OPERATING SYSTEM

An Operating System (OS) is an interface between a computer user and computer hardware.
An operating system is a software which performs all the basic tasks like file management,
memory management, process management, handling input and output, and controlling
peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.

An operating system is software that enables applications to interact with a computer's

hardware. The software that contains the core components of the operating system is called
the kernel.

The primary purposes of an Operating System are to enable applications to interact with a
computer's hardware and to manage a system's hardware and software resources.

Some popular Operating Systems include Linux Operating System, Windows Operating
System, VMS, OS/400, AIX, z/OS, etc. Today, Operating systems is found almost in every
device like mobile phones, personal computers, mainframe computers, automobiles, TV,
Toys etc.

Generally, a Computer System consists of the following components:

 Computer Users are the users who use the overall computer system.

 Application Softwares are the softwares which users use directly to perform different
activities. These softwares are simple and easy to use like Browsers, Word, Excel,
different Editors, Games etc. These are usually written in high-level languages, such
as Python, Java and C++.

 System Softwares are the softwares which are more complex in nature and they are
more near to computer hardware. These software are usually written in low-level
languages like assembly language and includes Operating Systems (Microsoft
Windows, macOS, and Linux), Compiler, and Assembler etc.

 Computer Hardware includes Monitor, Keyboard, CPU, Disks, Memory, etc.

Following are some of important functions of an operating System:

 Process Management
 I/O Device Management
 File Management
 Network Management
 Main Memory Management
 Secondary Storage Management
 Security Management
  Command Interpreter System
 Control over system performance
 Job Accounting
 Error Detection and Correction
 Coordination between other software and users
 Many more other important tasks

LINUX OPERATING SYSTEM

Linux is one of popular version of UNIX operating System. It is open source as its source
code is freely available. It is free to use. Linux was designed considering UNIX
compatibility. Its functionality list is quite similar to that of UNIX.

Components of Linux System

Linux Operating System has primarily three components:

 Kernel − Kernel is the core part of Linux. It is responsible for all major activities of
this operating system. It consists of various modules and it interacts directly with the
underlying hardware. Kernel provides the required abstraction to hide low level
hardware details to system or application programs.
 System Library − System libraries are special functions or programs using which
application programs or system utilities accesses Kernel's features. These libraries
implement most of the functionalities of the operating system and do not requires
kernel module's code access rights.
 System Utility − System Utility programs are responsible to do specialized,
individual level tasks.

Kernel component code executes in a special privileged mode called kernel mode with full
access to all resources of the computer. This code represents a single process, executes in
single address space and do not require any context switch and hence is very efficient and
fast. Kernel runs each processes and provides system services to processes, provides
protected access to hardware to processes. Support code which is not required to run in kernel
mode is in System Library.
Basic Features
Following are some of the important features of Linux Operating System.
 Portable − Portability means software can works on different types of hardware in
same way. Linux kernel and application programs supports their installation on any
kind of hardware platform.
 Open Source − Linux source code is freely available and it is community based
development project. Multiple teams work in collaboration to enhance the capability
of Linux operating system and it is continuously evolving.
 Multi-User − Linux is a multiuser system means multiple users can access system
resources like memory/ ram/ application programs at same time.
 Multiprogramming − Linux is a multiprogramming system means multiple
applications can run at same time.
  Hierarchical File System − Linux provides a standard file structure in which system
files/ user files are arranged.
 Shell − Linux provides a special interpreter program which can be used to execute
commands of the operating system. It can be used to do various types of operations,
call application programs. etc.
 Security − Linux provides user security using authentication features like password
protection/ controlled access to specific files/ encryption of data.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LINUX AND WINDOWS OS

Parameter Linux Windows

Linux is an open-source operating Windows is an operating system

Definition
system developed for desktops developed for desktops

Developed Linus Torvalds Microsoft

by

Availability Open-source and free of cost Not an open-source and it is paid

Linux is machine-friendly. So user Windows is simple with rich GUI

must have some exposure to Linux options. User doesn’t need any
Ease of use
commands. It takes more time for knowledge of programming. It is
users to get used to Linux more useful for non-technical users.

Kernel type Monolithic kernel Microkernel

Path Forward slash is used as a path Backward slash is used as a path

separator separator separator

Linux is more secure than Windows Windows is less secure compared to

Security
Linux

Case Linux is highly case-sensitive Windows is not case sensitive

sensitivity

Updates Linux updates less frequently Windows updates frequently

Linux is written in C and Assembly Windows is written in C++ and

Written in
language Assembly language

Linux is distributed under Windows is distributed under

License GPL(GNU General Public License) Proprietary commercial software
license license

Linux is more reliable than windows Windows is not much reliable as

Reliability
as it is more secured Linux
 Linux uses tree structure to store Windows uses directories such as C,
File system files. In Linux everything is D, E and more and folders are used
considered as a file to store files

 Regular  Administrator
Types of  Administrative  Standard
users  Service  Child
 Guest

Linux is faster than windows Windows is slower compared to

Speed
Linux

Here, the command line is referred Windows also have a command

Command to as a Terminal which is very useful prompt which is not as effective as
line and perform various tasks Terminal.
Users use GUI to perform their tasks

Linux installation setup is a bit Windows is easy to setup but takes

Installation complicated but it takes less time to more time to install
install