Systems Administration

Lecture 4 – Introduction to Operating System

What is an Operating System?
• OS is a system software that manages computer hardware, software resources and
provides common services for computer programs.
• Other specialized classes of OS such as embedded and real time systems exist for many
applications
• OS acts as an interface between computer hardware components and the user.
• Every computer system must have at least one operating system to run other programs.
• Applications like Browsers, MS Office, Notepad Games, etc., need some environment to
run and perform its tasks.
• It is the most important program that runs on your computer. It manages all other
programs on the machine.
• It performs basic tasks, such as:
• Recognizing input from the keyboard or mouse,
• Sending output to the monitor
• Keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and
• Controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.
Examples of Operating System with Market Share

• Following are the Operating System examples with the latest Market Share

OS Name Share
Windows 40.34
Android 37.95
iOS 15.44
Mac OS 4.34
Linux 0.95
Chrome OS 0.14
Windows Phone OS 0.06
 Functions of Operating System
• Some typical operating system functions may include managing memory, files,
processes, I/O system & devices, security, etc.
• Below are the main functions of Operating System:

Source: Guru99
What is Kernel in Operating System?
• The kernel is the central component of a computer operating systems.
• The only job performed by the kernel is to the manage the
communication between the software and the hardware.
• A Kernel is at the nucleus of a computer. It makes the communication
between the hardware and software possible.
• While the Kernel is the innermost part of an operating system, a shell
is the outermost one.
Difference between Firmware and
Operating System
Firmware Operating System

Define Firmware: Firmware is one kind of Define Operating System: OS provides functionality
programming that is embedded on a chip in the device over and above that which is provided by the
which controls that specific device. firmware.

Firmware is programs that been encoded by the

OS is a program that can be installed by the user and
manufacture of the IC or something and cannot be
can be changed.
changed.

It is stored on non-volatile memory. OS is stored on the hard drive.

 Difference between 32-Bit vs. 64 Bit Operating
System
Parameters 32. Bit 64. Bit
Allow 32 bit of data processing Allow 64 bit of data processing
Architecture and Software simultaneously simultaneously

32-bit applications require 32-bit 64-bit applications require a 64-

Compatibility OS and CPUs. bit OS and CPU.

All versions of Windows 8, Windows XP Professional, Vista,

Systems Available Windows 7, Windows Vista, and 7, Mac OS X and Linux.
Windows XP, Linux, etc.

32-bit systems are limited to 3.2 64-bit systems allow a maximum

Memory Limits
GB of RAM. 17 Billion GB of RAM.
Server Operating
System
Server Operating System
• A server operating system, also called a server OS, is an operating
system specifically designed to run on servers.
• Servers are specialized computers that operate within a client/server
architecture to serve the requests of client computers on the
network.
• The Server OS, is the software layer on top of which other software
programs, or applications, can run on the server hardware.
• Server operating systems help enable and facilitate typical server
roles such as Web server, mail server, file server, database server,
application server and print server.
Some of the key features of a server
operating system include
• Ability to access the server both in GUI and command-level interface
• Execute all or most processes from OS commands
• Advanced-level hardware, software and network configuration
services
• Install/deploy business applications and/or web applications
• Provides central interface to manage users, implement security and
other administrative processes
• Manages and monitors client computers and/or operating systems
Most Popular Server Operating
Systems
• Some of the world’s most popular server operating systems with enterprise
class management and administrative tools!
• Microsoft Windows Server OS
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server
• Ubuntu Server OS
• CentOS Server
• SUSE Enterprise Linux Server
• Oracle Linux Server
• ClearOS Server
Microsoft Windows Server OS

• Windows Server is a server operating system developed by Microsoft,

as a part of the Windows Network family, which is getting developed
concurrently with Windows 10 OS.
• The Windows Server OS is specifically designed to provide everything
you need to build a server on a world-class server technology.
• This server-based operating system can be obtained through
Microsoft official store.
• This is an innovative faster Microsoft Windows Server — the cloud-
ready operating system.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server OS is a popular Linux distribution

operating system developed by Red Hat and targets toward the
commercial computer market.
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux a world’s leading multinational software
company based in America.
• It provides open source software solutions and products to various
enterprises and communities around the world, and deals in Linux
Enterprise after payment and Fedora for free to its users.
 Ubuntu Server OS

