difference between Linux and Unix?

[laxy_m]

hi
What is the basic difference between Linux and Unix.
What's latest version of Unix? Is Unix also becoming easier to install as Linux as I have

installed Linux but never got chance to Install Unix.

Regards
Laxy
www.funspot.com

[drmike]

Unix is actually owned by a company called SCO which, IIRC, was spun off of AT&T. Linux was created as a parellel to Unix, same basic commands and the like but different kenrel and underlining code. Unix is not freeware while Linux is. Unix is more for the mainframe computers.

-drmike

[hobbestec]

Unix is a trademark of the Open Group. It is not directly associated with any one operating system or vendor. They certify systems as UNIX systems or not. SCO's UnixWare and a number of other Unix systems such as Solaris, AIX, HP/UX, etc. are all UNIX systems.

Some background on unix and sco confusion: http://www.unix.org/backgrounder.html

On the outside to a user I don't think there is a whole lot of difference between a Unix, Linux, or BSD system. Only once you start administering one, installing and setting one up, there are minor differences and slightly different conventions used, just like there are minor differences between just different Linux Distro's.

[linux-tech]

There's more to SCO/Linux than suggested above, and honestly the link can't be any more partisan. I mean come on, the link shows SCO's side of things, yet doesn't show the reality of things. Then again, what would one expect from a unix website, but to defend the claims of their founder, no matter how ridiculous they actually are.

The difference between Unix and Linux? Mainly cost . Linux was indeed designed as a Unix which would be available to individuals for free, as a university project iirc (though it may have been that Linus simply was in college at the time). It's developed to much more than that now, as individuals such as Suse, mandrake and Redhat can attest to.

The ideals behind Linux have always been community involvement, while Unix was developed as a commercial application with no real community involvement at all.

As far as the comparison from Linux to bsd, there are a number of differences from memory to connection handling between the two.

[alex042]

As far as the comparison from Linux to bsd, there are a number of differences from memory to connection handling between the two.
What kind of differences between Linux and BSD? Would you consider one better than the other or just different?

[laxy_m]

Can Linux work as Unix like a friend said Unix is for mainframe can Linux also do the same and which is more reliable.

is Linux unreliable
is Linux less safe .
Why Linux sold and also we get it for free from some vendors/companies.
With many Linux/Unix versions there must be compatiblity problems less applications.

If we only one version of both Unix/Linux may be get all applications/utilities like windows

Less user friendly than Windows

Why all this and people perfer Linux.

Laxy
Trampoline (http://funspot.com)

[NyteOwl]

Can Linux work as Unix like a friend said Unix is for mainframe can Linux also do the same and which is more reliable.

Linux is a Unix workaliike. Functionally is can do most, or all of the same things Unix can. It has slightly different commands and syntax, and a different filesystem. And yes there are versions of Linux running on mainframes.

is Linux unreliable

No more or less than any piece of software. All software has bugs, but yes, Linux is reliable for all practical purposes.

is Linux less safe .

Again, no more or less than anything else. A great deal of the security in computer systems, especially Unix-like ones depends on the person that does the administration. If they have half a clue and do their work right Linux is as safe or safer than most widely used systems.

Why Linux sold and also we get it for free from some vendors/companies.

What is sold is actually not Linux. What you pay for is the packaging (CD's/DVD's, manuals, boxes, etc), perhaps a few proprietary software tools, and a certain amount of compnay provided technical support. The free "version" generally is only available by download, comes with no company tech support and of course doesn't include any of their proprietary software.

With many Linux/Unix versions there must be compatiblity problems less applications.

Not really. There really is A linux version (the kernel) which is the OS core. the rest are actually distributions, or collections of software asssembled for a user's convenience. At the ehart there is little differance in "versions" between distributions. What differences there are can be overcome by recompiling from the source code which is readily available.

Note that due to often proprietary nature of Unix versions this latter option is not always possible.


If we only one version of both Unix/Linux may be get all applications/utilities like windows

See above, it's not a "version" problem. It's a convincing some of the software vendors that the market is large enough for them to invest in.

Less user friendly than Windows

This is purely a matter of subjective opinion.

Why all this and people perfer Linux.

Becasue as I pointed out what you regard as problems really aren't objective problems but subjective ones.

A computer, and it's software, ais a tool. Use whichever one works for you, and that you like best. Realize that others may have different needs and preferences.

Cheers!

:coffee:

[laxy_m]

Thanks every one for your quick reply.........

Regards
Laxy
www.funspot.com (http://www.funspot.com)

[xamesbond]

Hi guys,

I am a newbie to this stuff (Unix and Linux). I've bn trying to get knowledge on this stuff. I am installing Linux versions on my system, to obtain some knowledge abt it. I think I am just getting better with Linux. Do u think I can include in my resume that I know Unix (just bcoz I know Linux)? or can I apply for the positions having requirements for UNIX personnel?

Thanks in advance

[linux-tech]

Hi guys,

I am a newbie to this stuff (Unix and Linux). I've bn trying to get knowledge on this stuff. I am installing Linux versions on my system, to obtain some knowledge abt it. I think I am just getting better with Linux. Do u think I can include in my resume that I know Unix (just bcoz I know Linux)? or can I apply for the positions having requirements for UNIX personnel?

Thanks in advance
Well, first I'd suggest on working on that spelling ;)
As far as your resume is concerned:
Linux isn't mastered (or known) just by "installing" it. You actually have to be quite familliar with it to consider yourself a "master" of it. Even I, who have been working with linux for close to 10 years, half of that using ONLY linux as my ONLY OS for my pc don't consider myself a "master" of it. I do consider myself an advanced user, but it's not possible to "master" something in 10 years, especially something as ever-changing as the Linux OS.

Now, can you put put on your resume that you know unix? Have you ever touched a unix box? Linux !=unix, there are vast differences between the two, and not just in cost. Your best bet is to stay away from generalizations like that, honestly. I wouldn't even put anything on there about Linux if all you've done is install it. Any more, it's QUITE simple to install Linux on any pc :)

[xamesbond]

Well, first I'd suggest on working on that spelling ;)
As far as your resume is concerned:
Linux isn't mastered (or known) just by "installing" it. You actually have to be quite familliar with it to consider yourself a "master" of it. Even I, who have been working with linux for close to 10 years, half of that using ONLY linux as my ONLY OS for my pc don't consider myself a "master" of it. I do consider myself an advanced user, but it's not possible to "master" something in 10 years, especially something as ever-changing as the Linux OS.

Now, can you put put on your resume that you know unix? Have you ever touched a unix box? Linux !=unix, there are vast differences between the two, and not just in cost. Your best bet is to stay away from generalizations like that, honestly. I wouldn't even put anything on there about Linux if all you've done is install it. Any more, it's QUITE simple to install Linux on any pc :)

Thanks for the info "linux-tech". My meaning for jobs based on LINUX/UNIX is for jobs implementing C/C++ on UNIX. Coz I've bn running my C and C++ programs on Linux, and not on UNIX. If the positions say C and UNIX or C++ and UNIX, what is u r suggestion?

Thanks in advance

[rutul]

Unix is a commercial product where as Linux is a freeware. Those who sale Linux donot actually charge for Linux but for the support they provide. There are few minor differences between Unix & Linux.