Pos 420 - Linux Vs Windows

Linux vs. Windows

University of Phoenix

POS/420

Abstract

This paper is a critique of the Linux and Windows operating systems that addresses the benefits and disadvantages of using either operating system in an organization. The points that will be covered are Security, Administration, Networking, Performance and Programmability.

Linux vs. Windows

For 60 years the battle for computer supremacy has been ongoing, and it has been an epic battle indeed. We have seen more innovations in this short amount of time than in any period of human existence.

Today Administration, performance, programmability ease of use and security are the most sought after features that business and personal computer owners are looking for in an operating system. Over the last 30 years Windows has dominated the business and personal markets. However there is a new type of operating system that is looking to break the frail hold that Windows has on the market. This operating system has the power and security of UNIX but also has the ease of use like Windows. In 1991 a student of the University of Helsinki was frustrated that he could not get a copy of MINIX (a version UNIX) as it was only distributed for educational use and not commercial use, set out to make a new operating system that was free to distribute to any one for any propose. This Operating system is known as Linux a UNIX like Operating system

Over the years Linux has become favored by businesses for the level of security and stability it has to offer. The reason for this is that Linux is Open Source; this allows companies and users alike to be able to make changes to the Linux source code to fit their needs. Why use Linux when there is windows server? You may ask. Well this question has been asked may time before. Windows has had my unfortunate setback to its overall security and stability. When comparing windows to Linux it is like comparing apples to oranges. For example let's compare windows firewall to Linux's fire wall. Windows firewall only filters inbound packets, and the filtering rules are too minimalistic to be considered useful for most administrators. The Linux firewall filters both inbound and outbound packets. The rules allow control over stateful and stateless filtering. It also allows almost any form of NAT, port translation and packet mangling, these features of the Linux fire wall allows transparent proxies, sophisticated QoS and much more.

Linux has the edge over Windows in file security as well. The Linux file structure allows like files to be kept together. For example programs (binaries) are kept in one directory and data files in another. Files that should only be accessed by a Super user are kept in directory only accessible to the super user. The file system permissions and ownership mechanisms restrict user from accessing or running programs they are not supposed to access. Windows creates the illusion that it does the same but it does not. In the windows file system every program is installed on the same partition as the main system files. This allows user to access any of the files that are supposed to be secured.

Linux once again has the edge on Windows in virus, malware and hacking security; Windows has major problems with viruses, malware and hacking because windows services are setup to have the same access as a Privileged user (super user) this gives the service access to the entire system. Any viruses, malware or hacker can compromise a windows system with a successful attack on any windows service. Linux allows the administrator to choose the permission the service (In Linux it is referred to as a daemon) has to the system. By having this flexibility a successful attack on a Linux service will not compromise the entire system.

Linux is hard to administer and windows is so simple; that is not entirely true. Windows may just be point and click but Linux is not for the Novus administrator. Linux allow for any configuration to be written using a simple text