A comparison of two network operating systems; microsoft win
A comparison of two network operating systems; microsoft winRunning head: Network Operating Systems
A Comparison of Two Network Operating Systems; Microsoft Windows NT and Unix
Introduction
The decision to utilize Microsoft Windows NT Server or one of the many Unix operating systems is the concern of many IS managers around the world today. Unix is not a single operating system; it refers to a family of operating systems which includes AIX, BSDI, Digital UNIX, FreeBSD, HP-UX, IRIX, Linux, NetBSD, OpenBSD, Pyramid, SCO, Solaris, SunOS, just to name a few. Microsoft Windows NT has a well-known reputation. But these managers have to consider whether or not choosing a Microsoft product can increase the company's profits.
The cost of the network operating system (NOS) will be the ultimate factor in their decision. It is not just the initial cost of the hardware however, but rather many other factors will need to be considered to insure that further maintenance costs are not overwhelming. For instance, software licenses will need to be procured. Technical support agreements will need to be assessed. The costs of upgrades/service packs, hardware upgrades will need to be weighed for both types of systems. Determining which system has a greater occurrence of glitches can be a factor in estimating lost profits for every hour of downtime. If the company should experience a glitch, how substantial will personnel costs for recovering/recreating data be? Knowledgeable systems administrators will need to be employed to maintain the system. This task is not to be taken lightly as these are only some of the situations to be considered prior to making a decision on which NOS to purchase.
Since accruing costs is a primary concern for managers, the conditions previously discussed give an indication that a combination of server hardware and operating systems seems to be the most cost-effective option for long term use. Unix is a fully developed, group of operating systems known for its performance, reliability, and security in a server environment. On the other hand, Windows NT Server has the advantage of Windows 95's popularity. This desktop operating system is already being used in homes and offices everywhere.
Before making the operating system decision a manager should consider visiting the local library to research the particular subject. It will be difficult to find current unbiased literature. But a determined manager or QM student should be able to separate the important information from personal preferences. Most of the older books are concerned with theory using Unix as a guide. For current information, periodicals are the best source. But as stated earlier, much of it is very biased one way or the other. The preferences are split down the middle with half of the professionals supporting Unix or a Unix variant and the other half supporting Microsoft products....
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