Development and History of Unix and Linux - Coursework Example

Number: DEVELOPMENT AND HISTORY OF UNIX/LINUX According to a publication by Arton, from Computer Support.com, UNIX is an OS (Operating System) developed as early as the 1960s and 1970s, by Bell Labs and AT. In 1957, developers, Bell Labs, realized a need for another operating system which would be essential in the developer’s computer center. The computer centre ran numerous short batch tasks, the fact that led to the realization of BESYS with an aim of sequencing the tasks as well as controlling the resources of the system. Around 1964, the Bell Labs was integrating advanced computers and in this regard decided to collaborate with MIT and General Electric in order to create another general purpose, time-sharing, multi-user operating system. This operating system was given the named Multics. Although there were high expectations from the joint force, the Bell Labs opted out of the joint force in 1969. It was noted that the root cause of Bell’s decision was on the unbearable differences the members from MIT and General Electric. It was at this point that the Bell Labs decide to purchase another computer and consequently using operating software; GECOS, although GECOS was less advanced compared to Multics. GECOS limited applicability evoked the urge from the research team into developing a different product that would portray more applicability and potential. Key figures in UNIX, such as Dennis Ritchie and Ken Thompson amongst other facilitators started working on UNIX while they used an outdated PDP-7 machine (computer). Notably, the product "UNIX"; as the name, was intended to counteract "Multics". Originally, the name “UNIX” was written "Unics", which in full read “(Uniplexed Information and Computing System)”. The other intention of using the name UNIX was in order to portray the newly developed system as a simpler product compared to Multics. Within the range of ten years; between 1969 and 1979, the whole process of UNIX development seemed confined to Bell Labs & AT. In this regard, the researchers’ team came up with outlined guidelines which served as an inspiration to the workers. Eventually, these guidelines became an integral of the philosophy of UNIX. The philosophy could be divided into four sections, with the first section reading that the development should make every program accomplish a single task effectively. The second section read that one should expect every program’s output become the subsequent program’s input though an unknown program yet. Thirdly, designing, as well as building of software should be tried early enough; ideally in weeks’ time. The fourth and the last section of the philosophy used by UNIX read that one should write as small kernel as possible, as well as making as minimal decisions possibly. In order to explore more on the history and development of UNIX, it is paramount to check on the various milestones of the initial UNIX. The initial UNIX versions were the products of the (CRSG) Computer Research Group of the Bell Labs. Additionally, the (USG) Unix System Group, provided the internal support. The (PWB) Programmers Workbench, also, played a key role in the UNIX development by writing various tools and features including sccs as well as named pipes amongst other ideas. These groups worked cohesively in 1983, while working from the Unix System Development Lab. Some of the key substantial (versions) types of the original UNIX include the V1 (1971) which was the very initial version of UNIX, and is up to now coded in assembly language. V1 (1971) was mainly used for text processing in patents’ preparation. The version has the following components: a fork (), an ed, roff and a file system. The subsequent V2 was intended to integrate the system call referred to as the pipe(). Consequently, V4 (1973) was developed; coded language C, thus portraying an improvement on portability when used in other systems. Amazingly, V6 (1975) was developed, one of the initial UNIX version, that is extensively available in other places other than within the Bell Labs. V6 is widely used in academic arenas. Some of the components of V6 are Ritchies C, Kernighan, Bourne shell, and UUCP amongst other features. Therefore, V6 was named the first Unix product from the University of California Berkeley. However, various programmers from the same University of California decided to hack the source code that contributors such as AT&T had written, and thus leading to numerous master theses. Consequently, the BSD (Berkeley Standard Distribution) emerged the second key variant of the "UNIX" as a brand. BSD was extensively adopted in both corporate and the university computing environments. Beginning with the development of BSD 4.2, which was realized in 1984, some BSD features got integrated into SVR4. The notable contribution of BSD was on the TCP/IP networking. The process was partly funded by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). TCP/IP was considered instrumental towards the establishment of internet. In the 1990s, the licensing authority by AT&Ts source code had realized a thriving market to accommodate as many UNIX variants as possible, including the various manufacturers. In 1993, the AT&T disposed the UNIX enterprise to Novell, although Novell later dispose it for two years, to the Santa Cruz Operation. At the same time, the trademark of UNIX did pass to the consortium, X/Open, a firm that eventually joined forces into forming The Open Group. According to