Mining, storing, or staking cryptocurrency is a concept that baffles most people, even in 2017. Even though these processes have become a lot easier, setting up your computer to accommodate all of these tasks is still a hassle. Thankfully, there are some dedicated cryptocurrency operating systems which make everything a lot easier. There are at least four viable solutions people can still check out today.
1. ROKOS
Even though ROKOS is not designed for mining purposes, it is one of the best cross-platform operating systems for both Bitcoin and altcoins. ROKOS lets users set up a full Bitcoin and OKCash node, as well as stake altcoins which support this particular method. What makes this particular operating system so appealing is how it can run on a Raspberry Pi and various other IoT devices as well. It is a powerful solution which can run on “lightweight” hardware. Plus, the entire OS is fully customizable, giving users unlimited choices right out of the gate.
2. ETHOS
For the miners among us who are interested in mining Ethereum, ethOS is certainly worth checking out. This 64-bit Linux OS mines Ethereum, as well as ZCash, Monero, and some other currencies. There is also a built-in feature to exchange altcoins to Bitcoin. Once the operating system boots up, it will automatically detect the hardware and start the job. Users do not have to install or configure drivers, but do have to point their machine to the right mining pools.The latest update of ethOS was introduced just over a week ago. The project has been around since February 15 of 2016 and will continue to get updates over the coming years. Interested parties can obtain ethOS from the gpuShack website for the price of $339, or purchase hardware which has the OS preinstalled for a slightly higher price. It is an interesting project. However, most people are more than fine setting up their own Linux or Windows OS with the necessary tools.
3. PIMP
One of the more colorful names is PiMP,and few would expect it to have ties to cryptocurrency. It is a portable instant mining operating system based on the Linux kernel. It supports most popular cryptocurrencies which have proof-of-work enabled, is compatible with all algorithms and hardware, and provides integrated monitoring and control of the mining operation. Plus, the developers claim this OS can boost mining profitability.According to the website, GetPimp has been downloaded over 125,00 times. Users will mainly interact the Miner.farm web application to monitor mining hardware and allow users to control them. Do not be mistaken in thinking this operating system is free of charge. The Pimp OS costs $30 and requires users to have a hard drive or SSD in their computer, since USB drives are not supported. Always do your own research before paying money to third party developers of an OS that will control your mining operation.
4. EOS
Although EOS is still under development, it promises to pack a ton of features. It is quite similar to traditional operating systems in terms of functionality. Users can schedule tasks, execute applications, and control peripherals. However, EOS will act more like the OS for blockchains and will introduce a decentralized standard at the same time. EOS will support most future cryptocurrency-related applications. Whether or not this will gain traction remains to be seen.
Source: JP Buntinx July 15, 2017
