What is the difference between Linux and UNIX operating systems?
UNIX is copyrighted name only big companies are allowed to use the UNIX copyright and name, so IBM AIX and Sun Solaris and HP-UX all are UNIX operating systems. The Open Group holds the UNIX trademark in trust for the industry, and manages the UNIX trademark licensing program.
Most UNIX systems are commercial in nature.
Linux is a UNIX Clone
But if you consider Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX) standards then Linux can be considered as UNIX. To quote from Official Linux kernel README file:
Linux is a Unix clone written from scratch by Linus Torvalds with assistance from a loosely-knit team of hackers across the Net. It aims towards POSIX compliance.
However, "Open Group" do not approve of the construction "Unix-like", and consider it misuse of their UNIX trademark.
Linux Is Just a Kernel
Linux is just a kernel. All Linux distributions includes GUI system + GNU utilities (such as cp, mv, ls,date, bash etc) + installation & management tools + GNU c/c++ Compilers + Editors (vi) + and various applications (such as OpenOffice, Firefox). However, most UNIX operating systems are considered as a complete operating system as everything come from a single source or vendor.
As I said earlier Linux is just a kernel and Linux distribution makes it complete usable operating systems by adding various applications. Most UNIX operating systems comes with A-Z programs such as editor, compilers etc. For example HP-UX or Solaris comes with A-Z programs.
License and cost
Linux is Free (as in beer [freedom]). You can download it from the Internet or redistribute it under GNU licenses. You will see the best community support for Linux. Most UNIX like operating systems are not free (but this is changing fast, for example OpenSolaris UNIX). However, some Linux distributions such as Redhat / Novell provides additional Linux support, consultancy, bug fixing, and training for additional fees.
User-Friendly
Linux is considered as most user friendly UNIX like operating systems. It makes it easy to install sound card, flash players, and other desktop goodies. However, Apple OS X is most popular UNIX operating system for desktop usage.
Security Firewall Software
Linux comes with open source netfilter/iptables based firewall tool to protect your server and desktop from the crackers and hackers. UNIX operating systems comes with its own firewall product (for example Solaris UNIX comes with ipfilter based firewall) or you need to purchase a 3rd party software such as Checkpoint UNIX firewall.
Backup and Recovery Software
UNIX and Linux comes with different set of tools for backing up data to tape and other backup media. However, both of them share some common tools such as tar, dump/restore, and cpio etc.
File Systems
- Linux by default supports and use ext3 or ext4 file systems.
- UNIX comes with various file systems such as jfs, gpfs (AIX), jfs, gpfs (HP-UX), jfs, gpfs (Solaris).
System Administration Tools
- UNIX comes with its own tools such as SAM on HP-UX.
- Suse Linux comes with Yast
- Redhat Linux comes with its own gui tools called redhat-config-*.
However, editing text config file and typing commands are most popular options for sys admin work under UNIX and Linux.
System Startup Scripts
Almost every version of UNIX and Linux comes with system initialization script but they are located in different directories:
- HP-UX - /sbin/init.d
- AIX - /etc/rc.d/init.d
- Linux - /etc/init.d
End User Perspective
The differences are not that big for the average end user. They will use the same shell (e.g. bash or ksh) and other development tools such as Perl or Eclipse development tool.
System Administrator Perspective
Again, the differences are not that big for the system administrator. However, you may notice various differences while performing the following operations:
- Software installation procedure
- Hardware device names
- Various admin commands or utilities
- Software RAID devices and mirroring
- Logical volume management
- Package management
- Patch management
UNIX Operating System Names
A few popular names:
- HP-UX
- IBM AIX
- Sun Solairs
- Mac OS X
- IRIX
Linux Distribution (Operating System) Names
A few popular names:
- Redhat Enterprise Linux
- Fedora Linux
- Debian Linux
- Suse Enterprise Linux
- Ubuntu Linux
Common Things Between Linux & UNIX
Both share many common applications such as:
- GUI, file, and windows managers (KDE, Gnome)
- Shells (ksh, csh, bash)
- Various office applications such as OpenOffice.org
- Development tools (perl, php, python, GNU c/c++ compilers)
- Posix interface
A Sample UNIX Desktop Screenshot
Fig.01: UNIX Desktop - IRIX 6.5 Desktop
A Sample Linux Desktop Screenshot
Fig.02: Linux KDE desktop environment
UNIX and Linux Hardware
Commercial UNIX hardware has more advanced initial boot options such as:
- Decide how to boot
- Check system health
- Set hardware parameters etc
The BIOS that is standard in PCs which is used by Linux has few, of these features. UNIX hardware or servers are pretty expensive as compare to Linux server systems.
