Int. J.

Advanced Networking and Applications 2868

Volume: 07 Issue: 05 Pages: 2868-2875 (2016) ISSN: 0975-0290

Web OS in Cloud Computing: A Case study

Ranjan Kumar Mondal
Department of Computer Science & Engineering,
University of Kalyani, Kalyani, India
E-mail - ranjan@klyuniv.ac.in

Debabrata Sarddar
Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science & Engineering,
University of Kalyani, Kalyani, India
E-mail – dsarddar1@gmail.com

----------------------------------------------------------------ABSTRACT-----------------------------------------------------------------
Like a Server Operating System (SOS) and a Cloud Operating System (COS) are responsible for computing
resources. In a server the OS is responsible for managing the various hardware resources inside a server’s frame.
A Web Operating System serves the same purpose like traditional server does. Instead of managing a single
machine’s resources, a cloud Operating System is responsible for managing the cloud infrastructure. But unlike a
traditional Operating System, a Web Operating System has to do everything at scale. In present paper we would
discuss and study Web OS.

Keywords: Web OS, Cloud Computing, Cloud OS, Virtual Desktop

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Date of Submission: March 10, 2016 Date of Acceptance: March 24, 2016
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I. INTRODUCTION aggregation. The many various real applications exhibit

very different requirements.
A Web Operating System is a Web platform
which allows the user to use a virtual Desktop However, the heterogeneous and dynamic nature of the
through a Web browser over the Internet rather than Web infrastructure ensures that it is impossible to
using any particular local traditional operating provide a complete catalog of all resources
system. This incredible technology allows a user to available on the Web. Web OS has an applications
access their own virtual desktop from anywhere around that are geographically distributed, available, scalable,
the world, without even using a network like with a and reconfiguring. It will include features for resource
remote PC. In addition, user are essentially using discovery, collaboration, storage, execution,
the Internet to work as a desktop, rather than an management, authentication and security.
actually desktop computer.
II. AN OVERVIEW OF CLOUD
Web Operating System is an open source Web desktop COMPUTING:
following the cloud computing concept. It acts as a
platform for Web applications composed by using the
Cloud is a simplified Operating System running on a
Cloud Computing concepts. It includes a desktop
Web browser providing access to a variety of Web-
environment with applications and system. It is
based applications that allow the user to perform many
accessible by portable devices via smart phone
simple tasks without booting a full-scale Operating
also. Every Cloud Operating System lets user to upload
System. The Operating System is designed for Mobile
files and work with them no matter where user is. It
Internet Devices and PCs that are mainly used to
contains applications like Word Processor, PDF reader,
browse the Internet. From Cloud the user can quickly
and many more developed by the Cloud vendors.
boot into the main OS, because Cloud continues
booting the main OS in the background.
Development of an OS enabling worldwide computing
is a current issue nowadays. Such an OS is called the
Cloud computing is anything or/and everything in
Web OS. Most Internet users use Web OS to download
online. Online is all in Cloud Computing. Cloud
applications remotely. The common model of these
Computing is all based on Internet. Cloud computing
services consists of client-server or master-slave
refers to a system in online where services are delivered
configuration with a network as a media. The use of
over the Internet. Anybody can access through Internet
Web resources is highly motivated by different reasons.
into cloud computing world.
These include reliability, availability, fault tolerance,
load sharing, function sharing, and performance
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Volume: 07 Issue: 05 Pages: 2868-2875 (2016) ISSN: 0975-0290

Cloud computing is known as Internet based

computing, with shared resources, software and 2. On a single host machine, a user may have separate
information is provided to computers and other virtual desktops for different applications. One desktop
devices. Cloud Computing is a computing in which might feature applications for graphic design, for
services and software are provided over the Internet example, and another might feature business
which is very cheap and affordable. applications.

