Differences between Linux ad Unix - Linux Vs Unix

Comparison of UNIX and Linux

Linux is a graphical user interface OS which provides two basic types of GUI’s Gnome and KDE while UNIX was established initially by using command code. Later UNIX was also converted to the GUI by looking at the consumer market. The famous X Windows was created for UNIX by AT&T. Linux is considered very efficient in terms of threat detection. This because of two facts Linux is a community OS and whenever any user encounters any specific virus he reports to the community and OS developers start to help him/her. Secondly it is an open source OS and allows for code changes. On the other hand UNIX is an operating system any user has to wait for the anti virus patches from the manufacturers. Thus we can say that in terms of security Linux can be rated more than UNIX. The cost structure of UNIX is also different for different models. On the contrary Linux can be distributed and downloaded freely. Though Linux is considered more secure but it has so far been reported to capture only 60 viruses while UNIX has reported more than 80 viruses. Even if we consider this fact Linux is regarded more responsive towards bugs and viruses.

Important Information

UNIX came into being in 1969 in bell labs by the support of AT&T. its basic code was written in C language and was portable. Right from its inception it was designed for networks allowing the time sharing configuration and settings. Moreover it was a multi user and multi task Operating system considered really efficient. UNIX was developed to serve main frame computers, servers and large workstations. UNIX environment became a base for the development and arrival of internet. Linux on the other hand was established for supporting multiple users. Linux was earlier used to support only smaller networks and applications. However, today the place of UNIX has been taken by Linux in many small and medium enterprises. Even today sometimes UNIX is the only possible choice to run many applications like in case one has to support the symmetric multi processing with 8 to 10 systems as UNIX is a suitable choice for massive data centers.

Future for Linux and UNIX

The analysts say that Linux is the major emerging operating system in the server’s world owing to its free distribution. The major limitation with UNIX is that it is not easily available. People prefer using Linux because it is widely available and can be installed in many different processors from the most embedded small processors to the mainframes. However UNIX is more suitable for workstations and large data centers. Linux OS has been installed in more than 25 million computers so far, Whereas UNIX has been used only by 5.5 million machines so far. Looking at this success rate one can forecast that the future of Linux is more secure than its counter part UNIX. However the development of UNIX by IBM and HP to enhance its GUI can bring it back to competition. In order to win the race all OS at this time need more compatibility to hardware devices and have to be more user’s friendly.