Running Linux, Third Edition

Differences Between Linux and Other Operating Systems

It’s important to understand the differences between Linux and other operating systems, such as Windows 95/98, Windows NT, OS/2, and other implementations of Unix for the personal computer. First of all, it should be made clear that Linux will coexist happily with other operating systems on the same machine: that is, you can run Windows NT and OS/2 along with Linux on the same system without problems. There are even ways to interact between the various operating systems, as you’ll see.

Why Use Linux?

Why use Linux instead of a commercial operating system? We could give you a thousand reasons. One of the most important, however, is that Linux is an excellent choice for personal Unix computing. If you’re a Unix software developer, why use Windows at home? Linux will allow you to develop and test Unix software on your PC, including database and X applications. If you’re a student, chances are that your university computing system runs Unix. With Linux, you can run your own Unix system and tailor it to your own needs. Installing and running Linux is also an excellent way to learn Unix if you don’t have access to other Unix machines.

But let’s not lose perspective. Linux isn’t just for personal Unix users. It’s robust and complete enough to handle large tasks, as well as distributed computing needs. Many businesses are moving to Linux in lieu of other Unix-based workstation environments. Linux has an excellent price-performance ...