Why your operating

system still matters

8 ways Linux supports modern IT and business goals
Contents

1 Your operating system is an

essential part of modern IT

2 8 reasons your operating

system still matters today

3 Take advantage of
open source software

4 Simplify operating
system management

5 Modern IT starts with

Red Hat Enterprise Linux

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Introduction | Why your OS matters | Open source benefits | System management | Get started

Your operating system is an

essential part of modern IT

Operating systems have always been a key component in IT environments.

First developed in the 1950s, operating systems have continuously evolved to meet changing demands.
Early operating systems focused primarily on batch processing and simple task scheduling, executing 1
job at a time. However, with the introduction of time-sharing systems in the 1960s, multiple users could
interact with a computer simultaneously. Consequently, the following decades saw the emergence of
operating systems like UNIX, which introduced modularity and portability to computing environments.

During the 1980s, Increased sales and adoption of personal

computers introduced operating systems to the general
public. The invention of graphical user interfaces (GUIs)
revolutionized the way users interacted with computers,
making computing accessible to a broader audience.

As the demand for server-based computing grew, Linux®

emerged as a powerful, scalable operating system for
enterprise datacenters worldwide. First released in 1991, the
Linux kernel offered a free, open source alternative to UNIX
that anyone could run, study, share, and modify. Linux is
now one of the world’s most popular operating systems and
provides an ideal platform for modern, innovative IT.

The 2000s delivered virtualization technologies—followed

by containers—that led to more efficient hardware resource
use and a shift toward cloud computing. As a result,
operating systems took on new management roles to support
flexible application deployments and resource optimization.

Today, the influence of operating systems extends beyond core datacenters to include emerging
technologies like edge devices and the internet of things (IoT). Operating systems provide efficient
data processing at the network edge to reduce latency and enhance performance in use cases ranging
from smart cities to autonomous vehicles.

This e-book provides an overview of why the operating system—and specifically the Linux operating
system—still matters today and how it meets modern IT and business demands.

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Introduction | Why your OS matters | Open source benefits | System management | Get started

8 reasons your operating

system still matters today

As organizations adopt increasingly distributed, cloud-based IT

environments, the importance of the operating system continues to grow.

87% of organizations have a multicloud strategy in place, and 50% of enterprise workloads run in a
public cloud today.1 Your operating system can serve as a unifying foundation across on-site and cloud
infrastructure, diverse hardware and software, and traditional and cloud-ready applications. Security,
management, portability, and life cycle planning all start with your operating system. Standardizing
on a single operating foundation across your datacenter and cloud environments can simplify your
IT operations, enhance flexibility, improve security, and support innovation.

As one of the world’s most popular

operating systems, many organizations
choose Linux for their IT foundation.
In fact, Linux held a 65.6% share of In this chapter:
net new physical deployments and
an 82.8% share of net new virtualized 2.1 Connectivity through the IT stack
deployments in the worldwide server
2.2 Hardware-software compatibility
operating systems market in 2022.2
2.3 Platform reliability and stability
Organizations run a wide range
of production and development 2.4 IT operational efficiency
workloads—including IT and web
infrastructure, customer relationship 2.5 Security and access control
management, and enterprise resource
2.6 Application performance
management—on Linux operating
systems.3 This chapter discusses the 2.7 Virtual resource management
ways that your Linux operating system
2.8 Modern application deployment
supports your applications, processes,
and IT environment to deliver value
across your entire organization.

1 Flexera. “Flexera 2023 state of the cloud report.” March 2023.

2 IDC Market Share. “Worldwide Server Operating System Environments Market Shares, 2022: Steady Growth Persists.”
Document #US51038623. July 2023.
3 IDC White Paper, sponsored by Red Hat. “Red Hat Enterprise Linux: $1.7 Trillion a Year Boost for Customers.”
Document #US48931522. March 2022. 2
Introduction | Why your OS matters | Open source benefits | System management | Get started

1 Operating systems connect

hardware, applications, and users.

