The difference and connection between UNIX and Linux

Source: Internet
Author: User
Tags include posix linux

Differences and connections

The biggest difference between Linux and Unix is that the former is the free software that develops the source code, and the latter is the traditional commercial software that protects the source code with intellectual property. This should be their biggest difference, which is reflected in the user to the former has a high autonomy, and the latter can only be passive adaptation; the difference also manifests in the development of the former is in a completely open environment, and the latter development is completely in a black box, Prototypes of products that only relevant developers can contact.

The source of Linux goes back to the oldest UNIX. In 1969, Ken Thompson of Bell Labs started using an idle PDP-7 computer to develop a multi-user, multitasking operating system. Soon, Dennis Richie joined the project, and in their joint efforts, the first Unix was born. Richie is inspired by an earlier project--multics to name this operating system Unix. Early Unix was written in assembly language, but its third version was redesigned with a new programming language C. C is the programming language that Richie designed and used to write the operating system. With this rewrite, UNIX can be ported to more powerful DEC PDP-11/45 and 11/70 computers running. Everything that happened later, as they say, has become history. Unix came out of the lab and became the mainstream of the operating system, and now almost every major computer manufacturer has its own version of UNIX.

Linux originates from the simple needs of a student. Linus Torvalds,linux's author and principal defender, the only software he could afford at college was Minix. Minix is a simple operating system that is similar to UNIX and is widely used to assist in teaching. Linus is not very satisfied with Minix, so decided to write their own software. He started his work on an Intel 386 PC as a prototype of a familiar UNIX-age computer. He was very quick and encouraged by his work, and he shared the results with other students through the Internet, mainly for the academic field. Someone saw the software and started distributing it. Whenever a new problem arises, someone will immediately find a solution and join it, and soon Linux becomes an operating system. It is worth noting that Linux does not include UNIX source code. It was rewritten according to the Open POSIX standard. Linux has massively used GNU software from the Massachusetts Free Software Fund, and Linux itself is built with them.

The other two major differences:

1 UNIX systems are mostly hardware-compatible, while Linux can be run on a variety of hardware platforms.

2 UNIX is commercial software, and Linux is free software, free, open source code.

UNIX (50,000 dollars) and Linux free

History

The history of UNIX is longer than Linux. The idea of Linux comes from UNIX

Products

Both UNIX and Linux are the name of the operating system. However, the Unix four-letter, in addition to the operating system name, also as a trademark to SCO.

Linux is commercialized with Redhat Linux, SuSe Linux, Slakeware Linux, domestic red flags, and Turbo Linux.

Unix consists primarily of Sun Solaris, IBM AIX, HP-UX, and the SCO Unix/unixware of the x86 platform.

[Other differences]

The core of Linux is free, free to use, and the core source code is open.

And the core of UNIX is not public.

Linux is lower than UNIX for hardware requirements and less demanding than UNIX. Linux is easier to master on installation than UNIX.

Linux is less complex to use than UNIX.

UNIX is mostly a hardware vendor's operating system for its own hardware platform, mainly related to CPUs, such as Sun Solaris as a business, positioned on workstations and servers where it uses SPARC/SPARCII CPUs, and of course Solaris has a x86 version, Linux also has its own version of RISC.

But to be exact, it's not quite appropriate to take UNIX on RISC and Linux on x86.

See more highlights of this column: http://www.bianceng.cnhttp://www.bianceng.cn/OS/unix/

As for the price, the personal use of Linux is basically free, and different Linux distributors for enterprise-class applications in the basic system of some optimization, such as Redhat Enterprise products, these products include support services are more expensive.

Unix like Ibm/hp/sun, because it is primarily for its hardware platform, the operating system is usually in the device price. (No one goes to buy a Unix operating system alone)

In performance, Linux is not as comprehensive as UNIX, but basically for individuals

Users and small applications are more than sufficient.

Typically, if you have a chance to use a UNIX environment, such as a bank, a telecoms department, it's usually a fixed-model UNIX. For example, the majority of the sun in telecommunications, civil aviation in the majority of HP, the majority of the bank in IBM. In learning, the different UNIX command sets are somewhat different, to be aware of.

As for study, I think Linux is more studious, and now like and

There are more and more people who tinker with Linux, all kinds of information about Linux

Also a lot. If you want to learn, the Linux or BSD system is a good choice. A x86 machine is OK.

Applications, unless it is a large web site, general enterprises or individuals, the use of Linux can be.

UNIX is a powerful, full-featured multi-user, multitasking operating system, can be applied from supercomputer to the common PC and many different platforms, is the most widely used, the most influential operating system.

Linux is an operating system that looks and performs the same or better with UNIX, but Linux does not originate from any version of Unix's source code, not UNIX, but a Unix-like product. Linux products successfully mimic UNIX systems and capabilities, specifically Linux is a set of System V and BSD Unix operating systems, for System V, the current software program source code to be recompiled under Linux can run, and for BSD UNIX can run its executable files directly in a Linux environment.

In general, Linux is an operating system that complies with the POSIX (portable Operating system environment) specification, enabling it to implement all UNIX features on a common PC computer, with multitasking and multi-user capabilities. Another major reason Linux is popular with computer enthusiasts is that it has all the capabilities of Unix, and anyone who uses a UNIX operating system or wants to learn a Unix operating system can benefit from Linux.

In terms of network management capabilities and security, people who have used Linux admit that Linux is similar to UNIX. UNIX systems have been used as high-end applications or server systems, so have a complete set of network management mechanisms and rules, Linux has used these excellent rules, so that the network can be configured very strong, for system management provides a great deal of flexibility.

Contact Us

The content source of this page is from Internet, which doesn't represent Alibaba Cloud's opinion; products and services mentioned on that page don't have any relationship with Alibaba Cloud. If the content of the page makes you feel confusing, please write us an email, we will handle the problem within 5 days after receiving your email.

If you find any instances of plagiarism from the community, please send an email to: info-contact@alibabacloud.com and provide relevant evidence. A staff member will contact you within 5 working days.

A Free Trial That Lets You Build Big!

Start building with 50+ products and up to 12 months usage for Elastic Compute Service

  • Sales Support

    1 on 1 presale consultation

  • After-Sales Support

    24/7 Technical Support 6 Free Tickets per Quarter Faster Response

  • Alibaba Cloud offers highly flexible support services tailored to meet your exact needs.