Unix Vs Linux What Is Difference Between UNIX and Linux
Unix Vs Linux What Is Difference Between UNIX and Linux
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Linux is the most popular variant and there comes in a number of di�erent
distributions.
Recommended Reading
What is Unix: A Brief Introduction
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to Unix
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Unix Commands: Basic and
Data Advanced Unix Commands with
Examples
Unix Text Processing Commands:
Unix Filters with Examples
Unix Pipes Tutorial: Pipes in Unix
Programming
Linux vs Windows Di�erence:
Which Is The Best Operating
System?
More Unix Filter and Awk, Sed
Commands in Text Processing
Unix is a family of multitasking, portable, multi-user computer operating systems, UNIX Tutorial for Beginners (20+
which also have time-sharing con�gurations. In-depth Unix Training Videos)
How to Compare Two Files in
Unix systems use a centralized OS kernel which is responsible for managing the entire Unix: File Comparison Commands
system.
What is UNIX?
Unix Architecture
What is Linux?
Linux-based OS Architecture
Di�erence Between Unix and Linux
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What is UNIX?
Unix is considered as the mother of most of the operating systems.
The design of Unix systems is based on “Unix Philosophy” which includes the following
characteristics:
It’s worth mentioning here the below quote about Unix Philosophy:
“Although that philosophy can’t be written down in a single sentence, as its heart is the
idea that the power of a system comes more from the relationships among programs
than from the programs themselves. Many UNIX programs do quite trivial things in
isolation, but, combined with other programs, become general and useful tools.” –
Brian Kernighan & Rob Pike
Unix Architecture
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[image source]
The master control program of Unix is its Kernel. The kernel has full control over the
entire system. It has subsystems that o�er services to �le system handling, resource
handling, memory management, start & stop programs, and a few other low-level core
tasks.
The kernel is the heart of the OS and acts as an interface between the user and
hardware. Each kernel subsystem has certain features like concurrency, virtual memory,
paging, and a virtual �le system.
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In the outer layers of the architecture, we have the shell, commands, and application
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programs. Shell is the interface between the user and the kernel. Shell and the user
type in the commands, interpret these commands, and callData the computer
programs
accordingly.
Example of the Unix operating system is Solaris and HP-UX. The largest distributors of
UNIX systems include IBM, HP, and SUN.
What is Linux?
By now you would have got a fair idea about Unix. Let’s now explore Linux in detail.
People do confuse a lot between the terms Unix and Linux and they generally ask
questions like “Is Unix Di�erent from Linux?” / “Are Linux and Unix the same thing?” /
“Is Linux like Unix?”/ “Is Linux built on Unix?”.
Here is the answer to all such questions. First, let me clear your confusion in a one-
liner. Linux and Unix are di�erent but they do have a relationship with each other as
Linux is derived from Unix.
Linux is not Unix, but it is a Unix-like operating system. Linux system is derived from
Unix and it is a continuation of the basis of Unix design. Linux distributions are the
most famous and healthiest example of direct Unix derivatives. BSD (Berkley Software
Distribution) is also an example of a Unix derivative.
At this juncture, it is important for us to make you clear about what is Unix-like.
A Unix-like OS (also called UN*X or *nix) is one that works in a way similar to Unix
systems, however, it is not necessary that they conform to Single UNIX Speci�cation
(SUS) or similar POSIX (Portable Operating System Interface) standard.
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SUS is a standard that is required to be met for any OS to qualify for using ‘UNIX’
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trademark. This trademark is granted by ‘The Open Group’.
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Few Examples of currently registered UNIX systems include macOS, Solaris, and AIX. If
we consider the POSIX system, then Linux can be regarded as Unix-like OS.
As per the Linux kernel o�cial README �le, Linux is a UNIX clone that is developed
from scratch by Linus Torvalds and his team. It targets POSIX compliance. The Linux
kernel code was completely written from scratch. It is designed in such a way so that it
acts like Unix but it does not have the original Unix code in it.
It is also signi�cant to note that Linux is just the kernel and not the complete OS. This
Linux kernel is generally packaged in Linux distributions which thereby makes it a
complete OS.
Thus, Linux is only the Kernel, while Linux distributions can be treated as the OS. On
the other hand, UNIX in itself is a complete OS as everything (all required applications
tied together) comes from a single vendor. For Example, Solaris.
