IT ASSIGNMENT

IT Assignment

IT Assignment

Task 1

Because of the large number and variety of available Linux distributions, they are all grouped under a single entry; see comparison of Linux distributions for a detailed comparison. There are also a variety of BSD operating systems, covered in comparison of BSD operating systems. For information on views of each operating system, see operating system advocacy. Today, computers are an integral part of most businesses. Much like a fork list, the company truck or filing cabinets, businesses recognize computers as a necessary tool to make the business work. Unfortunately, most businesses are not in a position to make as informed a decision on computers as on other needed tools. This is because computer systems are more complicated than other business choices.

1: The Computer Mix

Most businesses today are running a mix of computer types and computer operating systems to get their work done. For example, Intel Pentium and equivalent computer systems running Windows 95 are very common on office desktops but other types of computers may be used for graphic arts work, point of sale systems or connectivity to the Internet. In fact, it is very possible that you are not even aware of what type of computer hardware and operating system is contained in a dedicated system performing a specific function for your company.

This is not to say that you should not dictate standards when appropriate. For example, you will most likely want to select one word processor that will be used by everyone. This decision, however, should really be based on interoperability rather than an arbitrary edict.

2: Common Business Platforms

First, what do I mean by a platform? This is a combination of the computer equipment (hardware) along with the operating software (operating system) that offers the computing capabilities. On top of this platform you would run the applications software (word processors, spreadsheets, databases, dedicated applications) that you need to run your business.

3: Proprietary UNIX Systems

UNIX started out as a product of AT&T who then licensed the source code and trade-name to various vendors. Today, UNIX is a brand that belongs to X/Open and the original source code is owned by The Santa Cruz Operation (SCO). Any vendor that meets testing requirements and pays a fee can use the UNIX name.

4: Open UNIX-like Solutions

An alternative to proprietary (and vendor-specific) UNIX systems is a system that offers UNIX capabilities without being tied to a specific hardware vendor or machine architecture. There are a series of operating systems that do not tie themselves to a specific vendor but only one, Linux, that also offers independence from a specific machine architecture.

5: OS SW Comparison Table

The table below offers a quick feature comparision. It is only a guide. There is, of course, a lot more to the selection process than can be represented in this table or even this complete article. Another thing that is not shown is what is included with the operating ...