A Comparison of Two Network Operating Systems; Microsoft Windows NT and Unix

The decision to utilize Microsoft Windows NT Server or one of the many Unix operating systems is the concern of many IS managers around the world today. Unix is not a single operating system; it refers to a family of operating systems which includes AIX, BSDI, Digital UNIX, FreeBSD, HP-UX, IRIX, Linux, NetBSD, OpenBSD, Pyramid, SCO, Solaris, SunOS, just to name a few. Microsoft Windows NT has a well-known reputation. But these managers have to consider whether or not choosing a Microsoft product can increase the company's profits.

The cost of the network operating system (NOS) will be the ultimate factor in their decision. It is not just the initial cost of the hardware however, but rather many other factors will need to be considered to insure that further maintenance costs are not overwhelming. For instance, software licenses will need to be procured. Technical support agreements will need to be assessed. The costs of upgrades/service packs, hardware upgrades will need to be weighed for both types of systems. Determining which system has a greater occurrence

Pountain, Dick. "Your Next OS." Byte November 1996: 134-135.

Since accruing costs is a primary concern for managers, the conditions previously discussed give an indication that a combination of server hardware and operating systems seems to be the most cost-effective option for long term use. Unix is a fully developed, group of operating systems known for its performance, reliability, and security in a server environment. On the other hand, Windows NT Server has the advantage of Windows 95's popularity. This desktop operating system is already being used in homes and offices everywhere.

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Approximate Word count = 1849
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)