The industrial sector is a massive mix of companies producing the necessary goods and services to support other businesses and manufacturers. These companies tap digital technologies like automation, electronics, and computers to ensure everything works smoothly.
Operating systems (OS) manage many of these technological workhorses. Like the devices and machines they run, OSs come in various types and purposes, from user-friendly desktop operating systems to virtual versions used by millions of users daily. Selecting the right ones is an essential task for each company in the industrial sector.
What is an Operating System?
An operating system is software that makes a computer accessible to users. An OS does so through abstraction, allowing users to operate the computer without needing to see the applications and hardware running in the background. Some examples of abstraction include:
- Threads and processes going through the CPU.
- Address space being assigned in the computer's memory.
- Files that are processed and stored within hard drives and solid-state drives.
- Data sent and received through network sockets.
Different operating systems are available depending on the electronic device and its use.
- An OS aimed primarily at desktop computers, such as industrial panel PCs, would focus on ease of use by end-users.
- A server OS connects to other computers over networks, providing resources like applications, data, and services.
- Mobile operating systems are specialized for the small screens and unique features of smartphones, tablets, and similar devices.
- Real-time OS (RTOS) are used to meet the very specific needs of industrial computer systems (detailed below).
Operating System vs Manufacturing Operating System
The OSs used in industrial machines, computers, and embedded devices are sometimes referred to as manufacturing operating systems or MOS.
They are not the same. While an OS makes the computer accessible to users, an MOS focuses on streamlining a true manufacturer's various production, quality control, and supply chain processes. Steel manufacturing, from the delivery of raw components to the steel plant to the shipment of the final products to buyers, is an example of an MOS.
The Major Operating Systems in the Industrial Sector
Like operating systems used in healthcare, OSs in the industrial sector have particular uses and applications. The five major types include:
Microsoft Windows
The popular consumer-oriented OS can be found throughout the industrial sector since Windows for Workgroups and Windows NT were first introduced in 1993. WinOS, as it's popularly called, continues to be wildly used thanks to most workers' familiarity with it both personally and professionally, as well as its compatibility with many industrial applications.
Linux
Linux is part of Unix, a group of operating systems well-known for their stability, security, and flexibility. Unlike proprietary systems like WinOS, Linux is freely available, which helps companies keep their costs down. They also find Linux easy to customize for their specific industrial needs as well as receiving support from the greater Unix community.
Real-time Operating Systems (RTOS)
Real-time operating systems (RTOS) are used in applications where precise timing is extremely critical, with failure leading to severe consequences. Examples of RTOS use include air traffic control systems, autonomous driving systems ("self-driving cars"), and medical devices like pacemakers.
Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)
VDI is a server-based tool for creating a virtual desktop that mimics many of the functions of desktop operating systems. Each user gets their own virtual desktop, which they can access from any physical machine, like a rugged industrial tablet. VDIs hosted and primarily managed by third-party services like Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure are called cloud workspaces. Regardless, businesses in the industrial sector find both useful, especially when managing plants, offices, and facilities across the globe.
Custom / Proprietary Operating Systems
These are operating systems used by the company to meet specific and stringent needs and requirements. They are built in-house and incompatible outside the company's processes. The aerospace and medical device manufacturing industries often use custom OSs to meet their industry's standards and legal regulations.
Let Cybernet House Your OS With the Right Industrial Computer
Businesses in today's industrial sector manage a massive web of products and services. To accomplish this sometimes herculean task, many companies have turned to digital technologies like computers, embedded systems, and the operating systems that run them.
Contact the team at Cybernet Manufacturing if you are looking for the right combination of operating systems and computer products for your company. Our line of industrial computers is built from the ground up to handle the sector's unique needs and requirements. This includes a choice of operating systems in which we offer various types of WinOS as well as Linux.
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