UNIX turns 40

[ Thanks to An Anonymous Reader for this link. ]

"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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