updates to the software, thus ensuring that security vulnerabilities will be quickly caught and addressed. There is also the consensus that Windows’s much larger presence on desktop computers around the world make it a larger target for viruses and hackers Moreover, it can be argued that although Windows has a larger share of the consumer base, Linux’s presence on servers used by a variety of industries makes it a higher value target base.
However, events in recent years have demonstrated that Linux is still vulnerable to security flaws. The most notable of these flaws was the “Heartbleed” security bug. This is a security bug that affects the functionality to the security component used by Linux known as Open SSL. Windows server’s, which use a different implementation for SSL, were largely unaffected by the Heartbleed bug. Windows servers also have the exclusive ability to the run the ASP.net application. Still, Linux’s low cost and highly technical user base means it will likely retain its significant presence in data centers around the
Android has also adopted some the open source philosophy that defines Linux. There are a large numbers of users crafting their own versions of Andriod. However, many manufactures limit support of modified android installations.
While Windows continues to dominate the desktop market, Linux has a significant market share in servers used for web hosting. Approximately 80% of websites currently online are operating on Linux based servers. Linux has some distinct advantages over Windows in the arena of web host server in terms of stability, costs, and security.
The flexibility available within the Linux operating systems allows for the creation lighter software that is able to run the server more efficiently than Windows. This is because windows is primarily focused on user interface, while Linux can be customized to only run functions relevant to server administration. Linux also does not require a graphical interface and the administrator can choose to use command line to operate the server. Furthermore, Linux does not require rebooting for updates, while rebooting is necessary on servers using Windows. The lack of the need for rebooting along with the more streamlined approach Linux can take makes for an overall more stable environment with less …show more content…
This is in part due to the idea of the “Linus law” which states that “"given enough eyeballs, all bugs are shallow". This is referring to the thinking that because of Linux’s open source status there are a large group of people actively working on improvements and updates to the software, thus ensuring that security vulnerabilities will be quickly caught and addressed. There is also the consensus that Windows’s much larger presence on desktop computers around the world make it a larger target for viruses and hackers Moreover, it can be argued that although Windows has a larger share of the consumer base, Linux’s presence on servers used by a variety of industries makes it a higher value target base.
However, events in recent years have demonstrated that Linux is still vulnerable to security flaws. The most notable of these flaws was the “Heartbleed” security bug. This is a security bug that affects the functionality to the security component used by Linux known as Open SSL. Windows server’s, which use a different implementation for SSL, were largely unaffected by the Heartbleed bug. Windows servers also have the exclusive ability to the run the ASP.net application. Still, Linux’s low cost and highly technical user base means it will likely retain its significant presence in data centers around the