Comments on: When an OS is not an OS http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/10/21/when-an-os-is-not-an-os/ The weblog of an IT pro specializing in virtualization, storage, and servers Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:50:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Dirk http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/10/21/when-an-os-is-not-an-os/comment-page-1/#comment-43774 Dirk Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:25:55 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/10/21/when-an-os-is-not-an-os/#comment-43774 No matter the individuals perception, its clear that there should be an industry distinction between general pupose operating systems (GPOS)and thin hypervisor layers. GPOS are subject to many strict governance controls in large institutes that are arguably not merited in a service console. So from my own perspective it better not to pitch it as an OS. Some of the arguments for that approach is that you really don't have communities "logging on" to the console to run / install / configure applications which you do with GPOS. The security model is generally different. The requirements for agent software and security software within the "sevice console" versus a GPOS are very different. I suppose you can argue a case either way...he says sitting on the fence! No matter the individuals perception, its clear that there should be an industry distinction between general pupose operating systems (GPOS)and thin hypervisor layers. GPOS are subject to many strict governance controls in large institutes that are arguably not merited in a service console. So from my own perspective it better not to pitch it as an OS. Some of the arguments for that approach is that you really don’t have communities “logging on” to the console to run / install / configure applications which you do with GPOS. The security model is generally different. The requirements for agent software and security software within the “sevice console” versus a GPOS are very different. I suppose you can argue a case either way…he says sitting on the fence!

]]> By: slowe http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/10/21/when-an-os-is-not-an-os/comment-page-1/#comment-34191 slowe Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:01:30 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/10/21/when-an-os-is-not-an-os/#comment-34191 Good distinction, John! Good distinction, John!

]]> By: John DiMarco http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/10/21/when-an-os-is-not-an-os/comment-page-1/#comment-34122 John DiMarco Tue, 13 Nov 2007 16:59:22 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/10/21/when-an-os-is-not-an-os/#comment-34122 Of course ESX is an operating system, it's just not a general-purpose operating system. The difference between e.g. ESX and Windows is not that Windows is an OS and ESX is not, it's that Windows is general-purpose and ESX is not. Of course ESX is an operating system, it’s just not a general-purpose operating system.
The difference between e.g. ESX and Windows is not
that Windows is an OS and ESX is not, it’s that Windows is general-purpose and ESX is not.

]]> By: simon http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/10/21/when-an-os-is-not-an-os/comment-page-1/#comment-33847 simon Tue, 23 Oct 2007 09:43:54 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/10/21/when-an-os-is-not-an-os/#comment-33847 Scott, Posted this article a year ago (http://simonwilson.wordpress.com/2006/11/17/what-is-an-os/) and pretty much I agree with you, it depends on what you are trying to push. But coming from the embedded world I tend to take a much broader view of what is an OS, just ask any of the real-time systems vendors whether they sell an OS, and no most of these don't require a UI. It is a bit like Pano Logic claiming that their thin client device has NO software - because it is firmware embedded into the device - oh that's all right then ;-) Simon Scott,

Posted this article a year ago (http://simonwilson.wordpress.com/2006/11/17/what-is-an-os/)
and pretty much I agree with you, it depends on what you are trying to push.

But coming from the embedded world I tend to take a much broader view of what is an OS, just ask any of the real-time systems vendors whether they sell an OS, and no most of these don’t require a UI.

It is a bit like Pano Logic claiming that their thin client device has NO software - because it is firmware embedded into the device - oh that’s all right then ;-)

Simon

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