• Ubuntu OS is a popular open source server operating system for

computers, laptops, tablets, phones and cloud computing.
• This Linux-based Server OS is designed to work on multi-platform that
can run everywhere from the Desktop PCs, the smart-phones, and the
tablet to the server and the cloud environment.
• Ubantu Server is said to be secure, fast and economically Scalability, it
helps make the most of infrastructure.
• Whether to deploy a cloud or a web farm, Ubuntu Server OS supports
the most popular hardware and software.
CentOS Server

• CentOS is another Linux OS distribution that attempts to provide a

free, enterprise-class, community-supported computing platform
functionally compatible with its upstream source, Red Hat Enterprise
Linux.
• A community enterprise OS, that is a free rebuild of open source
packages from the popular Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
• CentOS has a group for open source community of contributors and
users working on development and adoption of next-generation
projects.
• A free OS focused on delivering a robust open source ecosystem.
SUSE Enterprise Linux Server

• SUSE OS is a Linux-based computer operating system.

• It is built on top of the open source Linux kernel and is distributed with
system and application software from other open source projects.
• This premier Linux operating system built for the enterprises, works
perfectly on a variety of hardware platforms.
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server is a leading server operating system by
SUSE.
• It is designed for servers, mainframes, and workstations but can be
installed on desktop computers for personal and as well as testing
purpose.
Oracle Linux Server

• Oracle Linux Server is an open, cloud-ready infrastructure, that can be

used throughout Oracle Cloud and Oracle engineered systems, Oracle
Linux Server is a proven operating system that is available in the
cloud, on premises, or as an embedded system.
• Oracle Linux server is designed to provide the reliability, scalability,
security, and performance for demanding enterprise workloads.
• It is built for enterprise-level experience.
ClearOS Server

