PERFORMANCE, SCALABILITY, AND FLEXIBILITY: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF WINDOWS, LINUX, AND SOLARIS

Abstract

All current computing systems are based on the functioning of operating systems (OS), which perform the functions of hardware abstraction, resource allocation, and process control. These various platforms of OS offer several options, and one is to compare the best and the most suitable to the particular architecture and use cases which demand a comparative analysis that delves into the mechanism and efficiency of operation. This paper gives a comparative review of three popular operating systems, Windows, Linux, and Solaris, in terms of important aspects like the process management system, file systems, threading system, memory management, virtual memory operations (page hits and misses), and kernel mode operations. Examine several peer-reviewed research articles and technical reports critically. This piece of work isolates the architectural distinctions, operational plans, and system-level innovations that mark these OSs. Windows focuses on ease of use and kernel modification; Linux focuses on modularity and open-source flexibility; while Solaris focuses on enterprise network scalability and high throughput. The results add a few helpful computer science contributions to the discussion of the design choices in operating systems and their results on the performance, stability, and resource utilization in various computing situations.

Keywords: Operating Systems, Windows, Linux, Solaris, Process Management, File Systems, Threading Models, Memory Management, Virtual Memory, Kernel Architecture, Comparative Analysis.