BSD vs UNIX vs Linux, part 2 |
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 Ker Asmodai Ok, so last time we saw the "relationship" between UNIX System V and BSD. Now, lets look at the "relationship" between (UNIX System V + BSD) and Linux. Linux 0.01 was released on 1st August 1991. A direct offshoot from Tanenbaum's Minix operating system(1). It stayed that way until Linux 1.1.52, at which point 4.4BSD/Lite came involved, in the shape of Swansea University and its NET3 project. A lot of Linux userland was also based on BSD, as well as a lot of the core API. For example, Linux has a vnode implementation. System V had been in Linux a lot longer. Minix was designed to feel like 7th Edition UNIX and, as such, was a "teaching" OS. Linux was aimed at being "real" (that point is really a non-issue - Minix is as "real" as Linux, with Minix-VMD having virtual memory and X in its release). The init from Linux was, originally, from Minix. It was a simple affair, it simply read /etc/rc. The Bell Labs UNIX way. The way BSD still does it today. Later, Linux's init was to be based on the System V version. It reads /etc/inittab, and spawns off whatever runlevel scripts in /etc/rc.d/ are needed for that particular runlevel. Thats really where the comparison stops. Linux has a *lot* of code in it that have their historical background in System V and BSD. Looking at parts of Linux that are based on BSD or System V would amount to a post that is far too long, and way off topic to boot. Now would perhaps be a good time to "compare" the use of each platform. Firstly, lets look at BSD. BSD really does make good use of the word "research" and is, perhaps, one of the most stable operating systems known to man. BSD makes top-notch workstations and servers. If you want to power on a machine and leave it run doing whatever its doing, then BSD is for you. It runs in more hardware than you can shake a fist at (4BSD running on Intel, Motorola, VAX, SPARC, HP PA-RISC, Alpha and more, NetBSD running on far more). It has first-rate scheduling, memory management, filesystem management and more. It is ideal for servers. UNIX System V is commercial. It makes for great workstations and servers. It might not be open-source, it might be expensive, it might be tied to proprietry hardware, but it has support, and lots of it. If you are running Solaris on a SPARC, and run into problems with either Solaris, or the SPARC, then you will get support (provided you pay for it). It is stable, and has been stable a lot longer than Linux has. The last kernel update for UNIX was System V Release 5, and that was back in 1998. Linux is, well, everything really. Linux has come a long way since its conception in 1991. It has a lot of "what-if's", "maybe's", and "yes-but's" imho though. "Is this kernel stable?" "maybe" etc. It makes for a great research platform, and is equally as stable as System V and BSD if you make time to research the kernel versions first, and get the combination right, and choose the right distro for your need, and the right hardware, and the right configuration. Linux is still young though, and has a long way to go. So, to conclude on this brief tour of UNIX and Linux. BSD = proven technology for servers and workstations. UNIX = proven technology for servers and workstations. Linux = good technology for servers and workstations. There is a lot more I could go into here (for comparative reasons), including kernel bloat, kit included with releases, support, community, development et al. But, thats for another post at another time. I will say this though. Dont take my (or anyone elses) word as to what OS is better. Go try them yourself. The human intelligence allows one to form ones own opinion based on ones own experiences. The only real way you will find out what OS you prefer is by going out there and trying them. So go now and download BSD and Solaris and Linux, and go play. (1) See "Operating Systems: Design and Implementation by Tanenbaum et al, Prentice Hall, 1987". 
[ Kernel Asmodai ] [ CASR - Commanding Officer ] [ CAIRC - Server Co-admin | Services Operator ] [ OSI - Project Wyvern Lead Kernel Developer ] [ Other - Lead OS Developer - Kaladix ] "... it is easy to be blinded to the essential uselessness of them by the sense of achievement you get from getting them to work at all. In other words ... their fundamental design flaws are completely hidden by their superficial design flaws." -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, on the products of the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation. Replies:
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2003-05-12 16:32:05
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