• ClearOS, a Linux-based open-source operations system to redefine the

small business server needs, making it a customizable, easy-to-use
software platform that is designed to improve business outcomes and
reduce costs in the process.
• Their goal is to provide SMBs with fully functional servers that come
with ClearOS, an operating system with an Application Marketplace at
no extra cost and the flexibility to customize as needed and required
on time
Operating System Installation
 Lecture Objectives
• Explore the hardware and software prerequisites for OS
installation.
• Explore steps that must be taken before installing or
upgrading an OS.
• Explore methods of producing robust reproducible OS
installations.
• Explore installation types and techniques.
 Installing an Operating System
• Hardware Requirements
• Before you attempt to install an OS on a machine, it would be wise to
ensure that the OS in question runs on the hardware that you have
available.
• Multi-platform OS Support
• Most OS vendors that distribute software that runs on multiple
hardware architectures publish a hardware compatibility list (HCL) for
their OS.
• Single Platform OS Support
• Vendors of single-architecture OS deal with many of the same problems
faced by multi-platform vendors.
 Types of Installations
• There are several types of installation models available to work
with.
• The installation could be a server or a workstation.
• The goal of the installation could be to set up a machine usable as a
desktop workstation, web server, database server, service machine,
or interactive system.
• The system could be a diskless host that boots from the network, or
a diskful system that serves files to other hosts.
• Each of these configurations may require that a particular set of
software be installed such that the system performs its duties and
users can get some work done.
 Types of Installations
• Dual-boot Windows Installations
The idea behind a dual-boot system is to install two different OS
on the bootable medium.
• This allows the user to run either system, which hopefully allows the
user more flexibility in performing tasks.
• Unfortunately, creating a dual-boot system is a lot more difficult than it
should be, and many times Windows seems to be in the middle of the
problems.
• One rule of thumb for installing a dual-boot system that includes
Windows is to install the Windows OS first.
• If you are trying to install two versions of Windows, always install the
older version first.
• This is often necessary because new versions of Windows often contain
changes to the file system, and the old versions do not understand
these changes.
 Types of Installations
• Desktop Installations
• Installing the OS on a desktop PC is often a very different problem
than installing an OS on a corporate database server.
• Generally, desktop computers come in two flavors: systems that
contain their own copies of everything and systems that rely on
network-based servers for critical applications.
• Standalone Systems
Self-contained systems are often referred to as standalone systems, or
“thick clients.”
• These machines typically contain the OS, and local copies of all
applications required by users of the system.
• The installation of a standalone system will require more time than some
other systems, because you have to load the OS, and all of the
applications on the local disk.
• Such installations can easily become multi-day tasks!
 Types of Installations
• Desktop Installations
• Networked Client Systems
• Systems that rely on network-based servers for critical applications/services
are typically referred to as networked client systems, or “thin clients.”
• These machines usually contain a copy of the OS, but very little other
software gets installed on these systems.
• User files typically reside on a network-based file server.
• Applications may reside on yet another network-based server.
• These systems rely on the network to be operational for the system to
be useful.
• Such systems are typically very easy installations.
• You load the OS, configure the network connection, and possibly
configure a few other parameters to allow the system to locate the
network-based servers and you are “done”.
 Types of Installations
• Server Installations
• Installing an OS on a server is often a long, arduous task.
• You have to install the OS and configure it to provide services to other
computers.
• The types of “clients” the server supports will usually complicate this
configuration task.
• The applications/services provided by the server may provide more
complications.
• Homogenous Servers
• The homogenous server is probably the simplest server to install.
• This type of server only provides services to clients of the same
architecture/kernel architecture.
• This means that only one version of the OS and all applications need be installed
on the system.
• Such systems may be used as a boot server, file server, name server, web
server, database server, or many other purposes.
 Types of Installations
• Heterogeneous Servers
• Heterogeneous servers are probably the most difficult system you will ever
have to install.
• These systems may provide boot services, applications, and/or file services
for a variety of systems of different kernel/hardware architectures.
• For example, a Linux system may be set up to provide file service to Linux,
Solaris, and MacOS boxes via NFS, while providing file service to desktop PCs
via Common Internet File Services (CIFS) by running the Samba application.
• Such servers are typically very complicated beasts to install and configure.
• You will have to install copies of multiple OS for the system to function
as a boot server.
• Similarly, you will have to install application binaries for multiple
architectures in order to support application services for client
machines.
 Types of Installations
• Planning for an Installation
• The “footprint” or size of the OS should be considered to ensure that the
system contains enough disk space.
• How that disk space is parceled might play a role in the OS installation.
• Similarly the size of the main memory might need to be taken into
consideration.
• Disk Space Requirements
One of the most important decisions you will need to make before you install an
OS is how much space to allocate to the system software.
• If you allocate too much space to the system software, users may not have
enough space. If you allocate too much space to users, the system may run
out of space.
• Calculate how much space the OS and application binaries will occupy.
• Once you have a number in mind, double it. In a few weeks or months you
will be glad you did.
 Types of Installations
• Every successive release of an OS is larger than its
predecessor.
• This is an important point to remember, because you may have to
upgrade the OS on a machine two or three times over the lifetime of
the hardware.
 Installation Methods
• Current OS are typically distributed on CD or DVD media.
• Older releases were distributed on tape cartridges or floppy
diskettes.
• More often than not, the distribution media is bootable, and
therefore all you have to do is place the media in the appropriate
device and turn on the power.
• The magic of the boot process boots the installation media, and an
installation program guides you through the installation process.
 Installation Methods
• Network Installations
• If you want to customize the installation process, and/or make it
completely automatic, you need to build a network-based installation
server.
• Such an installation is referred to as an “unattended” installation in
Windows parlance.
• The installation server contains on-line copies of the distribution media, a
set of “answer” files that control what parts of the software get installed
on the system, and a “boot daemon” that listens for installation requests
on the network.
• You can customize the answer files to install the OS and any required
applications without operator intervention.
• This is a much more suitable installation method if you have to install 100
computers instead of 2 or 3.
• This method comes with a price: someone has to build (and hopefully
test) the answer files.
 Installation Methods
• CD/DVD Installations
• As with Windows distribution media based installations, the installers
used by UNIX OS are somewhat automated.
• A difference between UNIX and Windows installers is that MOST UNIX
installers ask all of the questions up-front, then use the answers to
drive the remainder of the install.
• A typical Solaris 8 installation requires about 20 minutes of operator
interaction, then for the next hour (or more) no interaction is
required.
• RedHat Linux installations are similar to Solaris in regards to
operator interaction.
• While MOST UNIX installations often take care of the interactive portion
up-front, a few of the installers “hold the user’s hand” throughout the
installation process (much like Windows).
 Installation Methods
• Network Installations
• Most versions of UNIX support a network-based installation system of
one form or another.
• Like Windows, these installers require a network-based boot server,
rules files that dictate how the installation is performed, and a boot
daemon that runs on the server to manage the process.
• The Solaris JumpStart package is one such network-based installer.
• Sun’s WebStart and the Linux KickStart service are other examples of
the automated network-based installer.
• Because there is no official standard for these network-based tools,
and each vendor has one (or more) of these installers, describing all
of the current offerings is difficult, if not impossible.
Install and Configure an
Operating Environment - Steps
System Requirements

