MODULE V

Protection and security: policy and mechanism, authentication, authorization. Mobile OS: Concepts,
history, features, architecture, future scope. Case studies: Android, UNIX kernel and Microsoft
Windows NT (concepts only).

Protection and Security in Operating System

Protection and security require that computer resources such as CPU, software’s, memory etc. are
protected. This extends to the operating system as well as the data in the system. This can be done by
ensuring integrity, confidentiality and availability in the operating system. The system must be
protected against unauthorized access, viruses, worms etc.

The Goal of security system

There are several goals of system security. Some of them are as follows:

1. Integrity : Unauthorized users must not be allowed to access the system's objects, and users
with insufficient rights should not modify the system's critical files and resources.

2. Secrecy: The system's objects must only be available to a small number of authorized users.
The system files should not be accessible to everyone.

3. Availability : All system resources must be accessible to all authorized users, i.e., no single
user/process should be able to consume all system resources. If such a situation arises, service
denial may occur. In this case, malware may restrict system resources and preventing
legitimate processes from accessing them.
Types of threats
There are mainly two types of threats that occur. These are as follows:

Program threats

The operating system's processes and kernel carry out the specified task as directed. Program Threats
occur when a user program causes these processes to do malicious operations. The common example
of a program threat is that when a program is installed on a computer, it could store and transfer user
credentials to a hacker. There are various program threats. Some of them are as follows:
 Virus
A virus may replicate itself on the system. Viruses are extremely dangerous and can modify/delete
user files as well as crash computers. A virus is a little piece of code that is implemented on the
system program. As the user interacts with the program, the virus becomes embedded in other files
and programs, potentially rendering the system inoperable.
 Trojan Horse
This type of application captures user login credentials. It stores them to transfer them to a malicious
user who can then log in to the computer and access system resources.
 Logic Bomb
A logic bomb is a situation in which software only misbehaves when particular criteria are met;
otherwise, it functions normally.
 Trap Door
A trap door is when a program that is supposed to work as expected has a security weakness in its
code that allows it to do illegal actions without the user's knowledge.

System threats
System threats are described as the misuse of system services and network connections to cause user
problems. These threats may be used to trigger the program threats over an entire network, known as
program attacks. System threats make an environment in which OS resources and user files may be
misused. There are various system threats. Some of them are as follows:
 Port Scanning
It is a method by which the cracker determines the system's vulnerabilities for an attack. It is a fully
automated process that includes connecting to a specific port via TCP/IP. To protect the attacker's
identity, port scanning attacks are launched through Zombie Systems, which previously independent
systems now serve their owners while being utilized for such terrible purposes.
 Worm
The worm is a process that can choke a system's performance by exhausting all system resources. A
Worm process makes several clones, each consuming system resources and preventing all other
processes from getting essential resources. Worm processes can even bring a network to a halt.
 Denial of Service
Denial of service attacks usually prevents users from legitimately using the system. For example, if a
denial-of-service attack is executed against the browser's content settings, a user may be unable to
access the internet.

Threats to operating system

There are various threats to the operating system. Some of them are as follows:
 Malware
It contains viruses, worms, trojan horses, and other dangerous software. These are generally short
code snippets that may corrupt files, delete the data, replicate to propagate further, and even crash a
system. The malware frequently goes unnoticed by the victim user while criminals silently extract
important data.
 Network Intrusion
Network intruders are classified as masqueraders, misfeasors, and unauthorized users. A masquerader
is an unauthorized person who gains access to a system and uses an authorized person's account. A
misfeasor is a legitimate user who gains unauthorized access to and misuses programs, data, or
resources. A rogue user takes supervisory authority and tries to evade access constraints and audit
collection.
 Buffer overflow
It is also known as buffer overrun. It is the most common and dangerous security issue of the operating
system. It is defined as a condition at an interface under which more input may be placed into a buffer
and a data holding area than the allotted capacity, and it may overwrite other information. Attackers
use such a situation to crash a system or insert specially created malware that allows them to take
control of the system.

Ways to ensure operating system security

There are various ways to ensure operating system security. These are as follows:

Authentication
The process of identifying every system user and associating the programs executing with those users
is known as authentication. The operating system is responsible for implementing a security system
that ensures the authenticity of a user who is executing a specific program. In general, operating
systems identify and authenticate users in three ways.

