Lesson 3 - Identifying OS Types and Features Flashcards
What are the 4 types of operating systems?
- Business client - an OS designed to work as a client in centrally managed business domain networks
- Network Operating System (NOS) - an OS designed to run servers in business networks.
- Home client - an OS designed to work as a standalone machine or in a workgroup network in a home or small office.
- Cell phone/Tablet - an OS designed to work with a handheld portable device. This type of OS must have a touch-operated interface
What is UNIX?
UNIX is a family of more than 20 related operating systems that are produced by various companies. It can run on a wide variety of platforms. UNIX offers a multitude of file systems in addition to its native system. UNIX remains widely deployed in enterprise data centers to run mission-critical applications and infrastructure.
All UNIX systems share a kernel/shell architecture. The kernel is the low-level code that mediates access to system resources (CPU, RAM, and input/output devices) for other processes installed under the OS. Interchangeable shells run on the kernel to provide the user interface.
What is Linux?
Linux is a fully open-source OS kernel, derived from UNIX. The Linus kernel is bundled with multiple additional features, such as shell command interpreter, desktop window environment, and app packages.
What are the two release models used by Linux distros?
- Standard release model uses versioning to distinguish between updates. Some versions may be designated as long-term support (LTS), meaning that the distro owner will undertake to provide support and updates for that version for a longer period.
- The rolling release model means that updates are delivered once the distro owner considers them to be stable. There is no distinction between versions.
What is Chrome OS?
Chrome OS is a proprietary OS developed by Google. This hardware is designed for the budget and education markets. It was primarily developed to use web applications. Chrome OS provides a minimal environment compared to Windows, meaning there is less chance of some other software application or hardware device driver interfering with the function of the browser.
What are the main OSs in the cell phone/tablet OS category?
Apple iOS/iPadOS and Android
Designed to work solely with a touch-screen interface
What is iOS?
The operating system for Apple’s iPhone smartphone and original models of the iPad tablet. iOS is derived from UNIX and developed as a closed-source operating system. This means that the code used to design the software is kept confidential, con only be modified by Apple, and can only be used on Apple devices.
What is iPadOS?
The operating system had been developed from iOS to support the functionality of the latest iPad models. The main advantage of iPadOS over iOS is better support for multitasking and the Apple Pencil stylus device
What is Android?
Android is an open-source OS, bason on Linux, for smartphones/tablets. The software code is made publicly available meaning there is more scope for hardware vendors to produce specific versions for their smartphone and tablet models.
What is a file system?
Structure for file data indexing and storage created by a process of formatting a partition that allows an OS to make use of a mass storage device, such as an HDD, SDD, or thumb drive.
What is NTFS?
New Technology File System is a proprietary file system developed by Microsoft for use with Windows. It provides a 64-bit addressing scheme, allowing for very large volumes and file sizes. The max volume size (in theory) is 16 Exabytes, but actually limited to 137GB - 256 Terabytes, depending on the version of Windows and the allocation unit size.
What are the key NTFS features?
- Journaling: When data is written to an NTFS volume, it is re-read, verified, and logged. In the event of a problem, the sector concerned is marked as bad and the data relocated. Journaling makes recovery after power outages and crashes faster and more reliable.
- Snapshots: This allows the Volume Shadow Copy Service to make read-inly copies of files at given points in time even if the file is locked by another process. This file version history allows users to revert changes more easily and also supports backup operations.
- Security: Features such as file permissions and ownership, file access audit trails, quota management, and encrypting file system (EFS) allow administrators to ensure only authorized users can read/modify file data.
- POSIX Compliance: To support UNIX/Linux compatibility, Microsoft engineered NFTS to support case-sensitive naming, hard links, and other key features required by UNIX/Linux applications. Although the file system is case-sensitive capable and preserves case, Windows does not insist upon case-sensitive naming.
- Indexing: Creates a catalog of file and folder locations and properties, speeding up searches.
- Dynamic Disks: This disk management feature allows space on multiple physical disks to be combined into volumes.
What is the drawback to NTFS?
Not fully supported by operating systems other than Windows. MacOS can read NTFS drives but cannot write to them. Linux distributions and utilities may be able to support NTFS to some degree.
What is FAT32?
FAT (file allocation table) provides links from one allocation unit to another. FAT32 is a variant of FAT that uses a 32-bit allocation table, nominally supporting volumes up to 2 TB. The maximum file size is 4GB minus 1 byte. FAT32 does not support any of the reliability or security features of NTFS. It is typically used to format the system partition and is useful when formatting removable drives and memory cards intended for multiple operating systems and devices.
What is exFAT?
exFAT is a 64-bit version of FAT designed for use with removeable hard drives and flash media. Like NTFS, exFAT supports large volumes, up to a recommended maximum size of 512TB. There is also support for access permissions but not encryption.
What is ext3 and ext4?
Most Linux distributions use some version of the extended (ext) file system to format partitions on mass storage devices. ext3 is a 64-bit file system with support for journaling. ext4 delivers better performance than ext3 delivers and would usually represent the best choice for new systems.
