new to linux

[smd]

hello,

I am just starting to use LINUX , but have been using UNIX for quite some time now...and want to know what is the difference between UNIX and LINUX?? or they pretty much the same except for some commands that may be in one and not the other?? thanks for any explanations...

[GNUbie]

Originally posted by smd
hello,

I am just starting to use LINUX , but have been using UNIX for quite some time now...and want to know what is the difference between UNIX and LINUX?? or they pretty much the same except for some commands that may be in one and not the other?? thanks for any explanations...

They're quite similar, however some differences exist:
1. Linux is free;
2. Most Linux users use bash (as far as my experience has been in knowing other Linux users).. while most Unix users seem to use a different shell (ksh, bsh, csh, or tcsh);
3. Linux runs on intel architecture chips (x86) while many Unix distributions run on different architectures (Solaris, HP-UX);

Overall, I've found them to be quite similar. Some Unix flavors have different options in commands, and different commands all together (prstat in Solaris 8 comes to mind). I'm sure you'll have no problems adapting to Linux.

Also, if you don't particularly care for Linux, I recommend trying one of the (free) BSD flavors:
http://freebsd.org
http://openbsd.org

[onurak]

i did not use a unix system but i heard linux and unix are similar

[GNUbie]

Originally posted by onurak
i did not use a unix system but i heard linux and unix are similar

yes.

[stautze]

if you are used to unix, the man pages are a pretty good for clarifying trivial differences in commands.

[SilentStrike]

Linux also runs on Solaris (is that the name of the OS or the hardware for Sun's systems.. dunno :( ) and PPC.

[GNUbie]

Originally posted by SilentStrike
Linux also runs on Solaris (is that the name of the OS or the hardware for Sun's systems.. dunno :( ) and PPC.

Solaris is the operating system made by Sun Microsystems.
I think what you meant was that Linux will run on other chip architectures, which is correct.