 Username/Password
Every user contains a unique username and password that should be input correctly before accessing
a system.
 User Attribution
These techniques usually include biometric verification, such as fingerprints, retina scans, etc. This
authentication is based on user uniqueness and is compared to database samples already in the system.
Users can only allow access if there is a match.
 User card and Key
To login into the system, the user must punch a card into a card slot or enter a key produced by a key
generator into an option provided by the operating system.

One-time passwords

Along with standard authentication, one-time passwords give an extra layer of security. Every time a
user attempts to log into the One-Time Password system, a unique password is needed. Once a one-
time password has been used, it cannot be reused. One-time passwords may be implemented in several
ways.
 Secret Key
The user is given a hardware device that can generate a secret id that is linked to the user's id. The
system prompts for such a secret id, which must be generated each time you log in.
 Random numbers
Users are given cards that have alphabets and numbers printed on them. The system requests numbers
that correspond to a few alphabets chosen at random.
 Network password
Some commercial applications issue one-time passwords to registered mobile/email addresses, which
must be input before logging in.

Firewalls

Firewalls are essential for monitoring all incoming and outgoing traffic. It imposes local security,
defining the traffic that may travel through it. Firewalls are an efficient way of protecting network
systems or local systems from any network-based security threat.

Physical Security

The most important method of maintaining operating system security is physical security. An attacker
with physical access to a system may edit, remove, or steal important files since operating system
code and configuration files are stored on the hard drive.

Operating system security policies and procedures

Various operating system security policies may be implemented based on the organization that you
are working in. In general, an OS security policy is a document that specifies the procedures for
ensuring that the operating system maintains a specific level of integrity, confidentiality, and
availability.

OS Security protects systems and data from worms, malware, threats, ransomware, backdoor
intrusions, viruses, etc. Security policies handle all preventative activities and procedures to ensure
an operating system's protection, including steal, edited, and deleted data.
As OS security policies and procedures cover a large area, there are various techniques to addressing
them. Some of them are as follows:
1. Installing and updating anti-virus software
2. Ensure the systems are patched or updated regularly
3. Implementing user management policies to protect user accounts and privileges.
4. Installing a firewall and ensuring that it is properly set to monitor all incoming and outgoing traffic.
OS security policies and procedures are developed and implemented to ensure that you must first
determine which assets, systems, hardware, and date are the most vital to your organization. Once
that is completed, a policy can be developed to secure and safeguard them properly.

Authorization

Authorization is the process of giving someone permission to do or have something. In multi-user

computer systems, a system administrator defines for the system which users are allowed access to
the system and what privileges of use (such as access to which file directories, hours of access, amount
of allocated storage space, and so forth).

Assuming that someone has logged in to a computer operating system or application, the system or
application may want to identify what resources the user can be given during this session. Thus,
authorization is sometimes seen as both the preliminary setting up of permissions by a system
administrator and the actual checking of the permission values that have been set up when a user is
getting access.

 Authorization is a process by which a server determines if the client has permission to use a
resource or access a file.

 Authorization is usually coupled with authentication so that the server has some concept of
who the client is that is requesting access.

 The type of authentication required for authorization may vary; passwords may be required in
some cases but not in others.

 In some cases, there is no authorization; any user may be using a resource or access a file
simply by asking for it.

Most of the web pages on the Internet require no authentication or authorization. Most web security
systems are based on a two-step process. The first step is authentication, which ensures about the
user identity and the second stage is authorization, which allows the user to access the various
resources based on the user's identity. Modern operating systems depend on effectively designed
authorization processes to facilitate application deployment and management.

Key factors contain user type, number and credentials, requiring verification and related actions and
roles. Access control in computer systems and networks relies on access policies and it is divided into
two phases:

1. Policy definition phase where access is authorized.

 2. Policy enforcement phase where access requests are permitted or not permitted.

Thus, authorization is the function of the policy definition phase which precedes the policy
enforcement phase where access requests are permitted or not permitted based on the previously
defined authorizations. Access control also uses authentication to check the identity of consumers.

When a consumer attempts to access a resource, the access control process investigates that the
consumer has been authorized to use that resource. Authorization services are implemented by the
Security Server which can control access at the level of individual files or programs.
The major characteristics of the authentication and authorization processes are summarized as
follows:

Authentication Authorization
Authentication confirms your identity to grant Authorization determines whether the
access to the system. authenticated users are authorized to access the
resources.
It is the process of validating user credentials to It is the process of verifying whether access is
gain user access. allowed or not.
It determines whether user is what he claims to It determines what user can and cannot access.
be.
Authentication usually requires a username and Authentication factors required for
a password. authorization may vary, depending on the
security level.
Authentication is the first step of authorization Authorization is done after successful
so always comes first. authentication.
For example, students of a particular university For example, authorization determines exactly
are required to authenticate themselves before what information the students are authorized to
accessing the student link of the university’s access on the university website after successful
official website. This is called authentication. authentication.