• Check the system requirements. If you’ve decided that you want to install a
new operating system, you’ll first need to figure out which one you want to use.
Operating systems have varying system requirements, so if you have an older
computer, make sure that you can handle a newer operating system.
• Most Windows installations require at least 1 GB of RAM, and at least 15-20 GB
of hard disk space.
• Also, your CPU needs to be powerful enough to run the OS you want to run.
Make sure that your computer can accommodate this.
• If not, you may need to install an older operating system, such as Windows XP.
• Linux operating systems typically don’t require as much space and computing
power as Windows operating systems.
• The requirements vary depending on the distribution you choose (Ubuntu,
Fedora, Mint, etc.).
• Most modern hardware will meet these requirements without difficulty.
Hardware Requirement
Processor Recommended processor by the OS vender, i.e intel Pentium, celeron,
duo core, core i3 etc

Memory Minimum memory needed for installing the OS i.e 64 MB 1 GB of

RAM
Hard disk Minimum disk space needed i.e 20 GB of free space for installation.
Additional space may be required for applications and features
Display Super Video Graphics Array (SVGA) compatible or better display
adapter. Monitor capable of 800 x 600 resolution.
Input devices Keyboard and mouse or other pointing device.
CD-ROM CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive if setup is being performed from CD-ROM.