Further readings:
Following documents or URL should help anyone to get more idea:
- UNIX System Management and Security: Differences between Linux, Solaris, AIX and HP-UX
- 40 years of Unix
(Image credit IRIX and KDE wikipedia articles)
You should follow me on twitter here or grab rss feed to keep track of new changes.
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{ 259 comments… read them below or add one }
best & knowledgeble information
Marvelous , really it is useful explanation
Thank you
it is very ossume. Thanks. It help me lot.
i cant understand
The given information was clear to understand but i think today only you known Linux & UNIX thats y its not understandable for u.
thks its valuable information
Linux is Free (as in beer [freedom])
shouldn’t it be
Linux is Free (as in spreech [freedom])
or
Linux is Free (as in beer [price])?
Yes, you are absolutely correct. Free as in free beer means free of charge. Free as in speech indicates freedom to use, modify and redistribute as you wish, (freedom).
Unix and linux both are multiuser operating system. Unix operating based on CUI(Character User Interface) and does not support pointing device, where as in linux opearating system; adding new features XWindows in Unix operating system and it is based on GUI(Graphical User Interface) i.e., it is like as DOS and Windows
is linux gui r cui
linux is GUI
LINUX IS A MEMBER RELATED TO UNIX OPERATING SYSTEM
both gui and cui as well
both of them is gui
Linux has both GUI & CUI
sorry that’s C L I (command line interface) not CUI
yes, linux is GUI (Graphical User Interface) and
CLI( Command Line Interface)
Linux has both CLI and GUI (via X window start it by cmd # startx) from cli;
On the Other hand Unix is purely CLI, however many distribution has the GUI feature now. BSd unix for exmpl.
linux is GUI (graphical user intterface) and unix is CUI (charector user interface ) thats why it does not support pointing device…….
You are doing nice thing here.
Thank you so much
Bye
major diffrent GUI and Kernal
clear n knowledgeble information
Thank you so much for the information.. its clear nd knwldgable..”:-) thank u
thanks..its easy to understand.
Thanks for giving exact differences.Beacase I am searching for exact differences which I get cleared
differences were clear to maximum extent
Unix works on large mainframe computes but linux works on even PC
it was nice explanation … it is not huge but some little bit …
thanq so much
it is very much use to me ……..
thank u for the valuable info’
what is relation b/w linux&unix
Both share many common applications such as:
GUI, file, and windows managers (KDE, Gnome)
Shells (ksh, csh, bash)
Various office applications such as OpenOffice.org
Development tools (perl, php, python, GNU c/c++ compilers)
Posix interface
its a very simple way to find
ya good…linux is the clone of the unix
linux is open source and unix is cloused source os it mean linux r freely available user can upgrade or invent commands n so many things r did but as per unix it leaglly perchase……there is no doubt that linux is clone of unix if u r able to handle linux so u must hv well handled unix also….if u have cartain doubt then mail me swati
what is linux&unix
LInux is as open source OS and more secured compared to windows.Unix is also same
Great!!!
I gained some valuable knowledge here!!!
But still confused about the origin of these two!!!
I m new to linux using Ubuntu 9.10 >>>
Pls give me some tricks and tips for my Os…
I con’t understand difference between unix and linux why because two operating systems are gui are not?
both are gui as the sceen shot in the above make you clear
i con’t understand
nyc & clear explanation……….
thanx!!!!!!!
Thank you very much :) :) Vivek :)
I have started off with UNIX and i wanted to know the differences b/w UNIX and LINUX , so this post was a nice knowledge for me :) :) :)
thks very educative……
clrearly mention imp… points..
I was really simple and easily understandable.
Thanks.
its very useful…,
All,
Very interesting……
ya i like it :-)
thanks,
I gained some valuable knowledge here!!!
Thanks, dude…!
Needed the info as I’ve just syarted studying these issues…!
Thanks again. :)
thanks a lot…
hw to copy files from one user to another user?
information provides good but if the difference is given diagramaticly it will be more helpfull.
thank ‘s.
from N.W.I.E.T.(Dhudike)
thanks to give information
please u give some more differences b/w unix nd linux.
Thesse information is good bt not sufficient.