Mobile operating system

A mobile operating system is an operating system that helps to run other application software on
mobile devices. It is the same kind of software as the famous computer operating systems like Linux
and Windows, but now they are light and simple to some extent.
It combines the beauty of computer and hand use devices. It typically contains a cellular built-in
modem and SIM tray for telephony and internet connections. If you buy a mobile, the manufacturer
company chooses the OS for that specific device.

History of Mobile Operating System

 Palm OS (1996 - 2009)

Developed in 1996 by an American named Jeff Hawkins, it was one of the very first mobile operating
systems, designed for the Palm series of handheld personal digital assistants (PDAs).
Many people found that Palm OS was simple to get to grip with and easy to use – which in the year
2000 is all people wanted from their PDAs. Windows was known back then for being super techy and
complex which gave Palm the upper hand to swoop in and become the operating system that everyone
wanted. Palm did bring something special to the table though, differentiating themselves from other
systems with their unique touch-screen technology.
Multi-tasking on your phone is easy in 2020, with technology that lets us do a million things at once,
but it hasn’t always been like this. The Palm OS didn’t allow for multitasking, which was a huge con
for many people.
It was a single-tasking model meaning you’d struggle to send a text while listening to a song in the
background.
The security side of things was also a downfall for some, with everything you stored on Palm being
out in the open unless encrypted – which many people didn’t do.
In a bid to be simpler some people felt that the Palm OS was too behind the times. And with Symbian
OS creeping in, the competition grew.
Palm did bring something special to the table though, differentiating themselves from other systems
with their unique touch-screen technology.

 Symbian (1998 - 2014)

Symbian OS quickly became the favorite operating system, overtaking Palm OS and Windows
Mobile. For many years, Symbian OS ruled the world of mobile technology reaching its peak in mid-
2007, where it dominated the market. With 65% of people favouring it – we’re just dying to know
what made it so popular.
This OS was loved for many reasons, one of them being its battery. Symbian helped optimise
performance for a stunning battery life, letting people enjoy their phones all day. Unlike its competitor
at the time, Palm OS, Symbian OS had fully encrypted security, meaning people felt that their
personal files and data were kept safe and secure and I don’t know about you, but this feels like a
pretty important feature to support.
Nokia was always Symbian’s biggest fan, with some of the absolute classics sporting Symbian. The
Nokia 3650 for example, a phone that in today’s world would look like something from a low-budget
80s sci-fi movie.

 Windows (2000 - 2010)

Windows Mobile was a user-friendly operating system dating back to as early as 2000, originally
called Pocket PC 2000. Now, whether the original name rolled off the tongue or not is another
question entirely, but it was later renamed to Windows Mobile in 2003.
It acted as major competition for Palm and Symbian OS, with an array of features that made it
extremely popular among its users.
Windows Mobile came equipped with Internet Explorer Mobile, making it a breeze for users to
browse the internet at their own leisure and to accompany this – the multitasking feature gave users
something they’d never experienced with other operating systems.
With Windows Media Player being the default media programme, users could play digital media until
their heart’s content – not quite the Netflix binge session you’d get on today’s smartphones, but
nevertheless it was a big step up from the systems that came before.
It comes as no surprise then that in October 2017, it was confirmed that due to low-market share and
lack of development Microsoft would no longer sell or manufacture new Windows 10 Mobile devices
– meaning goodbye Windows Mobile.
  BlackBerry (1999 - 2013)

So, now it’s time to mention the OS that once upon a time thrived as one of the best. BlackBerry OS
was the bees’ knees, reaching its prime in 2009. It was adored by many and for many reasons.

The famous BlackBerry Curve 8520.

The big rave now is WhatsApp but believe it or not BlackBerry thought of this one first. One thing
that users loved was BlackBerry Messenger, commonly known as BBM.

Now, BBM was a messenger service pre-installed on the BlackBerry devices and today the features
you know such as read receipts and statuses were locked down by BlackBerry all the way back in
2005. BBM is a huge part of what made BlackBerry OS so popular. As one of BlackBerry’s huge
selling points, they made sure that the features of this free messenger service were endless.