Floppy disk High-density 3.5" drive if setup is being performed across a network
using a network client or boot disk.
Network adapter Appropriate Network adapter card if setup is being performed across a
network.
2. Decide whether to purchase
or download
• Windows licenses need to be purchased. Each license comes with a
key good for one installation.
• Most Linux distributions are free to download and install as much as
you’d like, though some Enterprise versions are closed and require
purchase (Red Hat, SUSE, etc.).
3. Research your software
compatibility.
• Make sure that the operating system you want to install supports the programs
that you want to use.
• If you use Microsoft Office for work, you won’t be able to install it on a Linux
machine.
• There are substitute programs available, but the functionality may be limited.
• Many games that work on Windows will not work on Linux.
• The number of supported titles is growing, but be aware that if you are an avid
gamer your library might not transfer over smoothly.
4. Obtain your new operating
system.
• If you’ve purchased a copy of Windows from a store, you should have received
an installation disc along with your product code.
• If you don’t have the disc but have a valid code, you can download a copy of the
disc online.
• If you are installing Linux, you can download an ISO of the distribution from the
developer’s website.
• An ISO file is a disc image that needs to be burned to a disc or copied to
a bootable USB drive
5. Backup your data.
• When you are installing a new operating system, you are most likely going to be wiping the hard
drive in the process.
• This means that you will lose all of your files on the computer unless you back them up.
• Always make sure that any important files are copied to a backup location before starting the
installation process. Use an external hard drive or burn the data to DVDs.I
• f you are installing the operating system alongside your existing one, you most likely will not have
to delete any data.
• It is still wise to backup important files just in case.
• You cannot backup programs; they will need to be reinstalled once you have finished installing
your new operating system.
Installing Your New
Operating System
1.Determine your installation
order.
• If you are installing a Linux distribution that you want to run
alongside Windows, you need to install Windows first and then Linux.
• This is because Windows has a very strict boot loader that needs to
be in place before Linux is installed, otherwise Windows won’t load.
2. Boot from your installation
disc.
• Insert the installation disc into your optical; drive, and reboot your
computer.
• Normally a computer boots from the hard drive first, so you will need to
adjust some settings in your BIOS in order to boot from the disc drive.
• You can enter the BIOS by hitting the designated Setup key during the boot
process.
• The key will be displayed on the same screen as your manufacturer’s logo.
Common Setup keys include F2, F10, F12, and Del/Delete.
• Once you are in the Setup menu, navigate to the Boot section. Set your
DVD/CD drive as the first boot device.
• If you are installing from a USB drive, make sure that the drive is inserted
and then select it as the first boot device.
• Once you’ve selected the correct drive, save your changes and exit Setup.
Your computer will reboot.
3. Wait for the Setup program
to load.
• No matter which operating system you choose, the setup program
will need to copy some files to your computer before it can continue.
• This can take several minutes, depending on the speed of your
computer’s hardware.
• You will most likely need to choose some basic options, such as
language and keyboard layout.
4. Choose your installation
type.
• Windows will give you the option of Upgrading or performing a Custom installation.
• Even if you are upgrading an older version of Windows, it is highly recommended that you choose
Custom and start from scratch.
• This will minimize problems that may arise later from combining old settings and new ones.
• If you are installing Linux, you will be given the option to install alongside your existing operating
system (Windows), or to erase the disk and install Linux by itself.
• Choose the option that best meets your needs. If you choose to install alongside Windows, you
will be given the option to choose how much hard disk space you want to designate for Linux.
5. Format your partitions.
• If you are installing Windows, you will need to choose which hard
drive partition you want to install it on.
• Deleting partitions will wipe the data on the partition and return the
space to the Unallocated section.
• Select the unallocated space and create a new partition.
• If you are installing Linux, the partition needs to be formatted in the
Ext4 format.
6. Install your OS and wait for
the installation to complete.
• Depending on the speed of your computer, this can take up to an hour
to finish.
• Most installations are hands-off at this point. Your computer may
reboot several times during the installation process.
7. Create your Windows login.
• Once your Windows installation is complete, you will
need to create a username.
• You can also choose to create a password, though this is
not necessary.
• After creating your login info, you will be asked for your
product key.
• In Windows 8, you will be asked to customize the colors
first.
• After that, you can choose to either log in with a
Microsoft account or use a more traditional Windows
username.
8. Install your drivers and
programs.
• Once the installation is complete, you will be taken to your new
desktop.
• From here, you can begin installing your programs and make sure that
your drivers are installed and up to date.
• Make sure to install an antivirus program if you are going to be
connecting to the internet.
 Summary
• Installing an OS is a huge undertaking.
• There are no set formulas for how it should be done.
• Early steps in the planning should include checking that the new
software will run on the hardware.
• Determination of the type of installation, homogenous server,
heterogeneous server, standalone system, thick client, or thin
client should also be addressed before beginning the installation
process.
• System types to be supported and the intended use of the system
must also be factored into installation planning.
• Application availability should be checked, and rechecked.
• If mission-critical applications are not available for the OS to be
installed, you may have to change your plans.
 Summary
• Because the administrator’s approach to OS installation is critical
to the success of the system, allocating some time for
experimentation can be extremely useful.
• Plan an installation and then implement the system based on
initial planning sessions.
• As the first installation is performed, keep copious notes on the
process, and any surprises encountered.
• Once the system is up and running, inspect everything to make
sure no critical information was forgotten.
• When you think the test installation is a success, wipe out the
installation and go through the process a second time.
• When it comes to installing an OS, practice makes perfect.
Installing Specific
OS
-
Server OS Installations
Labs
• Installing Windows Server 2019
• Installing Ubuntu Linux Server

• - Virtual machine (Hyper-V or Sun Virtual Box, VMWare)

• VM1 – Windows Sever 2019
• VM2 – Linux

• Make a technical report

Requirements
• Sun Virtual Box/Hyper-V
• Windows Server 2019 Image
• Ubuntu Server Image
• An average PC with at least 8GB RAM and 256GB HDD