Linux distribution (also called a distro in short) is an operating system that is created
from a collection of software built upon the Linux Kernel and is a package
management system.
A standard Linux distribution consists of a Linux kernel, GNU system, GNU utilities,
libraries, compiler, additional software, documentation, a window system, a window
manager, and a desktop environment.
Most of the software included in Linux distribution is free and open source. They may
include some proprietary software like binary blobs which is essential for a few device
drivers.
Linux-based OS Architecture
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[image source]
Thus, Linux distributions actually make the Linux kernel completely usable as an
operating system by adding di�erent applications to it. There are various �avors of
Linux distributions that serve a wide range of user needs.
For Example, we have OpenWrt Linux-based OS for embedded devices, Linux Mint for
Personal computers, and Rocks Cluster Distribution for supercomputers. In total,
around 600 Linux distributions do exist.
It will be interesting for you to know that Google’s popular Android mobile OS is based
on Linux. Every iteration of the Android OS is built on the current Linux kernel.
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Linux refers to the kernel of the Unix refers to the original operating
GNU/Linux operating system. More system developed by AT&T. More
generally, it refers to the family of derived generally, it refers to family of derived
distributions. operating systems.
Original code developed by Linus and the Original code developed by AT & T
GNU Foundation
The Linux trademark is owned by Linus The UNIX trademark is certi�ed by the
Trovalds, and managed by the Linux Mark Open Group. List of certi�ed operating
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Institute under the Linux Foundation. systems.
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The Linux Standard Base (LSB), available UNIX certi�cation based on the ‘Single
as ISO/IEC 23360, is a standardization Unix Speci�cation’ which is an extension
e�ort by a number of Linux distributors. of IEEE 1003 (POSIX), also available as
LSB is mostly an extension of POSIX but ISO/IEC 9945. POSIX speci�es
has some di�erences. However, there isn’t programming APIs and shell and utility
a strong need for LSB certi�cation as the interfaces. POSIX was developed as a
various distributions use the same kernel way to allow interoperability between
in any case. di�erent UNIX vendors.
GNU/Linux and derivates like Debian and System-V Unix and derivatives like IBM-
Fedora AIX and HP-UX; Berkeley Unix and
derivatives like FreeBSD and macOS
Open Source under the copyleft General Berkeley Unix is partially open source
Public License under the BSD License. System-V Unix
source may be procured under a
proprietary commercial license.
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Frequent updates, with quick bug �xes Infrequent updates, and �xes may take
time
Supports almost all �le systems used Most versions support two or perhaps
across operating systems three �le systems
Preferred OS for cloud deployment and Preferred OS for special purpose server
data centers primarily for economic requirements due to application
reasons availability, and internet servers for
legacy reasons
Most of the command line and graphical Most of the command line and graphical
utilities are similar to Unix utilities are similar to Linux
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We hope you must have understood the core di�erences between Unix and Linux from
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this article.
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Let us now see some more important di�erences between Linux and Unix in the below
tabular format:
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release Unix. It was derived from Unix and October 1973 for outside
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was released in September 1991. parties. Before that, it was used
internally in Bell Labs since its
inception in 1970.
Text Mode By default, the shell is BASH Originally the Bourne shell. It is
Interface (Bourne Again Shell). Moreover, is also compatible with many
compatible with many command command interpreters.
interpreters.
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Architecture Was originally created for Intel's Compatible with PA and Itanium
x86 hardware, ports available for a machines. Solaris is also
lot of CPU types. available on x86/x64. OSX is
PowerPC.
Price Linux is free. However, corporate Unix is not free. However, some
support is available at a price. Unix versions are free for
development use (Solaris). In a
collaborative environment, Unix
costs $1,407 per user and Linux
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costs $256 per user.
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Hence, UNIX is extremely
expensive.
There are three types of kernel i.e. monolithic, micro and hybrid (combination of
monolithic and micro) as seen in the below image.
[image source]
Though the Linux kernel derives most of its characteristics from Unix/ Unix-like
kernels, however, there are some signi�cant points of di�erences between the two.
In microkernel architecture, the core services of the OS run in one process while the
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Kernel approach Linux follows the monolithic kernel Unix kernel can be
approach. monolithic, microkernel
or hybrid.
For Example, macOS
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has a hybrid kernel,
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Solaris has the
monolithic kernel, and
AIX has a monolithic
kernel with dynamically
loadable modules.
