Scheduled backups
Mac OS
Scheduled backups can be performed by the built in Time Machine application on MacOS. Time Machine was designed to provide hourly backups for the past 24 hours. It also provides daily backups for the past month and weekly backups for the previous months. Backups are on a rolling basis so that backups are continually being created. Once the backup drive gets full, it will begin deleting the oldest backups to free up space.
Linux
For Linux, there are many ways to perform scheduled backups. For example you can schedule a backup via command line or through the graphical user interface which are built into the Linux distribution.
The tar command which stands for tape archive. With tar you can script a backup schedule and then be able to restore from the backup, also using the tar utility.
The rsync command is used to sync files between storage devices. It can do instant synchronization or you can schedule the sync in advance.
Scheduled disk maintenance
MacOS
The Disk Utilty in MacOS is created to perform disk maintenance as needed.
Within Disk Utility there is an option for First Aid, which performs the equivalent of a Windows Check Disk. It will scan your drives to make sure file permissions are set properly and that the operating system can operate using that drive.
Disk Utility is also where you can partition, erase, restore, and unmount drives.
Linux
Linux can run a file system check with the condition that the partition is not mounted. Generally, this check is run during startup before the partition is mounted in the OS. This file system check is automatically done after a certain number of reboots but can be forced to run manually. To run the check, use the following command which will perform the check upon next reboot: sudo touch /forcefsck
To clean up log space, you can view logs and clean them up by going to the /var/log directory.
System updates/App Store
MacOS
In MacOS, system updates and app updates are centralizated. Both are updated via the App Store. Updates can be set to automatically install or manually installed.
Linux
Depending on your Linux distribution, you would use either the apt-get, or yum commands to update your software and OS. There may also be a GUI utility called software updates that aids in software and OS updates.
To view installed applications or install new applications you can use the Software Center, which is like the Linux App Store.
Patch management
MacOS
Patch management in MacOS is done through system updates via the App Store.
Linux
Updates can be scheduled for patch management
Driver/firmware updates
MacOS
MacOS was designed to be user friendly and therefore the internals of the operating system are nearly hidden from the end user. The end user does not have to worry about installing drivers on MacOS. This is done automatically by the operating system. To view the Mac hardware, you can go to System Information and then select the Hardware category. Then you can see what drivers may have been loaded so the OS could use that hardware. However, this list is only read only. By design, you aren’t able to make changes.
Linux
In Linux, drivers are integrated in the kernel. Drivers are thus updated when the kernel updates. Many Linux distributions include a Software & Updates graphical interface to manage additional drivers. The command line can also be used to manage drivers.
Antivirus/Anti-malware updates
MacOS
MacOS does not include a built in anti-virus/anti-malware application. However, there are 3rd party options. Ensure that your antivirus signatures are updated frequently so that you have the most up to date information to stay protected.
Linux
Third party antivirus and antimalware programs exist for Linux including ClamAV. ClamAM is an open source antivirus engine.