Cloud computing is a technology that uses the IV. WEB OS OVERVIEW

internet and central remote servers to maintain data
and applications. Cloud computing allows consumers Web OS is designed as a distributed system. The Web
and businesses to use applications without installation OS framework enables a new paradigm for Internet
and access their personal files at any computer with services. Web OS goal is to provide a platform
internet access. which allows the user to benefit from the
computational potential offered by the Web. It’s aimed
Example of cloud computing is salesforce.com, Yahoo is to make available to all sites of the network resources
mail or Google mail etc. Clients does not need software to execute computations for which local resources are
or a server to use them. The server and email missing[1].
management software is all over the Internet and is
totally managed by the cloud service provider The kernel of a Web OS node is a system, a reactive
Yahoo, Google etc. The consumer gets to use the system responding to requests from users or system. A
software alone and enjoy the benefits. Cloud Web OS-node integrates user, server, and applications.
computing is on demand access to virtualized IT It is capable of providing a set of services, which can
resources that are housed outside of clients own pass on to each other requests when appropriate. Again,
data center, shared by others, simple to use, paid because of Web is dynamically changing, there exist
for via monthly subscription which is very low in cost, some warehouses that associated with the Web OS node
and accessed over the Web with many features in it. provide the necessary information and components for
The basic concept of cloud computing is using meeting requested services. Each Web OS node is
software via the Internet instead of installing it. using its own warehouses to store and continuously
update information about the node and available
Cloud Computing defines a software that manages services and resources.
collections of infrastructure as an Operating
environment created in a user’s computer from an on-
line application stored on the cloud and run through a IV.1.WEB OS
Web browser.
A Web OS is a Web-based app that emulates the
application capabilities of an operating system. It's
III. VIRTUAL DESKTOP:
basically a virtual desktop that gives user
communication tools (like email), productivity tools
1. A virtual desktop is an individual user's interface in a (like word processing) and ability to play games and
virtualized environment. The virtualized desktop is any other application that user would find on a typical
stored on a remote server rather than locally. OS like Microsoft Windows. But that's not all - a Web
Desktop virtualization system is a software that OS should be an expandable platform (just like
separates the physical machine from the software and Windows) that gives developers the right tools (like
presents an isolated operating system for APIs) to develop new applications and add new
users. Desktop virtualization tools include Microsoft utilities.
Virtual PC, VMware Workstation and Parallels Desktop
for Mac. Web OS is network based service where a user can
access his system through network. It is an introduction
The benefits of include: of one or more operating system in the category of Web
operating systems. Web OS was introduced as a
Cost savings because resources can be shared and thought that one might be able to play with application,
allocated on an as-needed basis. store data, for sharing on the web from anywhere. So a
More efficient use of resources and energy. Web OS does. Today Web OS are capable of storing
Improved data integrity because backup is centralized. large amount of data as large as 30 GB. User can share
Centralized administration. applications.
Fewer compatibility issues.

Knowledge workers who use mostly business software

applications are good candidates for desktop
virtualization. The model is not generally viable for
users with high resource demands.
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Volume: 07 Issue: 05 Pages: 2868-2875 (2016) ISSN: 0975-0290

IV.2.THAT WEB OS DOES V. WEBOS IMPLEMENTATION:

In these systems, a company provides computer

services to users through an Internet connection. The
provider runs a system of computers that include
application servers and databases. With some systems,
people access the applications using Web browsers.
With other systems, users must download a program
that creates a system-specific client. A client is software
that accesses information or services from other
software. In either case, users access programs that are
stored not on their own computers, but on the Web.

