Global Server OS Statistics and Trends (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering server operating systems, major platforms, security features, adoption trends by industry, and regional usage based on the lecture notes.

Server Operating System

An OS designed to run on servers, managing hardware resources and providing services, data, and applications to clients over a network.

Windows Server

Microsoft's server OS family; strong presence in enterprises; integrates with Active Directory and other Microsoft apps; licensing can be costly and may require more resources.

Linux (server OS)

Open-source family of server OSs; includes Ubuntu Server, CentOS, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux; valued for stability, security, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness.

Ubuntu Server

A popular Linux distribution tailored for servers; known for ease of use, robust package management, and cloud/web hosting readiness.

CentOS

Community-supported, binary-compatible rebuild of Red Hat Enterprise Linux; widely used for enterprise-grade server deployments.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Commercial Linux distribution with official enterprise support and certifications for mission-critical deployments.

Solaris

UNIX-based OS from Sun/Oracle; known for scalability and enterprise use, particularly in legacy systems.

AIX

IBM’s UNIX-based operating system for POWER systems; designed for reliability, scalability, and large enterprise workloads.

FreeBSD

Open-source UNIX-like OS known for performance and security in server and networking roles.

VMware ESXi

Type-1 hypervisor for server virtualization; enables running multiple virtual machines on a single physical host.

IBM i

IBM’s integrated OS for POWER servers; combines OS, database, and middleware for enterprise applications.

Secure Boot

Boot-time security feature that validates the bootloader and kernel integrity to prevent unauthorized code from running.

Windows Defender

Built-in antivirus/anti-malware solution included with Windows Server.

Windows Firewall

Built-in firewall that controls inbound and outbound network traffic to protect servers.

IPsec

Security protocol suite for encrypted and authenticated IP communications.

Network Access Protection (NAP)

Policy-based health assessment and access control for devices connecting to a network.

Active Directory

Centralized directory service for authentication, authorization, and management of users, computers, and resources in Windows networks.

AppLocker

Policy tool to restrict which applications can run on Windows systems, enhancing security.

HIPAA

Regulatory framework for protecting patient health information; influences security/auditing requirements in Windows Server deployments.

Enterprise and Corporate Sector (Windows Server adoption)

Industry segment where Windows Server is traditionally favored due to integration with Microsoft products and centralized management.

Healthcare (Windows Server adoption)

Industry trend where Windows Server is used for managing EHR, patient data, and hospital information systems, driven by security/compliance needs.

Education (Windows Server adoption)

Institutions use Windows Server for student information systems, network infrastructure, and collaboration tools; ease of use matters.

Government and Public Sector (Windows Server adoption)

Agencies deploy Windows Server for secure data management, citizen services, and administrative tasks.

Finance and Banking (Windows Server adoption)

Financial institutions rely on Windows Server for hosting critical apps, high availability, disaster recovery, and regulatory compliance.

North America usage

Strong presence of Windows Server in the United States and Canada, driven by enterprise IT investments.

Europe usage

Wide adoption across European countries in finance, healthcare, and government sectors.

Asia usage

Significant adoption in manufacturing, technology, and services; key markets include Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.

Latin America usage

Adoption varies by country, with use in banking, education, and government sectors.

Africa usage

Growing Windows Server adoption, especially in urban centers and industries like telecommunications, healthcare, and finance.