BBM offered its users PINs instead of usernames ensuring that security and privacy methods were
full proof. Another key feature of BBM was the option to Broadcast messages to all contacts, although
I personally see that as a one-way trip into chain-message hell.

However, for some, this was a huge plus allowing alerts to be sent to an entire contact list or giving
you the ease to send out broadcast messages to search for new contacts.

Despite the undeniable popularity of BlackBerry OS and its BBM, BlackBerry unfortunately lost its
mojo. In 2016, they announced that no more devices would be made. People have questioned this
failure, but many argue that BlackBerry’s sheer stubbornness to eliminate their QWERTY keyboard
is one of the key reasons.

The truth of the matter is, with the impressive technology put forward by iOS and Android,
BlackBerry never really stood a chance if we’re being honest.
  Apple iOS (2007- present)

iOS joined the party late in 2007 as the first iPhone was released. But unlike the iPhones that you
know today, the very first edition didn’t support 3G, multitasking, 3rd party apps or MMS. You
couldn’t copy and paste text or attach files to email or customize your home screen.

Steve Jobs showing off the first iPhone back in 2007.

Despite these missing features, iOS knocked its competition out the park. You can see on the Reddit
chart that the introduction of iOS lead to the downfall of some of its main competitors. Apple focused
on speed and consistency all while making sure the features they did make, were better than anything
else available in 2007.

iOS reinvented the touchscreen. Everyone wanted a taste of Apple and what this new revolutionary
operating system had to offer.

You could say that when Apple made touch the primary interaction with iOS, they carved the pathway
for the smartphones of the future. The introduction of its Mobile Safari web browser gave users the
chance to surf the internet with the same ease that they would get when using a desktop browser.
Safari presented features that were simply unmatched at the time, giving users the ultimate browsing
experience.

Now, the other thing that you might find to be a disadvantage is the ever- famous iOS vs Android
debate. There’s been an ongoing feud between iOS and Android users since Android appeared onto
the mobile market in 2008 and with Android developing new technologies rapidly, iOS has the battle
of trying to keep up.
  Android (2008 - present)

Developed by Google, Android made its debut in 2008 with the first Android 1.0. It all started with
the very basics like Google Mail, Maps, Calendar and YouTube. As shown on the Reddit chart,
Android became hugely popular in such a short matter of time.

Android have held their position as the world’s favourite operating system over the past 12 years. In
January 2020, Android had a whopping 85.4% of the popularity votes.
Android is generally the more popular operating system in developing countries with large
populations, where mobile phones are manufactured at lower costs and are more accessible on a
tighter budget, hence why they have such a large share of the overall market.
The main advantage that Android has over iOS is the fact that Android is available for a variety of
manufacturers whereas iOS is restricted to the iPhone. Android is compatible with Samsung, Huawei
(up until 2020), Sony, Google, Nokia any just about any other manufacturer that you can think of
outside of Apple.
Android has the Google Play Store – another amazing advantage. With almost 3 million apps
available, (compared with roughly 1 million in Apple’s AppStore), there’s everything you could
possibly need. Games, cooking, fitness, organization and so on.
With all these apps, you’ll want to multitask. What’s the use in having them if you can’t run them at
the same time? Android have ensured that their operating system allows for multitasking – another
thing that makes them so popular.
Users can browse social media while listening to their favorite song or quickly reply to a text while
their video still plays in the background.

Features of mobile Operating System

Mobile operating system controls everything from handling the input obtained from touch screen,
keyboard, or some external device to controlling the memory and the overall functioning of the device.
It also manages the communication and the interplay between the mobile device and other compatible
hardware such as computers, televisions or printers. As the operating system manages the hardware
and software resources of smartphones, it is responsible for determine the functions and features
available on the device. The mobile OS will also determine which third-party applications (mobile
apps) can be used on your device.
The common components found on all phones are:
 A battery, providing the power source for the phone functions.
 An input mechanism to allow the user to interact with the phone. The most common input
mechanism is a keypad, but touch screens are also common in smartphones.
 Basic mobile phone services to allow users to make calls and send text messages.
 All GSM phones use a SIM card to allow an account to be swapped among devices. A hybrid
mobile phone can take more than one SIM card, even of different types and some phones also
support three or four SIMs.
 Individual GSM, WCDMA, iDEN and some satellite phone devices are uniquely identified
by an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number.
The services and applications of mobile OS include:
Power Management, Battery Management, Memory Management, Reduced Boot-up Time,
Scheduling, CPU, Memory, Display, Data Communications, Managing calls, Access to Internet,
Advance GPS features, QWERTY Keyboard, Multimedia features, Synchronization Facility

