What is an Operating System?

What is an Operating System Used for?

An operating system is the core computer code that enables you to utilise your server's capabilities. For those using a VPS or a dedicated server, its primary purpose revolves around managing resources and providing a stable environment for your online presence. Here's a breakdown of the key roles of an OS:

• Server resource management: The operating system is responsible for allocating and managing the server's hardware resources, including CPU processor power, RAM, storage space, and network bandwidth. This ensures your website and programs run efficiently without resource conflicts or a deadlock.
• Application execution: It provides the necessary environment for web server software (like Apache or Nginx), database servers (like MySQL or PostgreSQL), and other applications essential for web hosting. Without an OS, these programs cannot function.
• Security and stability: The operating system plays a vital role in securing your server and data by managing user access every time, implementing security protocols, and providing tools for monitoring and responding to potential threats. It also contributes to the overall stability of your server, preventing crashes and ensuring consistent performance.
• Networking and connectivity: Your operating system handles network communication, allowing your server to connect to the internet and communicate with other devices. This is crucial for serving web pages, processing data, and managing remote access.
• Automation and management: Operating systems provide tools and interfaces for automating tasks, managing server configurations, and monitoring performance. This simplifies server administration and enables efficient maintenance. 

In essence, the OS kernel is the foundation that enables you to reliably host websites all the time, run programs, and manage your server data environment. The essential software transforms raw hardware into a functional and secure platform for your online operations.

The operating system performs many essential process functions that are crucial for the smooth operation of your server. Primarily, it acts as a resource manager, controlling and allocating the server's hardware components.

This includes managing the CPU's processor power, ensuring efficient use of RAM for each program, organising storage drives, and handling network communications. Without this management, programs would compete for resources, leading to instability, poor performance, or even a process deadlock.

The OS kernel also serves as a platform for running applications, providing the necessary environment to function for web servers, databases, and other process software. This involves handling file management, processor power scheduling to avoid a deadlock, and memory allocation.

Moreover, program security is a core function of the OS. It implements access controls, manages user permissions, and provides process tools for detecting and preventing security threats, safeguarding your server from unauthorised and malicious activity.

Objectives of Operating Systems

The primary objectives of an operating system, especially within the context of web hosting, dedicated servers and the public cloud, revolve around efficiency, reliability, and security. Essentially, an OS aims to maximise the utilisation of your server resources:

• One key objective is optimising device performance, ensuring programs run smoothly and efficiently. This involves effectively managing the processor, memory, and storage, preventing bottlenecks and a deadlock and ensuring consistent responsiveness.
   
•  Another crucial objective is to provide a stable and reliable program environment. The OS strives to minimise downtime and prevent system and device crashes, ensuring your website and applications remain accessible.
   
• Security is also a paramount objective. The OS implements robust program security measures to protect your server and data from unauthorised access, malware, and other threats. This involves managing user access, implementing security protocols, and providing tools for monitoring and responding to potential security incidents.
   
• In many cases, if it is a server OS, the OS kernel aims to simplify server management, providing tools and interfaces that allow administrators to easily configure, monitor, and maintain the server.

In summary, the objectives of an operating system are all about creating a secure, efficient, and reliable platform that empowers you to effectively manage your web hosting and server read and write operations and programs.

Types of Operating Systems

Operating systems come in various forms, each designed to serve specific purposes, processes and real environments. For web hosting and dedicated servers, understanding the different types is crucial for making informed decisions about your server and data setup.

• Server operating systems: These are designed for server environments, prioritising security and performance. Examples include UNIX distributions (such as Ubuntu Server, CentOS, and Debian) and Windows Server. These OSs are optimised for handling multiple users and processes, managing network resources, and running server programs.
   
• Desktop operating systems: While not typically used for dedicated servers, desktop OSs like Windows and macOS are designed for personal computers. They prioritise user-friendliness and a graphical interface but may lack the robust features and stability required for heavy server workloads. However, they can be utilised for smaller local servers.
   
•  Embedded operating systems: These are specialised OSs designed and used for a device and programs with limited resources, such as routers, firewalls, and any other type of device. While less directly related to web hosting, they play a vital role in the underlying infrastructure of many IT solutions and containerized environments like Docker.
   
• Mobile operating systems: Operating systems like Android and iOS are designed for mobile devices but function similarly to other operating systems, with mobile-specific use cases and processes.
   
• Virtualisation operating systems (Hypervisors): These specialised OSs, like VMware ESXi or KVM, enable the creation and management of virtual machines every time using a dedicated memory space. They play a critical role in modern web hosting environments, allowing multiple virtual servers to run on a single physical server.

For your web hosting needs, server operating systems, particularly Linux, UNIX distributions, and Windows Server, are the most relevant for processes. These OSs offer the performance, file security, and management capabilities necessary for reliably running real websites and programs.

Examples of Operating Systems

Operating systems form the fundamental layer of software that enables us to interact with our digital devices, from personal computers to powerful process servers. Here are some prominent examples, with a deeper look at their characteristics:

• Windows: Developed by Microsoft, Windows has established itself as a dominant operating system in the personal computer market. Its server editions, such as Windows Server, are widely utilised in web hosting environments, particularly for businesses and applications that rely on Microsoft technologies. This includes support for the Microsoft SQL Server and other proprietary software.
   
• macOS: Apple's macOS is the process operating system designed exclusively for its line of Macintosh computers and programs. Known for its elegant user interface and friendly computer-friendly integration with Apple hardware, macOS always emphasises a real and seamless user experience. While less prevalent in traditional web hosting setups, macOS provides a stable and reliable platform for development and smaller-scale server tasks.
   
• Linux: Linux excels as an open-source operating system for computers that has revolutionised the server landscape. Its flexibility, stability, and robust security features make it a preferred choice for web hosting providers and server administrators worldwide. The open-source nature of Linux enables extensive customisation and community-driven development.

The Linux ecosystem is characterised by various distributions (distros) tailored to specific needs and preferences. For server environments, popular distributions include:

• Ubuntu Server: Ubuntu Server is renowned for its user-friendly interface and extensive community support, making it an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced server administrators. Its frequent updates and comprehensive software repositories contribute to its popularity.
   
• CentOS (now CentOS Stream): Historically, CentOS provided a stable and reliable platform for enterprise-grade servers. Its focus on long-term stability and compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) made it popular. Now, CentOS Stream provides a rolling release development platform.
   
• Debian: Debian is recognised for its unwavering commitment to stability and security. Its long-term support cycles and rigorous testing procedures make it a reliable foundation for critical server applications.

For mobile, Android has emerged as the leading operating system for mobile devices rather than computers, powering a vast majority of smartphones and tablets worldwide. Apple's iOS is the operating system that powers iPhones and iPads, providing a seamless and intuitive user experience all the time.