What operating system does Netflix use?

Netflix operates on a large and complex infrastructure, utilizing multiple operating systems (OS) depending on the specific needs of its platform, services, and tools. Since Netflix runs primarily on Amazon Web Services (AWS), its choice of operating systems depends largely on cloud infrastructure, containerization, and microservices.

Operating Systems Used by Netflix

1. Linux (Amazon Linux and Ubuntu)

Linux is the primary operating system used by Netflix for most of its backend infrastructure, especially when running services in the cloud on AWS. Linux is highly scalable, reliable, and offers the flexibility needed for Netflix's microservices-based architecture.

• Amazon Linux: As Netflix runs much of its infrastructure on AWS, it uses Amazon Linux, which is optimized for performance and security on Amazon EC2 instances.
• Ubuntu: Netflix also uses Ubuntu, one of the most popular Linux distributions, for some backend services. Ubuntu is known for its ease of use, robust package management, and support for various cloud-based operations.

2. FreeBSD for Open Connect CDN

Netflix uses FreeBSD for its Open Connect content delivery network (CDN). Open Connect is Netflix's proprietary CDN that stores and delivers video content to users around the world.

• Why FreeBSD? Netflix chose FreeBSD because of its robust networking stack, performance optimizations, and scalability. FreeBSD provides the reliability and flexibility Netflix needs for serving content at high speeds and massive scale.
• Open Connect: FreeBSD is used on Open Connect Appliances (OCAs), which are the physical servers Netflix deploys worldwide to cache and deliver content to users. These appliances are located at internet service provider (ISP) data centers and deliver Netflix content locally, reducing latency.

3. Windows and macOS for Development and Testing

While Netflix's production infrastructure primarily uses Linux and FreeBSD, Windows and macOS are often used by Netflix engineers and developers for local development, testing, and day-to-day tasks.

• Development Environments: Netflix engineers use a variety of operating systems, including Windows and macOS, depending on their preferences and the specific tools they need. For instance, developers working on frontend systems or cross-platform applications may use macOS due to its compatibility with various development tools.
• Testing: Netflix must ensure that its platform performs well across all types of devices, operating systems, and browsers, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, smart TVs, and gaming consoles.

4. Containerization and Orchestration with Linux-based Systems

Netflix uses containerization technologies like Docker and orchestration platforms like Titus (Netflix's own container management platform, built on Docker) and Kubernetes, which are typically run on Linux-based systems.

• Titus: Netflix's Titus is a container management platform designed to deploy and scale microservices in containers across their cloud infrastructure. Titus itself runs on Amazon Linux and is deeply integrated with Netflix's AWS environment.
• Docker: Netflix uses Docker containers to package its microservices, ensuring consistent environments for applications regardless of the underlying OS.

Conclusion

Netflix primarily uses Linux (especially Amazon Linux and Ubuntu) for its backend infrastructure running on AWS. For its Open Connect CDN, Netflix relies on FreeBSD due to its excellent networking and scalability features. On the development side, Netflix engineers work with a variety of operating systems, including Windows and macOS, for local development, testing, and platform compatibility. Containerization technologies like Docker and orchestration platforms like Titus (which run on Linux) are also essential to Netflix’s cloud-based microservices architecture.