In traditional operating systems, user has to install

applications to computer. The applications would exist
on computer's hard disk drive. A Web OS might look a
lot like a traditional OS, but it doesn't manage user
computer's hardware or software. A Web OS allows
user to access applications stored not on user
computer, but on the Web. The applications exist
wholly or in part on Web servers within a particular
provider network. When user saves information in an
application, user might not store it on user computer.
Instead, user saves the information to databases
connected to the Internet. Some Web operating systems
also give user the option to save information to user
local hard disk drive. Our initial implementation is split into the
following pieces:
IV.3.HISTORY OF WEB OS
Web OS: A system allowing applications to read and
The Web OS is a computing research project which write to the URL name space. Consistency is available
started in 1996 at the University of California, Berkeley to applications requiring it through protocol.
and Continued at Duke University, University of Texas
at Austin, and the University of Washington. Active Names: A mechanism for logically moving
service functionality (such as load balancing) from the
The Web OS is first named as HyperOffice and then as server into the network.
MyWebOS and then after one year it has been named as
Web OS. Web Operating Systems are also commonly Secure Remote Execution: We believe applications
referred to as Web desktops or Webtops. It is a multiple will be running on remote nodes for users. Assurances
integrated built-in applications that allow the user to must be provided ensuring that applications are not able
easily manage and organize her data from any location. to violate the integrity of the remote server.

IV.4.WEB OS MOTIVATION Security and Authentication: Applications accessing

remote files must authenticate their identities before
access to protected files.
The goal of our project is to provide a set of OS
services to wide area applications, including
Transactions: Applications must have well-defined
mechanisms, process execution, resource management,
failure modes. For example, an aborted remote agent
authentication, and security. On a user single machine,
should not leave a user's local file system in an
application developers can depend on the local
inconsistent state.
operating system to provide these abstractions. In the
wide area application developers are forced to build
these abstractions or to do without. This ad-hoc CLIENT-SERVER COMMUNICATION.
approach wastes programmer effort and system
resources. To address these problems, Web OS provides Web OS use a two-tier architecture in which one
basic operating systems services needed to build machine acts as both application and presentation
applications that are geographically distributed, server. The client is the second tier. The application
available, scalable, and configuring. server hosts virtual machines that run programs and
push them to a presentation server, which manages the
client connection.
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Volume: 07 Issue: 05 Pages: 2868-2875 (2016) ISSN: 0975-0290

The client runs application and passes user input back Photo editing tool: the availability of a tool that allows
to the application server. the user to edit images.
E-mail client: the presence of an email client.
Client-side WEB OS makes use of several technologies Instant Messaging: the availability of an integrated
on the client side: instant messenger.
Calendar: the existence of a calendar.
interface. Collaboration - Conferencing tools: the presence of
engine handles communication with the online collaboration tools (such as VoIP)
server asynchronously, using AJAX. Mini-Browser: the integration of a Web browser
File storage: the amount of space if available to store
server. JavaScript is used to provide client-side-only files online
interactions. File sharing support: the support for file sharing with
other users.
Server-side Desktop Search: the presence of a desktop search
Web OS is written in PHP on the server side, and engine within the Web OS
provides multiple high level abstractions. The goal of
these is to make it easy to write new applications, and VII.1.CHARACTERISTICS OF WEB
avoid dealing with low-level primitives. Web OS is OPERATING SYSTEM:
also a Web application development framework.
Free sign up for personal use
VI. THE GOAL OF WEB OPERATING Online application services
SYSTEMS No maintain charge and security cost
Access to any Website
Being able to work from everywhere, regardless of Work as a social networking
whether or not user are using a full-featured, modern While the operating system will work as well as the
computer, a mobile gadget, or a completely obsolete Website.
PC. Sharing resources easily between different work
centers at company, or working from different places VIII. BENEFITS OF THE CLOUD
and countries on the same projects. OPERATING SYSTEM:
Always enjoying the same applications with the same
open formats, and forgetting the usual compatibility Worldwide availability of Cloud Operating Systems:
problems between office suites and traditional operating As it’s available through internet.
systems. Being able to continue working if you have to Requires only browser: A browser with Java support
leave user local computer or if it just crashes, without is more than enough.
losing data or time: Just log in to user Cloud Operating Dynamic content and design: Interface can be
System from another place and continue working. customized according user needs, windows are floating
so that they can be repositioned.
EXAMPLES OF WEB OPERATING SYSTEM Extensive list Applications: Office applications,
Multimedia applications, Network applications and
Web OS site: http://www.Beta.cloudo.com Chat applications etc. all are available.
http://www.Oos.cc Remote storage facility: Through the file browser user
http://www.eyeos.info can store files over the internet and edit them as user
http://www.lucid-desktop.org/ want.
http://www.amoebaos.org/ Browser and Platform independent: All browsers
Email site: http://www.gmail.com and all operating systems are supported.
Online storage site: http://www.mega.com
SERVICES OF WEB OS PROVIDES:
VII. FEATURES AVAILABLE IN WEBOS:
Web OS provides:
Open API: the typology of Application Programming Calendars,
Interface that it uses E-mail,
Open-source: the possibility for users and developers File management,
to contribute to the enrichment of the Web OS by Games,
creating new applications and widgets Instant messaging programs,
Integrated apps: the applications that the Web OS Photo, video and audio editing programs,
features by default (text editor) Spreadsheet programs,
Audio-video Player: the availability of a media player Word processing programs etc.
within the Web OS
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Volume: 07 Issue: 05 Pages: 2868-2875 (2016) ISSN: 0975-0290