@priya, try using both u will find the differences urself…
me too i m thinking the same tought.. on thing i want to get confirmed these are the OS’s MS, Mac, Apple, Linux. thats it i know. so wether UNIX And LINUX are same or different OS’s.
it is verry sucsses full o.s,which is widly used in networking system
ya,,,, Definitely its useful but even u have to say about kernel and shell etc.. like that……….
very thanks dude
nice info….good job…thx
Unix and linux both operating system is based in the multiuser/multing environment. and kernal
based operating system. unix only suport the CUI but linux suport both CUI & GUI.
basicaly this operating system is used in the network environment. it is very use full for security point of view.
Hi Vivek Gite,
The Explanations about Group of OSs are under Unix and Linux is very useful for me. I have get good ideas about that. Thanks lot.
Regards, Deva
I’m so glad
wellllll done job
1-unix is CUI whereas linux is GUI
2-unix has pointer device linux dnthav
3-unix is property software where as linux is open source
4-unix is more secure than linux
5-keranel of unix is in enhace in linux
thanks for this information
but is it right
this is really an awesome explanation …. thank u so much
its intersting and knowlegable !!! but how they r originated !!!! and if linux is 4 free than wat is the beneifit of the company and linux is authorised or not ????
this is also a question that has to be raised… more over Linux LTS is for some 18 months to 3 yrs. what about after that. do we need to purchase Original OS Disks or any improvements.
Linux LTS is supported for 18 months but you can use it indefinitely(or until the os becomes corrupt) which means no updates for software through internet
It was interesting and useful info. should have more diff. about kernal will be better.
It’s so good information about Linux & Unix……!
Thank’sssssssss…..!
please mention d differences diagramatically.
please explain the difference between Linux & Unix by showing some diagrams or screen shots..
This is the best advice between Linux and Unix… Great
If you get any more idea between linux and unix please note me the mail..
Thanks for valuable information……..
thanx……….. a lot 4 this info
can u plz send me some scripting tips and related commands
I need it
Thanks, ll’be very helpful 2 me & others.
Thanks for this information , it is really good and very nice concept and easy to understand.
nice……………………
what is the difference between linux commands and unix commands.
Many Linux distributions can understand a variety of Unix commands, the commands and the command-line shells are for the most part cross compatible.
Hi guys n gals ,
I got some idea from reviews n explanations .
Thanks
vreddy ,nj,usa
linux operators can understand most of the unix programmes.
What is the major difference between Linux and Unix..?
unix doesn’t hv Graphical user interfacewhereas linux hv it………
linux is a best of the opreting system
linux most impartent in system engineering
Good way of representation… i got it
very nice explanation……totally satisfy
fully satisfied with the answer……thanxs
linux is virousless opreating system it is a good advantag .
it was very helpful
wow it wonderfull
very useful for analysis
I think is it very bright future for linux/unix adminstration
explian linux and unix
yeah,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
some usefull info………
thanxxxxxxxxxxxxx
IT IS GOOD KERNEL ABOUT UNIX AND LINUX
majer diffrent unix and linux
thanx 4 d info , it realy workd 4 me
Dude. WTF. u missed BSD ! It is unix. are u an expert or not?
HOW CAN I INSTALL OTHER APPLICATIONS IN LINUX ?
CAN I INSTALL A MEDIA PLAYER & ANY OTHER WINDOWS APPLICATIONS IN LINUX ?
to use any windows software on linux(ubuntu), try red wine
i m new to Linux started my experciences with ubuntu. and what is this Red wine.
to use more softwares we can use redhat
# yum install {package or application name}
note:ur comp. r must hv in network and ya u can install media player n play a song throughout command also….
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LINUX AND UNIX ?
thanks,
it was nice
mahendra
gud and best info
It is awesome it solve my problem to the limit Thanks a lot.
very nice information
This is the most informative and interesting material I have ever seen on the differences btw Linux and Unix.I was not bored one sec.Thumbs up!!!
Thanks for this good comparison
Excellent Article Thanks buddy for Describing in excellent way.
its a very useful to me……
good content
Hi, Very Informative information.
thanks a lot for your effort
Good Info.
any video is available ..for how to operate linux
Very nice information.
Thanks for share
thanks its easy to understand!
UNIX is CUI……….But CUI means not character user interface………CUI means command user interface……….Unix is developed on C-language and C is a CUI which is Character user interface(CUI)…….so so many of us think that UNIX also Character user interface but its wrong……..UNIX is Command user interface……….
nice explanation……..
nice explaination
its nice.
it’s gr8 n nice and it must be appriciate
Very clear ane easily understandable information
atleast 10 diff b/w linux and unix
thank u for this information. This is the perfect information for beginner in this industry.
outstanding explanation
it’s very useful to me
simple and good!