Case Studies

Android operating system

Android is a mobile operating system based on a modified version of the Linux kernel and other open-
source software, designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.
Android is developed by a partnership of developers known as the Open Handset Alliance and
commercially sponsored by Google. It was disclosed in November 2007, with the first commercial
Android device, the HTC Dream, launched in September 2008.
It is free and open-source software. Its source code is Android Open Source Project (AOSP), primarily
licensed under the Apache License. However, most Android devices dispatch with additional
proprietary software pre-installed, mainly Google Mobile Services (GMS), including core apps such
as Google Chrome, the digital distribution platform Google Play and the associated Google Play
Services development platform.
About 70% of Android Smartphone runs Google's ecosystem, some with vendor-customized user
interface and some with software suite, such as Touch Wiz and later One UI by Samsung, and HTC
Sense.
Competing Android ecosystems and forks include Fire OS (developed by Amazon) or Lineage OS.
However, the "Android" name and logo are trademarks of Google which impose standards to restrict
"uncertified" devices outside their ecosystem to use android branding.
Features of operating system

1. Near Field Communication (NFC)

Most Android devices support NFC, which allows electronic devices to interact across short distances
easily. The main goal here is to create a payment option that is simpler than carrying cash or credit
cards, and while the market hasn't exploded as many experts had predicted, there may be an alternative
in the works, in the form of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).

2. Infrared Transmission
The Android operating system supports a built-in infrared transmitter that allows you to use your
phone or tablet as a remote control.

3. Automation

The Tasker app allows control of app permissions and also automates them.

4. Wireless App Downloads

You can download apps on your PC by using the Android Market or third-party options like
AppBrain. Then it automatically syncs them to your Droid, and no plugging is required.

5. Storage and Battery Swap

Android phones also have unique hardware capabilities. Google's OS makes it possible to upgrade,
replace, and remove your battery that no longer holds a charge. In addition, Android phones come
with SD card slots for expandable storage.

6. Custom Home Screens

While it's possible to hack certain phones to customize the home screen, Android comes with this
capability from the get-go. Download a third-party launcher like Apex, Nova, and you can add
gestures, new shortcuts, or even performance enhancements for older-model devices.

7. Widgets

Apps are versatile, but sometimes you want information at a glance instead of having to open an app
and wait for it to load. Android widgets let you display just about any feature you choose on the home
screen, including weather apps, music widgets, or productivity tools that helpfully remind you of
upcoming meetings or approaching deadlines.

8. Custom ROMs

Because the Android operating system is open-source, developers can twist the current OS and build
their versions, which users can download and install in place of the stock OS. Some are filled with
features, while others change the look and feel of a device. Chances are, if there's a feature you want,
someone has already built a custom ROM for it.
Android Software Stack

Linux Kernel

At the core of the Android platform is a Linux kernel responsible for device drivers,
resource access, power management, and other OS duties. The supplied device
driversinclude Display, Camera, Keypad, Wi-Fi, Flash Memory, Audio, and inter-
processcommunication (IPC).
Native Libraries

On top of the kernel, are a number of C/C++ libraries such as,

  The C runtime library (libc)
 A media library for playback of audio and video media
 A surface manager to provide display management
 Graphics libraries that include SGL and OpenGL for 2D and 3D graphics
 SQLite for native database support
 SSL and WebKit for integrated web browser and Internet security
 The FreeType library is responsible for font support.
Android Runtime

Android run time is the engine that powers your applications and, along with the
libraries, forms the basis for the application framework. It includes
 Core libraries: The core Android libraries providemost of the functionality available in the core
Java libraries, as well as the Android-specific libraries.

 DalvikVM: Dalvik VM is a register-based Virtual Machine that‘s been optimized to ensure that a
device can run multiple instances efficiently. It relies on the Linux kernel for threading and low-
level memory management.

Application framework

The application framework provides the classes used to createAndroid applications. It also provides
a generic abstraction for hardware access and managesthe user interface and application resources.

 Activity Manager - Control the lifecycle of Activities.