As a fundamental layer in your software stack, your operating system

supports interactions between hardware and applications and provides
essential services and resources.

Your operating system abstracts the underlying hardware components to allow applications to run on
diverse infrastructure without modifications for specific systems. It also manages resources—including
central processing units (CPUs), memory, storage, and networking—to optimize system performance
and prevent conflicts between multiple running applications. Operating system command-line
interfaces (CLI) and GUIs let you interact more intuitively with the computer and its applications.
Security features like user authentication, access controls, and encryption protect data and resources
from unauthorized access. And error and exception handling capabilities prevent system crashes and
enhance system reliability and overall user experience.

Modern operating systems like Linux usually implement two modes—kernel mode and user mode—to
determine which privileges are available to which applications, components, and users. Via kernel mode,
trusted core software components—like the operating system kernel and some device drivers—can
perform privileged operations, directly use hardware resources, and access restricted system memory.

All other software—including user applications, libraries, and tools—run in user mode with limited access
to system resources. These applications can only access the user space, isolated memory regions that
prevent applications from interfering with critical operating system components.

Build your IT foundation on trusted expertise

While Linux can serve as a stable operating foundation for all of your IT workloads, many different
Linux distributions are available, each with different tools, services, and support policies. Because
your business relies on your IT foundation, your choice of Linux vendor is important and strategic.

Look for a trusted Linux vendor with the experience and expertise needed to support your business.
Key aspects include:

► A production-grade Linux distribution ► A collaborative community of customers,

that focuses on customer needs. partners, and experts.

► Continuing contributions to and ► A proven record of commercial support with

leadership within the Linux kernel. long life cycles and security maintenance.

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2 Operating systems ensure hardware

and software compatibility.

Operating systems manage hardware resources like storage, networking, and

peripherals to increase system stability and hardware-software compatibility.

Applications and hardware resources communicate via device drivers. Operating systems manage
these drivers—ensuring proper installation, loading, and operation—to increase system stability and
compatibility between applications and underlying hardware components. For example, during system
initialization, your Linux operating system detects newly connected or integrated resources, identifies
known devices, and locates and loads the corresponding drivers. Operating systems also provide
hardware abstraction layers that let applications interact with hardware devices without knowing
underlying hardware details. These standardized interfaces simplify application development and
enhance portability across different hardware configurations.

Chipsets, storage, and networking are areas where device drivers and operating system management
are essential. Many compute-intensive workloads like artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/
ML) can benefit from hardware acceleration in chipsets. Operating systems can make the features and
acceleration from graphics processing units (GPUs), systems on chips (SoCs), and field-programmable
gate arrays (FPGAs) available to these workloads.

Operating systems also provide access to data stored on

hard drives in a stable and reliable manner. They manage
Gain choice with a certified
file organization and storage using optimized methods to
minimize data fragmentation, prevent naming conflicts, partner ecosystem
and ensure consistency across applications. Testing and certifications ensure
Finally, operating systems orchestrate network-related that third-party products work
functions to deliver reliable connectivity and efficient reliably with your operating system.
data exchange between systems within a network. Look for a Linux vendor that
Using a network stack, operating systems manage the partners with industry-leading
integration of network protocols to provide end-to-end hardware, software, and cloud
communication over diverse networks. They configure vendors to give you more choice,
and manage network devices like network interface cards innovation, and stability. Check
(NICs) and wireless adapters to support and speed data that your chosen vendor’s partner
transmission between applications. They also implement ecosystem includes the products
network security measures, including firewalls and and services that you currently use
encryption protocols, to help protect against unauthorized and plan to use in the future.
access and data breaches.

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Introduction | Why your OS matters | Open source benefits | System management | Get started

3 Operating systems enhance

platform reliability and stability.

Operating systems detect and handle software and hardware errors

to provide a stable, reliable platform for applications and users.