ADVANTAGES OFFERED BY A WEB OS X. CONCLUSION

A cloud OS is not simple to implement. There are two Building a highly scalable system is not a very easy
reasons for this. First, the sheer scale of the cloud task. We have to invest in a great deal of engineering
infrastructure pushes the technology limit. Few efforts to make sure not only the overall system, but
companies have had the experience of managing such a also every single component are robust and scalable. In
big infrastructure, and the cloud providers are forced to this paper, we want to show a new way of making the
build new solutions from the ground up. For example, systems, a cloud vendor has to spend a large amount of
Google designed Big Table to store a large amount of efforts to make services scalable, reliable than other
semi structured data. Similarly, Amazon designed implementations.
Dynamo to manage storage and built their own
management infrastructure to support their Web Web OS has the potential of being an important
services API. Second, a cloud has to be robust and distributed computing system for the Internet. It
scalable because it is designed to be shared by promises supporting applications that are
hundreds or thousands of people instead of just a few geographically distributed with high reliability,
users on a PC. Some advantages are as follows: security, scalability, and manageability.
Need not to install OS
No hard drive with more memory Some research and prototyping of Web OS have been
No external hard disk underway to overcome some of the challenges and
No one software to be installed difficulties pertaining to the design and implementation
No times loss to install software of such a system.
No extra charge to buy software
Software to be updated latest version always ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Piracy decreased
No crash any software We would like to express our gratitude to Dr. Kalyani
One type of software will be used at a time (like media Mali, Head of Department, Computer Science and
player, either vlc or wmp) Engineering of University of Kalyani. Without her
No software will be shared by copy among users assistance and guidance, we would not have been able
Always time saving to direct use application software to make use of the university’s infrastructure and
No carry laptop from home to workplace laboratory facilities for conducting our research.
Online Backup.
REFERENCES
DISADVANTAGES
[1]: Oliver Krone, Simon Schubiger. WebRes: Towards
There is always to be online. a Web Operating System. Kommunikation in
Slow bandwidth hazard Verteilten Systems 1999: 418-429.
Risky for service provider shutdown
[2]: Peter G Kropf. Overview of the Web Operating
IX. FUTURE THOUGHTS OF CLOUD System (Web OS) project, 1999
OPERATING SYSTEMS
[3]: Nazib A. Kofahi, Ahmad T. Al-Taani web
operating system and computing on the web.
In near future, most people won't do their work with
Information Technology journal 4(4), 2005. 360-
software running on a general-purpose PC. Instead, they
366.
will work with Internet-based applications running from
smart phones and tablets.
[4]: MohitJain,Mohd. Danish, HemantYadav, “Cloud
Cloud computing allows customers to have easy,
Computing and Online Operating System”, IJCTA,
instant, and access to tools, data and applications
Mohit Jain et al, Int. J. Comp. Tech. Appl., Vol 2
they need when they want to use from any networked
(6), pp-1795-1799.
computer even mobile devices like laptop, smart phone
or tablet. We introduced the Cloud operating system or
[5]: www.wikipedia.com
Web operating system that aims to provide an
expressive set of resource management options and
[6]: www.eyeos.com
metrics to applications to facilitate programming in the
Cloud, while at the same time exposing a programming
[7]: www.glideos.com
interface providing developers with an access to a
scalable computing and networking environment,
[8]: www.startforce.com
allowing the implementation of robust, elastic and
reliable distributed applications.
[9]: www.technical.com
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Volume: 07 Issue: 05 Pages: 2868-2875 (2016) ISSN: 0975-0290

