Windows NT & UNIX

UNIX Benefits: *Equated with Open System Standards The concept of computer industry standards owes much to UNIX. In fact, the term open system is often equated with UNIX, a reputation that is only partially deserved.

*Scalable, Portable, and Flexible A major advanced UNIX has demonstrated science its earliest days is the ability to run on machines from the Largest mainframe to modern laptops. Networks that connect these divergent machine types can be configured In peer-to –peer or hierarchical relationships.

*Built-in Programming Environment UNIX support both compiler-based and scripting language. For example the development of UNIX ran parallel to the evolution of the higher level C programming language. The C language produces software programs that require A compiler to create an executable. UNIX also supports Scripting language that do not require a compiler. A script Based program differs from a compiled executable in several important ways.

* Equal Functionality across Platforms It is odd to think of an operating system as a vehicle for Democratic standards. However, for computer hardware, UNIX is the great equalizer. When running UNIX, the computing functionality is the same for a mainframe As it is for a lowly laptop.

*Wide range of user interfaces In general, three types of UNIX interfaces are most commonly used today. 1 CHARACTER TERMINAL These used for data entry, retail business… 2 X-WINDOWS 3WORKSTATION/PC This involves the use of yet another layer of code that either emulates the Microsoft Windows environment or provides a means of reverse displayinf Windows applications from a Windows NT host onto a UNIX X11- Based display.

* Networking Integration While developed independently, most professionals Equate the TCP/IP suit as the heart of UNIX networking The way TCP/IP seamlessly integrates with multitasking Functions of UNIX makes the technologies a natural complement.

*64-bit Architecture While Microsoft is still limited to a 32-bit Architecture A small segment of the UNIX community is ahead with commercially available 64-bit systems. The increase In flat virtual memory addressability of 64-bit architecture from 4GB to 16,000,000GB

*Vendor Independent A great number of organizations and individuals contributed To creating the UNIX operating system that we use today. e.g HP-UX, IBM has AIX, Sun has Solaris. This diversified approach to development created an Operating system is powerful and that can run over a wide range of hardware. It is truly a vendor independent system.

*Multiuser, Distributed Applications UNIX support both traditional multiuser and distributed applications. In a multiuser environment the application resides on the server and is accessed through a serial terminal. All information resides on the server.Through the use of the X-Windows client/server architecture, UNIX support the distribution of graphical applications. Which mean that GUI based software and the files they generate can be shared from UNIX X-terminals or workstation.

UNIX Weaknesses *Perceived by new users as difficult to use *UNIX requires skillful administrator *Application Binary incompatibility across UNIX variants *Perception of higher hardware costs

Windows NT Benefits *Familiar and proven user interface Millions of users instantly feel comfortable with the new Windows 95 user interface shell available with the Windows NT 4.0 server and workstation.

*Support for commodity-based hardware The prevailing use of Windows NT 4.0 is on Intel-compatible PCs. With reasonably powerful Window NT workstations coming to market at less cost than a compatible, diskless X-terminal, many corporate buyers are looking favorably at the implicit cost advantage. So many existing desktop computers have installed Windows 3.1 or Windows 95, these are natural clients to the Windows NT server.

*Software portability Microsoft claims that porting applications from one platform to another requires no code changes. Because only two hardware architectures are now supported.

*Easy to install and to configure If you believe Microsoft’s literature, the Windows NT workstation and server installation process requires minimal system administration intervention. Configuration is just as simple. The individual user and system administrator are go through a menu and dialog-based process.

*Excellent Device Support Installation and configuration of devices is very straightforward when utilizing the Windows NT Wizard-based assistance scheme. The system automatically detects installed devices and help the user make appropriate decisions. For the system administrator, network device support is also provided.

*Widely Used Application Development API The Windows NT operating system offers support for familiar APIs that aid countless Windows programming in developing compatible applications. Among the standards that are supported for Win32 applications are Dynamic Data Exchange, Object Linking and Embedding (OLE2.0), and Windows socket technology.

*Peer-to-peer and Client/Server Support The hallmark of Windows for Workgroups was its support for small LAN with peer-to-peer topology. Windows NT incorporates this technology and adds the hierarchical client/server architecture for enterprise-size organizations.

*Integrated Management Tools and Applications Microsoft put a lot of forethought into providing a suite of integrate management tools and services. For example, system performance monitoring is supported by both graphical-and character-based application.

Windows NT weaknesses *Limited Support for Traditional Multiuser System Windows NT is not a true multiuser system in the tradition of UNIX *Scalability : More perceived limitation than reality *Blue screen of death: system failure *Limited to 32-bit Architecture This restricts virtual memory access to 4GB. Considering the previous generation of Microsoft operating had a 16-MB Limit, an increase to 4 GB would seem impressive. However, Windows NT divides memory access into two 2-GB address sets-one for the system and one for the applications.

*Proprietary Yet Open Interface Windows NT is largely a closed and proprietary operating system controlled by a single vendor. So the code is managed is strictly their decision, computer hackers would prefer a world where all source code was free Available. REFS:windows NT & UNIX G.Robert Williams Ellen Beck Gardner