"Zathras knows, but nobody ever listens to Zathras"

Unix is a 32-bit operating system, which has been around, in some form, for over twenty-five years. Unix is a powerhouse that loves to use the itnernet and makes a very fine file and print server.

• It is a 32-bit Operating System
• Unix is at home on the internet
• Unix makes a very fast and heavy-duty Web Server Platform, and Web servers were first developed under Unix
• Unix is made by several vendors
• Unix comes in many flavors and prices, as well as differing capabilities
• Linux is a form of Unix
• Unix has been around longer than either Windows NT or Windows 95
• Unix was the first platform to make use of the X Window System
• Unix is probably the most well-suited platform for large amounts of concurrent users
• Unix makes use of GNU-ported software in many cases and flavors
• Unix is a natural platform for programers. It makes use of C, C++, Smalltalk, Perle, and other natural languages
• Java was first developed to operate under Unix
• Unix was there first
• Unix does not easily run Microsoft application suites of software

• Digital Equipment Corporation: OSF/1 and Ultrix
• Sun Corporation SunOS and Solaris
• Silicon Graphics IRIX
• Hewlett-Packard HPUX
• IBM AIX
• NeXT Corporation NeXTSTEP
• SCO Unix
• Unixware Technology Group

• Linux
• FreeBSD

• NCSA HTTPD
• W3C HTTPD (aka Cern Web Server)
• Netscape has several Web Servers we can get for FREE!
• Apache Web Server
• GN Gopher/Web Server
• WN Web Server

Though Windows NT is becoming more popular as time goes by, Unix still makes the fastest Web server platform. Three special packages, all of which can run under various forms of Unix, making use of Netscape's newest servers, flourish under Unix:

• Web Objects, by NeXT Corporation
• Sun's Netra Servers
  • Let's not neglect to mention Sun created Java!
  • Netra Servers also include a new enhanced security NFS Server
• SGI's Webforce

• Shadow Passwords provide enhanced security options (also available under Linux)
• OSF/1 has C2 Security packages which greatly enhance security
• The Andrew File System (AFS) provides major kerberos enhancements over traditional NFS servers, providing for enhanced security measures
  • Notre Dame uses Transarc's AFS and its file system is secure and automatically backed up
• The Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) soon to become widely available, as well as DFS, DCE Distributed File System

• See the X Consortium for information regarding the latest versions of the X Window System
• See the XFree 86 Web Page for information on a free version of X for PC-based Unix platforms
• X is a very user-friendly desktop
• X is portable over all versions of Unix
• X is a great method to access files on one computer from another.
  • X works very well over the internet
  • Most X is free, though commercial versions do exist
• X clients exist which work in the Mac, DOS, and Windows environment, allowing one to access files stored on a Unix host.

Why is Linux so popular these days?

• Linux is completely free
• Linux is under continual development
  • Anyone may play a role in suggesting changes and seeing them occur without having to pay for them
  • Kernel upgrades improve Linux continually
• Linux is distributed over the internet and through CD ROMs from various FTP sites and companies which charge comparatively little as Microsoft products.
  • Slackware is probably the most well-known distribution.
  • Try Redhat for a very interesting and robust new distribution of Linux.
• One nice attribute about Linux is the ability to run virtually any available internet-related service for free. Most of these are already ported to Linux, and some interesting capabilities exist.
  • Use your Linux box as a Novell Server with bindery and rudimentary print functions. One may also do IPX routing and be a NetWare client
  • Use your Linux box to run Samba and serve SMB files and print services
  • Act as print Server
    • Samba
    • LPD/LPR
  • Be a Usenet Server
    • Inn
  • Run a Web server
    • Any Unix server will do (Netscape still under development)
  • Host internet accounts for students, faculty, and staff
    • Serve your entire school's base
  • Serve email to your Law School
    • Pick from POP or IMAP daemon
  • Serve applications via X
    • X-Free 86 Project
  • Act as an impressive OPAC and public internet service point
    • Serve resources using the X Window System
  • Place as a reference point at your Reference Desk in the Library
    • The power of multitasking and smooth running
  • Run X as a workstation for free
    • X-Free 86 Project
  • Edit HTML via asWedit and others
  • New security available now for Linux
  • New Unix application suite Applixware available from Red Hat
    • Word Processing
    • Graphics/Presentation Design
    • Spreadsheet
    • Mail
    • Applications Builder

Joseph.S.Rosenfeld.1@nd.edu