Windows NT Operating System

A Windows NT Operating System is a multitasking operating system that provides enterprise-grade stability and security through a microkernel architecture.

• AKA: Windows New Technology, Windows New Technology Operating System, NT OS, Windows NT.
• Context:
  • It can typically support Multi-User Environments with isolated user sessions.
  • It can typically enable Hardware Abstraction through hardware abstraction layers.
  • It can often provide Security Subsystems via security reference monitors.
  • It can often facilitate Network Protocol Support using built-in networking stacks.
  • It can support POSIX Compliance through subsystem architectures.
  • It can integrate with Active Directory for enterprise authentication.
  • It can enable Kernel Debugging using kernel debugging tools.
  • It can range from being a Windows NT Workstation Operating System to being a Windows NT Server Operating System, depending on its deployment configuration.
  • It can range from being a 32-bit Windows NT Operating System to being a 64-bit Windows NT Operating System, depending on its processor architecture.
  • It can range from being a Single-Processor Windows NT Operating System to being a Multi-Processor Windows NT Operating System, depending on its SMP support.
  • It can range from being a Basic Windows NT Operating System to being an Enterprise Windows NT Operating System, depending on its feature set.
  • ...
• Examples:
  • Windows NT Version Releases, such as:
    • Windows NT 3.1 - initial release in 1993.
    • Windows NT 4.0 - introduced Windows 95 interface.
    • Windows 2000 - NT 5.0 with Active Directory.
    • Windows XP - NT 5.1 consumer version.
    • Windows Server 2003 - NT 5.2 server platform.
    • Windows Vista - NT 6.0 with new driver model.
    • Windows 7 - NT 6.1 refined interface.
    • Windows 10 - NT 10.0 unified platform.
  • ...
• Counter-Examples:
  • Windows 95 Operating System, which uses MS-DOS kernel base.
  • Windows 98 Operating System, which lacks true preemptive multitasking.
  • MS-DOS Operating System, which provides single-user environment only.
  • Linux Operating System, which uses different kernel architecture.
• See: Windows Operating System, Windows 95 Operating System, Operating System Kernel, Microkernel Architecture, Windows Task Manager Tool, Windows Registry Editor Tool, Windows Shell Porting Task, Dave Cutler, Windows Shell, Windows API.

---