Applications are at the core of many digital businesses, and downtime is often unacceptable. Many
operating systems include advanced error-detection mechanisms that capture and manage runtime
errors during application execution. These mechanisms help to prevent system-wide crashes,
disruptions, and data corruption. Plus, operating systems monitor critical applications and system files
through file integrity checks, checksums, and digital signatures to ensure that only authorized and
unmodified code is executed.

Hardware errors are also a concern. By detecting and managing hardware errors like memory faults,
disk errors, and processor malfunctions, operating systems can increase system stability and prevent
catastrophic failures. Working with the error correction code (ECC) and cyclic redundancy checks
(CRC) protection built into memories and storage devices, operating systems can identify and manage
faulty hardware to improve the reliability of data stored and used by applications. Error detection and
correction mechanisms like journaling or checksums help operating systems quickly and accurately
retrieve data for applications and users.

Understanding and fixing problems on a system level is also important. Operating systems provide
logging and diagnostic tools that record information about errors and system events to assist
troubleshooting and proactive maintenance operations. Using these tools, system administrators can
analyze error patterns, identify potential vulnerabilities, and take corrective actions to maintain the
overall stability and reliability of the system.

Improve stability with predictive analytics and proactive remediation tools

Managing complex IT environments can be complicated and time-consuming. Look for a Linux
distribution that includes advanced management and automation tools to help you proactively
manage your entire IT environment. Unified tools that work across infrastructure footprints and
monitor all systems in your environment can help you find issues before they impact business
operations. At the same time, tools that focus on operations, security, and business outcomes let
you see the organizational impact of issues and changes and help to prioritize remediation actions.

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Introduction | Why your OS matters | Open source benefits | System management | Get started

4 Operating systems boost

IT operational efficiency.

A consistent operating system can serve as a unified foundation across IT

footprints, allowing you to standardize and streamline operations, increase
efficiency, and improve security.

Modern IT environments often consist of multiple infrastructures and architectures. In fact, 85%
of organizations operate multiple deployment environments, and 31% deploy applications in 5 or
more environments.4 For example, you may use both on-site datacenters and public cloud providers
and deploy workloads on servers, workstations, and edge devices based on a variety of hardware
architectures like x86, Arm, and IBM Power.

Consistency is critical in these diverse environments.

Standardized operating environments let you develop
common procedures, policies, and configurations that Standardize for efficiency
simplify day-to-day operations and management tasks.
Your operating system can serve
This delivers many benefits for IT organizations:
as a consistent, standardized
► Interoperability. Using a common operating system foundation across all infrastructures
promotes interoperability and integration across and architectures. Choose a
diverse infrastructure. You can deploy, manage, and Linux vendor that offers multiple
troubleshoot distributed applications across massive operating system variants
environments with less complexity. optimized for different deployment
environments while maintaining
► Scalability. Uniform operating system deployments
overall consistency. Ensure that
simplify scaling of IT services and environments
the included and associated
because new infrastructure can replicate existing,
management and automation tools
validated configurations.
work in the same manner across
► Security. Standardized operations environments make all variants. Standardizing on 1 of
it easier to consistently enforce security policies— these distributions can help you
including regular patching, updates, and compliance create cohesive, unified operating
audits—across environments, reducing environments that streamline
the risk of security vulnerabilities. infrastructure management,
enhance IT efficiency and
► Availability. Using a consistent operating system productivity, and improve security.
across hybrid cloud environments streamlines issue
resolution to reduce system downtime.

4 F5 Networks. “2023 State of application strategy report.” March 2023. 6

Introduction | Why your OS matters | Open source benefits | System management | Get started

5 Operating systems protect your

infrastructure, applications, and data.

Operating systems defend against threats that can compromise the integrity,
confidentiality, and availability of your infrastructure, applications, and data.