Ananth
good…
but little clarity required with updated information
thnx forthis info
Hi all,
I am little in dilemma condition.I want to do certification in unix……..and i dont know which course is good for me and which is good LINUX or UNIX.please guide me and mail me on eshangupta22@gmail.com..
Thanks in Advance
Eshan
Really Useful. Thanks. :)
This info is very useful to me…its clear n easy to understand…
Thanks..
Thanks. Its really valuable for me..Thanks a lot
which one is better linux or unix even wanted
nice i satisfy with these materials as you scope between linux and unix.
what is the difference between window os kernel & unix kernel?
how to install solaris drivers in vmware workstation(x86)..?
and where these drivers are available plz gve me any one url
plz help i fece the problem so many days
It was a great pleasure to read.
nice information;it helped me a lot.
thanks……to give such information….ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
good stuff. thanks for posting. really appreciable.good to go.
Very precicsly and accurately defined … thanks a lot
ur work is appreciable.
nice one…informative.
please i need to know meaning of kernel
Kernel is the main component of most computer operating systems; it is a bridge between applications and the actual data processing done at the hardware level.
The kernel’s responsibilities include managing the system’s resources (the communication between hardware and software components).
The OS has basically 2 parts 1.Kernel 2.Shell ….. Kernel is the part which deals with the system resources and hardware and shell is the part which deals with the application software. Whenever any OS is designed first its Kernel is designed.The same had happened in case of Linux
its very good information.thank
Woah… thanks… this info is fueling my knowledge for explaining the real and indepth differences between Macs and Windows… God bless you sir ;)
Very helpful information, thank you very much!!!
Really very helpful information!!’
Thank u!!!
Keep posting
It provided me the basic differnces.Its good.
it is very good information.thank you very much
thanks …
hey can i install both linux and windows7 os to my pc IS IT SAFE…..to do so…???
Thanq sooooooooo much……!!!!!!!!
it’s understandle and can u provide much more info about this
nice information i got a great stuff by reading this information
VERY GOOD DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LINUX AND UNIX
THANX A LOT
linux is upgrade version of unix?
it was very helpful
unix is paid version but linux is unpaid version
thanks for all informatons
Am a beginner thank you for all information with clean info.
thanks ,it enhanced my basic knowledge! Nice informatiön
I WANT pictures of unix system.thank u.
This is very nice and easily understood fortmat.
Nice work.Keep it up.
Thank U.
guys plz suggest me the books/materials to learn this LINUX,
thanks in advance.
really very useful these tutoriol
jhantu explanation indeed….
yeah..great its really good and esily understand , thank for all
hi friends i hv completed my linux course, plz send which books is good to do redhat certification ,if u hv dumps plz send it my mail id
Wow…this is a load of FUD about UNIX. It has nothing to do with ONLY big companies.
Instead UNIX is a trademark that signifies that the OS using it has passed specific tests and conforms the defined UNIX specification to handle interoperability. This is like POSIX which is also administered by The Open Group joinly with IEEE.
Any OS can become UNIX-certified if the vendor chooses to try and can meet the standard. As far as I know, no Linux vendor (i.e. RedHat) has tried.
Thank u for giving such a valuable information.
Wow..Great!nice thing to learn interest..
Really informative site.
Thanks alot
Linux & UNIX both are server data base multi user software
Can someone explain what “A-Z programs” are? If you google, the sentence
“Most UNIX operating systems comes with A-Z programs such as editor, compilers etc.”
is repeated verbatim all over the place, with no explanation. The next sentence won’t clarify much, either:
“For example HP-UX or Solaris comes with A-Z programs.”
Thanks!
Unix comes with all sort of utilities and command bundled from a single vendor such as IBM, HP, SUN/Oracle and so on. The single vendor provides you updates, patches, commands, installer, and management utilities (source #1).
On other hand, Linux installs userland tools from GNU project (source #1). The installer scripts and management tools are often written by distro maintainers (source #2). Third party apps need to be downloaded and install as required (source #3). Also, you need to add additional repos to install binary software (such as EPEL or debian multimedia source #4).
Hope this helps!
It is interesting comparing screen shots of a bland Unix desktop compared to a nicely laid out Linux version. The Mac OS X is Unix certified and clearly has a very elegant and polished User Interface. The comparison between screen shots here implies that Linux desktops are more professional looking. In general that may be true, but not when comparing to the Mac. Being a Mac guy… just had to point that out.
Apple Fag
but it’s true
but the ‘nicely laid out’ screen shot is not one of Apple’s.
