Microsoft Word Hardware Reconfiguration Methodology V final2

Migrations

A hardware migration (with respect to reports [1, 5, 6, and 7]), often referred to as migration, is a term similar to operating system hardware reconfiguration. However, they differ in that a migration² is an operating system hardware reconfiguration that takes place only after the entire underlying computing platform has been replaced. In other words, the operating system is altogether transferred to another computer by various means (i.e. disk copying, etc.). An example of this would be moving a Linux-based operating system from a Pentium-class system to a Pentium IV-class system. Most, if not all the new system’s hardware will be completely different from that of its predecessor. An operating system hardware reconfiguration then takes place only once the power is applied to the new system and is allowed to boot. Depending on the maturity of the Linux operating system in question, the reconfiguration, if it occurs may be either dynamic or static in nature.

² Migrations can only be performed on systems with the same basic architecture (i.e. x86, x64, etc.).

3. Operating systems

1. Background

Operating systems are far larger and complex than they were, even ten years ago. For this reason, in this section, a brief examination of operating systems and the technical issues as well as complexities surrounding them will be examined in the following subsections. Although this section is specifically concerned with the Linux operating system, it is equally applicable to other open source and non-open source operating systems as well.

2. Definition

The term operating system has been given many varying definitions over the years. In this text, the more classical definition of the term is used. An operating system can be big or small; it is not defined by size. At a minimum, an operating system is a collection of executable code separated into individual computer files that controls the computer’s hardware and user-based applications, tools, and utilities. An operating system is compromised of: 1) a kernel; 2) a shell or GUI (for interacting with the kernel and launching applications); and 3) user-based applications.

The kernel provides the low-level facility (or layer) that interacts directly with the system’s hardware. The kernel consists of various device drivers, memory management components, and a general framework for interacting with the hardware and running applications. The shell or GUI accepts user-based input used for interacting with the system’s hardware and running various applications and utilities that perform some useful work on the user’s behalf. Finally, user applications and utilities exist to provide services and functionality to the user.

With Linux, it is important to understand the difference between the Linux kernel and a Linux- based operating system. Linux, in of itself, refers only to the GNU/Linux kernel which includes drivers and various subsystems such as memory management components. A Linux-based operating system, at its most basic, is no more different from any other computer operating system. It too is compromised of a kernel, a shell (or GUI) for user-based interactions with the kernel, and a collection of user-based applications. Thus, a Linux-based operating system is more than just GNU/Linux kernel, but also includes a command line shell or GUI, an assortment of user-based tools, applications, utilities, documentation, source code, etc. Together these form a usable and functional computer operating system.

3.