AUTHORS PROFILE Annexure: I

Ranjan Kumar Mondal received
Types of Web OS
his M.Tech in Computer Science
There are many WebOS.
and Engineering from University of
AstraNOS, BeDesk, cmyOS, Desktoptwo, DoxBoard,
Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia; and B.Tech
GCOE X, eyeOs, Glide, G.ho.st, goowy, jooce,
in Computer Science and
mybooo, myGoya, OOS, Parakey, Psych Desktop,
Engineering from Government
Purefect Desktop, SSOE , StartForce, Xindesk,
College of Engineering and Textile
Nivio,Webdesk, Webdows, Widgets Gadgets, YouOS,
technology, Berhampore,
ZimDesk, DesktopOnDemand, Free Live OS Zoo.
Murshidabad, West Bengal under West Bengal
University of Technology, West Bengal, India. At
present, he is a Ph.D research scholar in Computer 1. Cloudo
Science and Engineering from University of Kalyani.
His research interests include Cloud Computing,
Wireless and Mobile Communication Systems.

Debabrata Sarddar is an Assistant

Professor at the Department of
Computer Science and Engineering,
University of Kalyani, Kalyani,
Cloudo is a free Cloud Operating System that lives on
Nadia, West Bengal, India. He
the Internet. This means that we can reach our
completed his PhD from Jadavpur
documents, photos, music and all other files no matter
University. He did his M. Tech in
where we are, from any computer or mobile phone or
Computer Science & Engineering from DAVV, Indore
tablet. It features an open, powerful, stable and versatile
in 2006, and his B.E in Computer Science &
development environment. We can easily share a set of
Engineering from NIT, Durgapur in 2001. He has
files, images or set up a joint account with friends and
published more than 75 research papers in different
colleagues.
journals and conferences. His research interests include
Link: http://www.cloudo.com/
Cloud Computing, Wireless and Mobile
Communication Systems.
2. eyeOS

eyeOS is a disruptive desktop totally usable from a Web

browser. It includes an office suite and some
collaboration applications, as well as a full framework.
It is Open Source so we can host our own system,
keeping all our data under control.
eyeOS is one of the most used Web Operating System.
With eyeOS we can build our private Cloud Desktop.
Using eyeOSWeb Runner we can open our eyeOS files
from our browser with our local apps and save them
automatically on our cloud. In eyeOS 2.0 we can work
collaboratively with other users simultaneously in the
same document. We will get privacy and cloud
computing at its best.
Link: http://www.eyeos.org
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Volume: 07 Issue: 05 Pages: 2868-2875 (2016) ISSN: 0975-0290

