What is the difference between Unix and Linux?
Unix and Linux are two highly popular operating systems. What's the difference between them? Which one should you choose? To answer these questions and many others you might have, we'll analyze each operating system and then delve into the differences between Unix and Linux.
What is Unix?
The Unix operating system is an open-source system primarily used to run personal computers and internet servers. It was developed in the 1970s at Bell Labs and was written in the C programming language.
What is Linux?
Linux is a collection of free and open-source operating systems based on the Linux kernel, which was first released on September 17, 1991, by Linus Torvalds. In other words, Unix is the kernel of the Linux operating system.
Unix vs. Linux
Now that we know about these two operating systems, let's look at the differences between Unix and Linux.
- Cost: Unix vs. Linux
On the other hand, Unix is quite expensive. However, there isn't a general pricing structure for the operating system. Different Unix versions come with different costs. For instance, Unix server costs range from $25,000 to $249,000.
- Security Level: Unix vs. Linux
Which of the two operating systems is more secure? While both operating systems are susceptible to various security threats, Linux is generally considered more secure than Unix. Firstly, Linux uses many of the same features present in the Unix operating system. This includes task isolation in a multitasking environment. Additionally, password encryption in Linux is remote-manageable.
Being an open-source operating system, users and developers can easily report bugs in Linux. This is not the case with Unix, where users have to wait for bug fixes to be developed. This process can take a long time in an open-source environment where issues are resolved relatively quickly.
- User Base: Unix vs. Linux
Who uses Unix and Linux? Linux is a mainstream operating system that can be used by anyone. Its user base comprises regular computer users.
In contrast, Unix can be used on personal computers and internet servers. However, it requires expertise to operate effectively.
User-Friendliness
In terms of user-friendliness, Linux is highly portable today and can be run from a USB device. On the other hand, Unix is relatively rigid and therefore not as portable.
- Source Code
Considering that Linux is an open-source operating system, its source code is available to the public. Anyone can see the source code used to run the system. The source code for the Unix operating system is not available to the public.
- Market Share: Linux vs. Unix
Market share can be interpreted as the number of people using a particular operating system. Despite Linux coming several years after Unix, it has a larger market share. The operating system has been installed on more than 25 million devices compared to Unix, which has nearly 5.5 million installations.