The Linux kernel includes many security capabilities to help protect your infrastructure, applications,
and data. For example, Linux operating systems contain the authentication and authorization tools
needed to implement zero trust architectures. Authentication via usernames, passwords, biometrics,
or security tokens identifies the individuals or applications that want to access IT systems and assets.
Authorization and access control mechanisms like Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux) define the
permissions and privileges granted to these users, groups, or applications. Together, these tools help
prevent unauthorized access to sensitive resources and system configurations.

Other key operating system security features include:

► Encryption. Built-in encryption technologies can protect

confidential files and sensitive data both at rest and in
Build a foundation
transit across networks. For instance, Red Hat® Enterprise for zero trust
Linux uses system-wide cryptographic policies to
Zero trust architectures apply
configure and apply predefined cryptographic controls to
security to each asset, rather
systems and applications automatically. It also supports
than managing security
CPU-assisted encryption of virtual machine workloads for
exclusively at the network
confidential computing.
perimeter. While Linux itself
► Application allowlisting. This capability establishes an includes the core capabilities
index of approved applications and executable files that needed to build zero trust
are permitted to run on a system by a specific user. architectures, some distributions
add features and tools that
► Hardware root of trust. Hardware-based root of trust, simplify zero trust adoption.
remote attestation, and measured boot technologies verify Look for a Linux distribution
system integrity and ensure that systems have not been that is offered via a trusted
modified or tampered with. software supply chain and
includes system-wide encryption
► Security scanning. Compliance and vulnerability scanning
settings, hardware root of trust
tools like Open Security Content Automation Protocol
capabilities, built-in compliance
(OpenSCAP) can simplify audits, find and remediate
scanning, and policy-based
misconfigured systems, and help you maintain compliance.
identity management tools.
► System logging. Auditing and logging capabilities can
Read the overview to learn more.
record events and activities within a system. Administrators
can then review and analyze these events, identify sources
of security breaches, and implement corrective measures.
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Introduction | Why your OS matters | Open source benefits | System management | Get started

6 Operating systems manage

application and workload performance.

Operating systems manage CPU and memory use to maximize hardware

performance for superior application, workload, and user experiences.

Using process scheduling technologies, operating systems optimize CPU and memory use, balance
workloads across resources, and maintain system responsiveness. For example, process scheduling
algorithms and load balancing mechanisms ensure efficient use and fair distribution of CPU time.
Scheduling algorithms also allow multiple processes to make progress simultaneously by rapidly
switching CPUs between several processes.

By prioritizing interactive processes, operating

systems can create responsive experiences
in which users perceive minimal to no delays.
And with real-time process scheduling Optimize workload performance
capabilities, processes with strict timing Look for a Linux distribution that includes
requirements—like embedded or industrial tools and interfaces for tuning, monitoring,
control systems—can meet specific deadlines and managing system performance
and respond promptly to external events. characteristics by application, workload,
Linux also includes memory management or use case. For example, some vendors
capabilities to help ensure sufficient memory offer tools and services that allow you
for applications, avoid potential conflicts, to identify performance issues, profile
and optimize system performance. Dynamic application performance, and analyze data
memory allocation and deallocation provides to help resolve issues rapidly or even avoid
processes with the memory needed for them altogether.
maximum performance. When a process is
done using memory, the operating system
makes it available for other processes to use.

Operating systems also enhance memory performance through caching and buffering mechanisms
that store frequently accessed data in faster, more expensive caches and other data in larger, slower
random-access memory (RAM) and storage devices. And by swapping data between memory and hard
disks, virtual memory lets operating systems give processes a larger address space than is actually
physically available. Virtual memory increases multitasking efficiency and allows larger applications to
be run on systems with smaller memory footprints.

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Introduction | Why your OS matters | Open source benefits | System management | Get started

7 Operating systems improve

resource use with virtual machines.

As a key part of virtual machine technologies, operating systems optimize

resource use, isolate workloads, and increase scalability across environments.