Hate Apple anyone/everyone should hate Apple
+Google +Microsoft +Linux +everyone against Apple
Just because Apple using Unix and it’s close. Linux is open. Just a preference.
both are similar but linux is flavour of unix which has CLI.
yea,it’s very useful for me thank u………………………………………..
very very thak you all of them..
becuase i d’nt know diffrent unix & linux..
its nice and gives more valuable knowledge…
Thanks for the use full info….
Thanks again dude…..>>!!
yes it good to know the difference between two
Nice info.
simply awesum!!!!
completely satisfied!!
good job :)
Dude this article is huge, Thanks for the comparison bus isn’t ubuntu debian based?
If I were you I would have listed the main Linux distributions only :)
thks 4 those valuable info. …….
Excellent explination thx man,
really helpfull information, many thanks mate.
awesome explanation dude!!!!!!!
Really it is too good n informatic.
good clear cut explanation..
Its easy to understand. But all company designs based on LINUX OS or UNIX.. If anyone. Than why not other one?
Very informative.
Thanks ,it enhanced my basic knowledge! Nice informatiön
Really very helpful information.
nice difference!!!!!!!!!!!
hmm nice stuff…!!
Its easy ..
Thank You So Much,,,,,,,
Good job.:)
But it could be a bit simpler nd easy to understand.
I Can has Lunix for free.
Also question. What is difference Email and Lunix ?
I Can has Microsoft Office words on Lunix?
what is a kernel?
Frend Kernel is the heart of the operating system… It manages or controls al the OS operations
It’s the middle part of a nut!!! The bit that really does anything!!
Its a very good explanation
good clear cut explanation.
Thank, bro it’s useful…
Excellent….Thanks.
Thank you for clear explanation.
very good all explanation.
bro…………………
THIS HELPED ME A LOT IN PREPARING TO MY INTERVIEW
Thanks for the use full information Vivek :-)
Kernel is there in both the OS?
unix is a copyright it is mostly usefull of popular company,
unix is part of linux.
Dude, UNIX IS A PART OF LINUX ???
I think you need to read the article again.
Very Very Useful info about linux and unix…really helped..thank you :-)
this is very useful for me and other.thanx
ya its nice to understand the linux and unix differences
thanks for the info….
its not as according to us………….but good source of information about linux and unix.
but does not able to differentiate b/w these o.s properly
it is good to have ,,, such operating system…..linux is totally based on unix os … or we can say it’s xerox of unix .
y i love unix OS ?
=coz it come with fully loaded software .. Eg-(perl, php, python, GNU c/c++ compilers)
which is important for us ,,,,,,,,,,,,
Thnks fr the useful info it realy helps a lot..good job
Thanks fr the usefull info it realy helping a lot..keep up the good work
its very useful link, its clear my doubt on unix
Thanks for clear explination
Thank You. It helps me much.
thanks…..a lot
for to give information
its more useful for me thank you very muchhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
thank u soooooooooooooo much for u
linux and unix diff is nice
nice clear explanation
thanq so much
good job….. very well explanation……thanxxxx…..:-)
thanks.. good info.
Its Good amount of satisfying information…..
Nice work out.
I think now i know the different of linux and unix.thanks
Hello,
The above given informatiom is very good.This type of informatiom very helpfull of Us.
thank you very much behalf of ME.
thanks for providing good knowledge..!
the differences were very clear and precise…. Thanks nd keep up the good work.
which version of linux is best for c/c++ .i want to know pls some one reply me fast.
HI I M DOING ORACLE DBA PLATEFORM ON LINUX AND WINDOW BUT I DON’T KNOW HOW TO INSTALL ORACLE DBA ON LINUX, SO JUST I WANTED TO KNOW THAT PLS HELP ME HURRY
so we can use UNIX as a tool to develop OS like LINUS..is my opinion correct…if not pls help me in clarifying my confusion..
Thanks a lot for this explanation! Really helped clarify some things I’ve been wondering!
GUI and Fast speed
Great. Nice and precise technical writing :)
Hi,
I like to install Sun Solaris operating system in Laptop, for installing solaris OS, is there any PC configuration should be required or am using windows 7, i can install solaris OS using VM ware software?
Any one can guide me?
Thanks
Guys for real i appreaciate what your doing.i love being network admin but i was little confused on the difference btn Linus &Unix its solved……
So, Linux differs from UNIX by:
-being operatable on PC’s
-open source and therefore free
UNIX obviously :
- runs on mainframe computers only
- and must be legally purchased as it is closed source
is this corect?
Really good stuff!!! thanks
Quite frankly, you deserve an Oscar for this piece of information.
I found it to be extremely educationa…. Great work and Thank you