3. Glide OS 6. myGOYA

myGOYA is a Flash based online desktop that allows to

access to all data anywhere in the world. It doesn’t
Glide OS is a cloud computing solution. Glide is a free require installation and contains the following tools:
web os with 30GBs of storage. Users can upgrade extra Webmail, Calendar, Private Messenger, Contacts, Chat,
storage with cost per year. The Glide OS provides Notes and more.
automatic file and application compatibility across Link: http://www.mygoya.de/us/
devices and operating systems. With Glide OS user also
get the Apps helping user to synchronize home and
7. Xindesk
work files.
Link: http://www.glideos.com/

4. Lucid Desktop

Xindesk is a free, solution for making all our files,

Lucid comes with lots of applications. Customer can calendars, contacts and other data accessible and in
browse photos, listen to music, and edit documents. It sync wherever we are. It’s pretty much like accessing
also comes with an RSS feed reader, some games, a our computer from any standard Web browser, from a
calculator, and a bash-like terminal application. We can computer, a mobile phone or any other device
install additional third-party applications. connected to the Internet. The core of Xindesk is a Web
Lucid is a free, open source Web desktop, or WebOS OS featuring application that opens and saves the
that lets us access users media, office documents, and standard office formats.
other files anywhere stay up to date with Twitter, RSS Xindesk is the first Web operating system that works
feeds, and what’s happening on the Web create great easily, even for people without deep computer
Web applications in ridiculously short amounts of time knowledge. The Web OS is an open platform, just like
Link: http://www.lucid-desktop.org Windows and Mac OS. This enables anyone to develop
new applications.
5. OOS Link: http://www.xindesk.com/

8. Starforce

iCube OOS is a free Online Operating System that

provides an amazing number of useful applications and
services: Organize users files, documents and personal With Starforceuser can run Windows apps such as MS
data from anywhere around the world. The primary goal Office, pdf etc. We can also stitch in Web apps such as
is to provide to users the highest level of usability and Google. Starforce also contains native apps such as
all necessary means to facilitate online collaboration. Email and Calendar. The combination of Windows
For instance, intuitive drag and drop operations are used Apps, Web Apps, and Startforce Apps makes Startforce
wherever they are expedient and user can share user Web Desktop the most comprehensive and functional
data with other users. virtual desktop solution on the market.
Link: http://oos.cc/ Startforce Web Desktop offers a familiar user interface
with a full desktop experience within a Web browser.
Startforce supports multi-windowing, drag and drop,
right click icons, themes, start menu, shortcuts, etc. IT
can onboard users rapidly without any additional
burden from a training and support perspective.
Link: http://www.starforce.com/
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Volume: 07 Issue: 05 Pages: 2868-2875 (2016) ISSN: 0975-0290

Annexure: II Mobile Support – if users can access to data also with

mobile devices
Comparison Table
Apps Manager – if the Web OS allows users to
add/remove applications
Before we take an in depth look at Web applications,
we have created a simple comparison table with some
Developer Tools – if application provides tools or
important features of each Web application. More
documentation that developers can use to build their
precisely, we have included in the table the following
own apps.
characteristics:

Virtual Space (if it’s specified) – most of the services

does not specify in registration step the available space
Live Collaboration Support – if this service allows
multiple user to access and work with files stored on
Web OS

Offline Mode – this service allows user to use the OS

also when the Web connection isn’t available

Localization – if the Web OS is available in multiple

languages

Service Virtual Space Live Offline Localizati Mobile App Developer

collaboration Mode on Support Manager Tools
Support
Cloudo Yes Yes Yes Yes
eyeOs Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Ghost 5GB Yes
Glide Up to 30GB Yes Yes
Lucid 25MB Yes Yes Yes Yes
OOS 1GB Yes Yes Yes Yes
qWiki Office Yes
SilveOs Yes Yes Yes
iCloud Up to 3GB Yes Yes Yes Yes
Jolicloud Yes Yes Yes
myGOYA Yes
ZimdeskOS Yes
CorneliOS Yes Yes Yes Yes
AstraNOS Yes
Xindesk Yes Yes
Starforce Yes Yes Yes
Cloudo Yes Yes Yes Yes