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Difference between UNIX and LINUX
Feb
22
2012
Difference between UNIX and LINUX
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Answer #1
LINUX and UNIX are two operating systems which are open source in nature. Open source basically means that their source codes can be viewed by other people and also edited and improved. In general, the UNIX OS was created before LINUX.
1. UNIX
Created in 1969, UNIX paved way for many other open source programs to be built. Actually, there are currently several operating systems which are just like UNIX or even share some of its core features. Such systems are referred to as Unix-like.
In general, UNIX is installed on workstations or network servers. This computer operating system acted like the backbone of the initial internet setup. It is basically a portable operating system which enables multiprocessing. This means several users can easily log in simultaneously without hassle.
Early UNIX operating systems employed text input and also hierarchical storage system. Since then, a lot has changed but some commands still remain the same. There are several distributions of UNIX and they include Fedora and Red Hat among others.
2. LINUX
LINUX is also open source in nature and programmers across the world can offer their ingenious inputs to improve it. Furthermore, it can be easily tested by programmers and then enhanced accordingly. This is not achievable in close systems such as Microsoft Windows.
LINUX has different versions like Ubuntu, which have similar features but have extra tools that are tailored to meet specific needs. It was created in 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Even now, improvements to the system are ongoing with the assistance of programmers and hackers. The unique licensing of LINUX OS enables users to not only copy, but also distribute it free of charge.
In conclusion, LINUX is mainly used on laptops and other personal computers. In contrast, UNIX is generally used on workstations and internet servers.