Virtual machines are isolated environments running their

own guest operating systems that users and applications
experience as separate hardware resources, even though Expand your virtualization
they may share the actual physical resources with other The Kernel-based Virtual Machine
virtual machines. Hypervisors are specialized software (KVM) in Linux lets you use
that create and manage virtual machines on a single Linux as a hypervisor. Choose a
physical server. Operating systems and hypervisors commercial Linux distribution that
perform many of the same functions. As a result, expands the capabilities of KVM for
they can share many components, including process more efficient management.
schedulers, memory managers, device drivers, security
functions, and network stacks.

Hypervisors perform many functions to support IT operations:

► Resource allocation. Hypervisors allocate resources like CPU time and memory to virtual machines,
allowing multiple virtual machines to run on the same physical hardware with a guaranteed quality of
service. They also present physical hardware like network adapters, storage controllers, and graphics
cards to guest operating systems as virtual devices to let multiple virtual machines use the same
resources without conflict.

► Snapshots and cloning. Many hypervisors include virtual machine snapshot and cloning capabilities
to enhance the flexibility, scalability, and efficiency. Snapshots capture virtual machine state and
data at specific points in time. These can be used to recover or rollback to known configurations.
Cloning capabilities duplicate existing virtual machines to speed deployment of new instances.

► Live migration and recovery. Live migration and high availability features help balance workloads,
optimize resource use, and improve virtual machine uptime. Live migration moves running virtual
machines between physical hosts without service interruption. Virtual machines remain powered
on, network connections remain active, and applications continue to run. If virtual machines are
interrupted due to a host failure, the hypervisor automatically restarts them, within seconds and
without human intervention.

► Security and isolation. Hypervisors enforce strict boundaries that prevent virtual machines from
accessing the memory or resources allocated to other virtual machines. These boundaries help to
enhance security and contain the effects of potential vulnerabilities and cyberattacks.

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Introduction | Why your OS matters | Open source benefits | System management | Get started

8 Operating systems support

modern, cloud-native applications.

Linux operating systems support container technologies for deploying

and managing modern, cloud-native applications with greater agility,
scalability, and consistency.

52% of enterprises consider “containerizing workloads” to be a key part of application modernization

efforts.5 Containers are technologies that package IT components—like applications, runtimes,
libraries, and dependencies—into lightweight, portable, isolated environments. Container technologies
effectively virtualize the operating system, allowing multiple containers to share a single operating
system kernel that manages hardware resources and interactions with the physical host system.

Linux operating systems partition kernel resources related to process spaces, file systems, and network
access to give each container its own unique set of resources. As with traditional virtualization, this
isolates each container to prevent conflicts and interference between containers and allows multiple
containers—each with unique user spaces and runtime environments—to execute on the same host. To
allocate resources fairly and appropriately, operating systems manage and limit resource use—including
CPU, memory, and disk input/output (I/O)—on a per-container basis.

By managing network interfaces and configurations in container environments, operating systems

ensure that containers can communicate with each other and external systems as needed while still
maintaining network isolation. They also provide containers with isolated file systems that can access
shared data and persistent storage via container storage drivers.

Finally, operating systems provide mandatory access controls (MAC) to enforce strict and predefined
resource access policies. Containers can only interact with specified system resources to increase
isolation and protect against widespread security threats and vulnerabilities.

Extend your IT environment and skills with containers

You can get started with containers with just your Linux operating system. Look for a Linux
distribution that includes container tools like Podman, Skopeo, and Buildah to help you develop,
build, run, and manage containers on your Linux systems. Choosing a Linux vendor that also
provides a container orchestration platform will give you the option to expand and scale your use of
containers over time.

5 Red Hat e-book. “How enterprises approach legacy application modernization,” 6 Feb. 2023. 10
Introduction | Why your OS matters | Open source benefits | System management | Get started

Take advantage of
open source software

Open source communities create and maintain many popular operating

systems—including Linux—as well as related tools and software.

