Embedded Operating Systems
The embedded operating system market is growing with the need for network appliances, thin client systems, and small hand held computers. A typical server running an embedded operating system may be managed remotely by an administrator using a Web browser. The embedded system does not need to support monitors, a mouse, a keyboard, and so on. There is no need for expansion capabilities, as the embedded OS is designed to deal with a very narrow set of tasks. Examples of embedded os are:
More reading:
http://www.uniforum.chi.il.us/slides/embedded_os/EmbeddedLinuxTalkUniForum.ppt
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embedded_operating_system
http://www.lynuxworks.com
http://compreviews.about.com/od/motherboards/a/PCEmbeddedOS.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/embedded/