 Views — Used to construct the user interfaces for Activities
 Notification Manager — Provides a consistent and nonintrusive mechanism for signaling
Users
 Content Providers — Lets your applications share data
 Resource Manager — Enables non-code resources, such as strings and graphics, to be
externalized.

 Intents — Provides a mechanism for transferring data between applications and their
components.
 Package managers (installation, security).
 Telephony - Provides a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM).
 Bluetooth / NFC / Wi-Fi Direct - supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC [Link] develop

end-user applications on top of this Java API. Application Layer

It is a Collection of built-in and 3rd party apps.

 Built-in apps - Phone and Web Browser
 Google and 3rd party apps uses same APIsand goes through same approval process
 Built-in applications can be stopped touse 3rd party apps
Unix operating system
UNIX is a powerful Operating System initially developed by Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie at
AT&T Bell laboratories in 1970. It is prevalent among scientific, engineering, and academic
institutions due to its most appreciative features like multitasking, flexibility, and many more. In
UNIX, the file system is a hierarchical structure of files and directories where users can store and
retrieve information using the files.

Features of Unix operating System

Multitasking: A UNIX operating system is a multitasking operating system that allows you to initiate
more than one task from the same terminal so that one task is performed as a foreground and the other
task as a background process.

Multi-user: UNIX operating system supports more than one user to access computer resources like
main memory, hard disk, tape drives, etc. Multiple users can log on to the system from different
terminals and run different jobs that share the resources of a command terminal. It deals with the
principle of time-sharing. Time-sharing is done by a scheduler that divides the CPU time into several
segments also called a time slice, and each segment is assigned to each user on a scheduled basis.
This time slice is tiny. When this time is expired, it passes control to the following user on the system.
Each user executes their set of instructions within their time slice.

Portability: This feature makes the UNIX work on different machines and platforms with the easy
transfer of code to any computer system. Since a significant portion of UNIX is written in C language,
and only a tiny portion is coded in assembly language for specific hardware.

File Security and Protection: Being a multi-user system, UNIX makes special consideration for file
and system security. UNIX has different levels of security using assigning username and password to
individual users ensuring the authentication, at the level providing file access permission viz. read,
write and execute and lastly file encryption to change the file into an unreadable format.

Command Structure: UNIX commands are easy to understand and simple to use. Example: "cp",
mv etc. While working in the UNIX environment, the UNIX commands are case-sensitive and are
entered in lower case.

Communication: In UNIX, communication is an excellent feature that enables the user to

communicate worldwide. It supports various communication facilities provided using the write
command, mail command, talk command, etc.

Open Source: UNIX operating system is open source it means it is freely available to all and is a
community-based development project.

Accounting: UNIX keeps an account of jobs created by the user. This feature enhances the system
performance in terms of CPU monitoring and disk space checking. It allows you to keep an account
of disk space used by each user, and the disk space can be limited by each other. You can assign every
user a different disk quota. The root user can perform these accounting tasks using various commands
such as quota, df, du, etc.
Windows NT

Windows NT, a Microsoft Windows personal operating system, is designed for users and companies
who need advanced functions. The first version of Windows NT was released on July 27, 1993. It is
a multiprocessing and multi-user operating system that is independent from processor.

The technology of NT is the foundation of Microsoft’s operating system Windows 2000. It is said
that Windows NT stands for Windows new technology at the very beginning, but Microsoft doesn’t
claim it clearly. There is another version claims that NT refers to the simulator N 10 (ten) used by
Microsoft to develop NT on the i860.

The main design features of Windows NT are software and hardware portability. Due to the specific
processor architectures, various versions are released. Windows NT 4.0 is an important one among
these versions.

The main goal of Windows NT is to create a common code base and create a hardware abstraction
layer (HAL) for each platform.

Windows NT promises to run on all content, thus enabling extensive software compatibility by
supporting multiple API personalities like Windows API, POSIX API and OS/2 API.
Two versions of Windows NT

In fact, Windows NT contains Windows NT Workstation and Windows NT Server two versions. They
have a different emphasis on functions.

Windows NT Workstation is designed for workstation operating system, which is suitable for
interactive desktop environment. While Windows NT Server is designed for companies’ operating
system to provide an easy to manage, responsive network environment.

The two are totally identical in system structure, but they are adjusted accordingly in order to adapt
to different application environments.

Compared with Windows NT Workstation, Windows NT Server has more advanced functions. And
you can think of Windows NT Workstation as a subset of it.

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