Within these communities, developers propose, contribute, and test new operating system capabilities
and features. Releases are made available via free community and paid enterprise distributions.

Enterprise—or commercial—distributions are often offered via subscriptions and provide additional
features, services, and support tailored to business needs and concerns. For example, enterprise
operating system subscriptions frequently include 24x7, production-grade technical support to speed
troubleshooting and reduce downtime. They may also include training and tutorials that help users
efficiently administer, optimize, and troubleshoot issues in the operating system.

Long supported life cycles increase stability across

IT environments. Commercial vendors typically follow
predictable release cycles, allowing organizations to plan Commercial open source
and prepare for updates, upgrades, and new features. operating system benefits
In-place upgrade tools and professional services can
Compared to organizations that use
make moving to new releases smooth and efficient.
non-paid alternatives, commercial
Enterprise vendors generally have security teams that operating system users experience:
assess, monitor, and respond to emerging threats to
increase operating system security. Some commercial
distributions include services that monitor operating
23%
lower 3-year on-site
systems and provide guidance for remediating security
infrastructure costs.6
issues, noncompliant settings, unpatched systems,
and configuration drift. Vendors may also certify their
operating systems to industry security standards to help 72%
maintain compliance and protection. less unplanned downtime.6

Finally, many commercial vendors foster certified partner

ecosystems for their operating systems to promote $US17.3M
stable, reliable operations. These ecosystems may average higher net revenue
include hardware vendors, software vendors, public cloud per year per organization.6
providers, and services organizations.

6 IDC White Paper, sponsored by Red Hat, “The Business Value of Red Hat Solutions vs Non-Paid Open-Source
Alternatives,” Document #US50423523. March 2023. 11
Introduction | Why your OS matters | Open source benefits | System management | Get started

Simplify system management

Operating system management tools can help you more effectively
configure, monitor, and optimize your IT environments.

Performance management
Gain insights into system performance to identify bottlenecks, monitor utilization,
and troubleshoot performance issues.

IT automation
Automate routine tasks to reduce manual intervention, minimize errors, and ensure
consistent system configurations.

Security and access management

Assess, manage, and remediate security vulnerabilities to protect critical applications
and data. Enforce access controls, manage permissions, and ensure that users have
appropriate privileges based on their roles.

Configuration management
Apply updates and upgrades to ensure that operating systems stay current with the
latest security patches and feature enhancements. Maintain consistent configurations
across multiple systems to reduce configuration drift across IT environments.

Auditing and monitoring

Log and audit system events to simplify troubleshooting, compliance, and security
analysis. Streamline auditing activities to ensure compliance with security and operational
standards. Monitor and optimize virtual resources to ensure efficient, cost-effective use.

Backup and recovery

Create and manage backups, and implement recovery processes to safeguard
data in the event of system failures or loss.
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Modern IT starts with
Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Your operating system plays a critical role in your IT infrastructure.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux delivers more value for your organization.

No matter where you are headed in your IT journey, Red Hat Enterprise Linux can help you build
an efficient, security-focused foundation for innovation across hybrid and multicloud environments.
This cloud-ready operating system provides a consistent, tailored experience across footprints—
including physical, virtualized, hybrid cloud, multicloud, and even edge infrastructure. Standardizing
on Red Hat Enterprise Linux for both on-site datacenter and cloud environments can help you improve
productivity, security, and operations as you move to the cloud and adapt to a more digital world.

Consistency Predictive analytics Advanced security

across footprints and remediation tools capabilities

Trusted software Built-in automation Performance

supply chain and management optimization tools

Large certified Variants for multiple Built-in container

partner ecosystem architectures technologies

Learn more about Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

Copyright © 2024 Red Hat, Inc. Red Hat and the Red Hat logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Red Hat, Inc. or its subsidiaries
in the United States and other countries. Linux® is the registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the U.S. and other countries.

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