Specifications

University of Hertfordshire
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Chapter Three: Project Environment Selection
This chapter will explain the reasons of that author select those hardware and
software listed in chapter 2.
3.1 Server Operating System Selection
3.1.1 Introduction to Linux
Linux was originally conceived as a freely distributed UNIX clone operating on PCs equipped with
386, 486 or more advanced processors. Although it was originally developed for the x86
architecture, it can now operate on other platforms such as Alpha, Sparc, certain 68000 platforms
such as Atari and Amiga, certain MIPS machine, and Power PCs. Linux is a UNIX implementation
conforming to POSIX (Portable Operating System Interface) specifications, but is equipped with
certain extensions proper to UNIX System V and BSD. This makes it very easy to transport code
from applications written for other UNIX Systems. Linux code is entirely original, and is not in any
way proprietary. (Card, Dumas & Mevel, 1997)
3.1.2 Key Features of Linux
The Linux Operating System functions are numerous and they exploit the capability of modern
UNIX systems in the following ways:

Linux supports multi-process, multi-processors: more than on program can be executed at a
time, whether using one or several processors,

Linux supports multiple platforms,

Linux supports multiple-user: as with all UNIX system, Linux allows several users to work
on the same machine at the same time,

Linux supports inter-process communication (Pipes, IPC, Sockets),

In Linux, manages different control messages,

Linux also supports pseudo-terminals as well as process control, terminal management
conforming to the POSIX standard.

Linux supports a wide range of peripheral devices such as sound cards, graphics interfaces,
networks, SCSI, etc.