UNIX turns 40
Dec 02, 2009, 21:32 (1 Talkback[s])
(Other stories by Ken Milberg)
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"Why has UNIX thrived?
"Many of us still remember that Byte Magazine article in 1990
that wondered "Is UNIX dead?" The timing was around the impending
release of Windows NT®. Twenty years later, most IT directors
would rather chew on glass than run their mission-critical
applications on Windows servers. What is it about UNIX that keeps
it going?
"Hardware support and integration. Unlike other operating
systems such as Linux or Windows, UNIX is typically packaged with
vendor hardware and because the operating system has been optimized
for a specific hardware platform, it offers performance and
reliability advantages.
"OS support. With UNIX operating systems, patches and fixes are
all handled by the manufacturer of the specific brand of UNIX. You
need not browse the Web to find the appropriate fix for your
problem. On many occasions, phone support will direct you to the
fix and even walk you through the installation. The operating
system is supported by your vendor 24x7. When your box crashes (and
every box crashes), there is always someone to call.
"Comfort level. If you prefer working with a company that can
hold your hand through all types of problems, UNIX is the answer
for you. All UNIX vendors offer standard 24x7 contracts on both the
hardware and the OS. The benefit here is that there is no finger
pointing if something breaks, because the vendor supports both the
hardware and the OS.
"Security. UNIX is one of the most secure operating systems
available."
Complete
Story
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