What is APFS?
Apple File System is Apple’s proprietary file system that supports journaling, snapshots, permissions/ownership, and encryption.
What are compatibility concerns?
OS compatibility with device hardware, software app compatibility with an OS, host-to-host compatibility for exchanging data over a network, and user training requirements.
What’s EOL?
End of life is a system that is no longer supported by its developer or vendor. EOL system no longer receive security updates and therefore represent a critical vulnerability for a company’s security systems if any remain in active use.
Apart from Windows and macOS, what operating system options are there for client PCs installed to a local network?
The other main choice is one of the distributions of Linux. A company might also use some sort of UNIX. Finally, Chrome OS is installed on Chromebox PCs. These are often used by educational institutions and businesses that rely primarily on web applications rather than locally installed desktop software.
You are advising a customer with an older-model Android smartphone. The customer wants to update to the latest version of Android, but using the update option results in a “No updates available” message. What type of issue is this, and what advice can you provide?
This is an issue with update limitations. Android is quite a fragmented market, and customers must depend on the handset vendor to implement OS updates for a particular model. The customer can only check the handset vendor’s website or helpline to find out if a version update will ever be supported for that model.
What feature of modern file systems assists recovery after power outages or OS crash events?
Journaling means that the file system keeps a log of updates that it can use to recover damaged data. The OS might also make use of snapshot capability to maintain a file-version history or perform continuous backups.
A customer asks whether an iOS app that your company developed will also work on her Apple macOS computer. What issue does this raise, and what answer might you give?
The issue here is compatibility between different operating systems. Even though both are produced by Apple, iOS and macOS use different environments, so the iOS app cannot necessarily be installed directly. Your company might make a macOS version. However (do not worry if you did not include this in your answer), with the latest versions of macOS, there is support for native iOS apps, so this might be something you can offer.
What is 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64)?
Processing modes referring to the size of each instruction processed by the CPU. 32-bit CPUs replaced earlier 16-bit CPUs and were used through the 90s to now, though most PC and laptop CPUs now work in 64-bit mode. The main 63-bit platform is called AMD64 or EM64T (by Intel). Software can be compiled as 32-bit or 64-bit. 64-bit CPUs can run mot 32-bit software, but 32-bit CPU cannot execute 64-bit software.
What is Windows Home edition?
Windows Home edition is designed for domestic consumer and possibly small office home office (SOHO) business use. It has fewer features and cannot be joined to a Windows domain network.
What is a OEM license?
An original equipment manufacturer license means that the OS is pre-installed to a PC or laptop and is valid for that device only. The computer vendor is responsible for support. Most new devices will support upgrading the license to Windows 11.
What is the use case for Windows Pro?
Windows Pro is designed for small- and medium-sized businesses and can be obtained using OEM, retail, or volume licensing. This “Professional” edition comes with management features designed to allow network administrators more control over each client device. There is also a Pro for Workstations edition with support for more advanced hardware.
What is the use case for Windows Enterprise?
Windows Enterprise has the full feature set but is only available via volume licensing.
What is the use case for Windows Education/Pro Education?
Windows Education (Pro) designed for licensing by schools and colleges
What is gpedit.msc?
Group Policy Editor is used to create and apply OS and software application settings. These could be configured on each machine individually, but more typically they are applied via policies configured on the DC so that client machines have uniform desktop styles and settings. The editor is not available in the Home edition.
What is BitLocker?
Feature of Windows allowing for encryption of NTFS-formatted drives. The encryption key can be stored in a TPM chip on the computer or on a USB drive. BitLocker enables the user to encrypt all the information on a disk drive. Encryption means the data on the device is protected even if someone steals it (unless they have the password).
What is RDP?
Remote Desktop Protocol allows a user to connect to the machine and operate it over a network
What is volume licensing?
Volume licensing allows the customer to obtain discounts by specifying a bulk number of devices or users. It also allows for the creation of custom installation images for rapid deployment
What two Windows licenses are only available via volume licensing?
Windows Enterprise and Education
In terms of system hardware, what is the main advantage of a 64-bit version of Windows?
Support for more than 4 GB RAM.
You are advising a business that needs to provision video-editing workstations with 4-way multiprocessing. Which retail Windows edition will allow them to make full use of this hardware?
Windows Pro for Workstations supports 4-way multiprocessing (four CPUs installed to separate sockets) and up to 6 TB RAM. Windows Enterprise has the same hardware limits but is not available via a retail channel.
You are advising a customer whose business is expanding. The business owner needs to provision an additional 30 desktop computers, some of which will be installed at a second office location. The business is currently run with a workgroup network of five Windows 7 Home Premium desktop computers and one file server. Why might you suggest licenses for an edition of Windows 10 that supports corporate needs for the new computers and has upgrades for the old computers? Which specific edition(s) could you recommend?
Without a domain, accounts must be configured on each computer individually. With more than 30 computers to manage at two locations, this would be a substantial task, so switching to a domain network, where the accounts can be configured on the server, is likely to save costs in the long term. You can suggest either Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Enterprise for use on a domain.