Preemptive vs non- Normally a Linux kernel is non- Some Unix systems are
preemptive preemptive. However, in recent fully preemptive.
approach times, Linux real-time OS has For example, Solaris
started using preemptive kernels. 2.x. etc.
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Ways to handle the Through multi-threading, more than In Unix, the LWP is
multi-threaded one independent execution �ows based on kernel
environment which are called lightweight threads.
processes (LWP) are created.
In Linux, LWP is created by calling
clone () function. These processes in
Linux can share physical memory,
opened �les, address space, etc.
On the whole, e�orts are made to keep Linux as close as possible to Unix by complying
with the POSIX standards. Hence, the terminal commands in Linux distros and Unix
operating systems are not exactly the same, but, there are not many di�erences too.
For Example, in CentOS which is a Linux family OS, we use yum (yellowdog update
modi�er) commands for the installation of new packages, while in Debian which is
another OS from the Linux family, we use apt-get commands for installation.
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In IBM AIX, which is a proprietary Unix OS, we use -�nger command to check who is
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logged into the system. But this command is not used in Linux. In Linux, we use the
pinky command to fetch the same result. Data
In Ubuntu/Debian (a Linux OS), we have fdisk, parted, gparted commands for the
‘create’ task. On the other hand, in Solaris (a Unix OS), we have a format, fmthard for
the ‘create’ task.
You can refer to the list of Linux and Unix commands, you will �nd that the Linux and
Unix commands are similar but not exactly the same.
Examples
So far, in this article, we have seen the generalized core di�erences between Linux and
Unix. These di�erences can be more speci�c if we compare the exact versions of the
two. Let us see this through some examples.
Solaris vs Linux
Solaris, which is now called Oracle Solaris is a Unix family OS. Let’s compare Linux
with Solaris.
Linux supports more system architectures than Solaris does. Hence, Linux is more
portable.
While talking about stability and hardware integration, Solaris seems to be better here.
Linux also has a faster rate of development when compared to Solaris.
There are a few other technical di�erences between the two, but here we are limiting
our comparison only to performance.
MacOS vs Linux
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MacOS is a certi�ed Unix OS. It has its own kernel named XNU. It is used in Apple’s
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computers which are considered the most reliable PCs.
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MacOS is relatively easy to set up. On the other side, Linux is cheaper and has a lot of
open source software available as against Apple’s proprietary solutions. Also, Linux is
more �exible as it can be executed on almost any hardware whereas MacOS can run
only on Apple hardware. For Example, iPhones.
MacOS uses HFS+ as a default �le system whereas Linux uses ext4.
Conclusion
Unix is very old and is said to be the mother of all operating systems. Linux kernel is
also derived from Unix. The major di�erence between Unix and Linux-based operating
systems is not in the presentation part, but on how they work internally, i.e. mainly at
the kernel part.
The di�erence between the two will also depend upon which exact versions of Linux
and Unix you are comparing.
It’s also essential to state that Linux (and many other Unix-like OS) are free to obtain
and modify, whereas Unix operating systems are not. Cost is always a major concern
while deciding what technology to use, and Linux has an edge in this regard.
Linux is more �exible and free when compared to true Unix systems and that is why
Linux has gained more popularity. While discussing the commands in Unix and Linux,
they are not the same but are very much similar. In fact, the commands in each
distribution of the same family OS also vary.
Solaris, HP, Intel, etc. employ Unix internet servers, workstations, and personal
computers. While, Linux is widely employed for computer software & hardware, gaming,
tablet, mainframes, etc.
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There are studies that say that Linux is growing fast than any other OS in the past few
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years. Hence, in the future, Linux may tend to leave UNIX installations far behind.
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References: Linux, Unix, Linux distribution, Book: The Unix Programming Environment
Hope you enjoyed this informative article on Unix and Linux di�erences!!
Recommended Reading
• What is Unix: A Brief Introduction to Unix
• Unix Commands: Basic and Advanced Unix Commands with Examples
• Unix Text Processing Commands: Unix Filters with Examples
• Unix Pipes Tutorial: Pipes in Unix Programming
• Linux vs Windows Di�erence: Which Is The Best Operating System?
• More Unix Filter and Awk, Sed Commands in Text Processing
• UNIX Tutorial for Beginners (20+ In-depth Unix Training Videos)
• How to Compare Two Files in Unix: File Comparison Commands
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