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Server
Operating
System
Basics
A
server
operating
system
(OS)
is
a
specialized
type
of
computer
operating
system,
so
it
will
be
useful
to
start
with
a
basic
definition.
A
computer
operating
system
is
a
set
of
software
instructions
that
performs
the
following
basic
tasks:
- Controls
the
interaction
of
the
computer's
central
processing
unit
(CPU),
random
access
memory
(RAM),
hard
drive
and
other
hardware
components
so
that
these
components
work
together
in
an
orderly
and
efficient
way.1
- Controls
the
User
Interface
(U.I.),
which
enables
users
to
interact
with
the
computer
to
perform
desired
tasks.2
Using
your
mouse
to
select
an
option
from
a
menu
displayed
on
your
computer
monitor
is
a
simple
example
of
how
the
U.I.
works.
- Controls
and
manages
access
to
shared
files
and
printers
across
a
network
- Controls
the
interaction
between
the
computer
and
software
applications,
such
as
Microsoft®
Word,
used
to
perform
specific
tasks
- Controls
the
interaction
between
the
computer
and
another
hardware
device,
such
as
a
printer,
through
standardized
instructions
called
drivers3
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A
server
operating
system
is
an
OS
that
controls
these
functions
on
a
server.
Rather
than
primarily
managing
a
one-to-one
relationship
between
computer
and
user,
a
server
OS
can
manage
a
one-to-many
relationship
between
the
server
and
multiple
users
and
user
devices.
In
addition
to
the
core
tasks
of
the
operating
system,
the
server
operating
system
also:
- Controls
security
and
enables
you
to
decide
which
users
and
user
devices
may
access
the
server
resources
and
how
they
may
use
them.
Resources
may
include
shared
data
and
other
devices,
such
as
network
printers
or
other
servers
- Serves
as
a
platform
on
which
the
server
applications
run
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