a publication by Arton, Unix is an operating system which is extensively used as a work station or server. The architecture of Unix as well as model-client server is considered as the key elements in the internet development. A centralized computing process is installed within the network as managed by a single computer’s command. On the other hand, Linux is an operating system that evolved from Unix operating system; one can access a Linux operating system for free. Unix was perceived a popular OS like the other operating systems such as the Microsoft Windows. Therefore, Linux would be considered an alternative operating system. Berkeley Standard Distribution was not the initial attempt of the "free" UNIX. A programmer, Richard Stallman, began working on a clone free UNIX in 1984. The clone was referred to as the GNU and not the UNIX. Around the 90s, a project by the GNU had attained a number of programming milestones, such as the realization of the Bourne Again SHell and GNU C library. Basically, the project achieved the whole system, although a critical element was still required; a working kernel. A student, Enter Linus Torvalds, from Helsinki in Finland studied a small sized UNIX system known as the Minix and chose to work on it towards achieving an improved product. In 1991, Linus developed the source code applicable on a freeware kernel; the code was referred to as the "Linux". The word Linux was therefore derived by combining the student’s first name with Minux. In 1994, a team of hackers of kernel together with Linus managed to develop the Linux version 1.0. Linus together with his friends owned a free kernel, whereas Stallman together with his friends owned the remaining components of the UNIX clone system. Eventually, many people would consider putting the Linux kernel with GNU in order to accomplish a whole free system. In 1993, Linux had realized both X and Internet capability. Initially, the whole GNU toolkit was hosted on the internet, thus providing development tools of high-quality. Above the GNU facilities, Linux served as a site of attraction, concentrating as well as collecting open-source software in twenty years, which was previously scattered across different proprietary platforms of Unix. Although the Linux kernel still indicated that it was officially at level 0.99, in beta, it could be accessed for free. The quality and breadth of all software presented by Linux distributors was the ready to run computer operating system. According to more flexible-minded Unix developers, such Linux products seemed to have emerged from the internet through a spontaneous development, recombining and appropriating Unix elements. However, the realization was surprising to many, thinking that this was neither a product of AT&T nor Sun. In 1994, the Unix wars seemed to seize following a joint effort by Novell and AT&T. In 1995, the Unix Ware was purchased by SCO from Novell. In the following year, 1996, OSF and X/Open merged, therefore realizing a single huge Unix group of standards. However, the wreckage and conventional Unix sources of the Unix wars seemed progressively irrelevant. The energy and action within the community of Unix shifted to BSD and Linux and developers of open-source software. When Intel, the IBM, and SCO publicized the 1998 Monterey project, which was presumably the last attempt of merging a single huge system, the trade press and developers were amused, and eventually the project cancelled instantly, in 2001. Not until in 2000, that the transition of the industry could be termed to have come to an end. It was in this period, that Unix Ware and SCO disposed the initial source code written for Unix to Caldera, who was a Linux distributor. However, after 1995, almost everything regarding Unix became an open-source story. The rate of Linux spreading, to realize the kernel version 2.2, can be described as a startling field of interest. Linux portability enables it run on several varying architectural chips and can be supported by various many UNIX vendors such as Sun Microsystems and Hewlett-Packard. Additionally, several PC vendors such as Dell and Compaq have also adopted the Linus OS, as well as the key software vendors such as IBM and Oracle. Although Microsoft has acknowledged the potential by Linux, as a competitor, Microsoft may be unable to provide free software, or else, is unwilling to give such a provision of open source software. On the other hand, Microsoft has potentially responded to Linux by developing Windows 2000 (Windows NT). In the late 1990s, many vendors opted for the Window NT instead of the UNIX server. The Window NT registered the most preferred server platform of that time. For example, Silicon Graphics Inc., resolved NT and Intel hardware are the presumed futuristic graphics platforms. There are many applications which were realized with the development of Unix. For example, the application referred to as “gnuplot”. Unix OS may be referred to as a product of many parties. Ultimately, each of these parties sort to improve the Unix technology. Although the Unix development was subject to various outside the standard, such standards were in turn beneficial as it made the Unix OS stronger and more reliable. Some of the UNIX developers include the A/UX who developed the Apple computer, CTIX developing the Convergent Technology, and the UniCOS who developed the Cray Research which currently an integral of the Silicon Graphics Incorporated. Nowadays, the significance of UNIX certification regarding Linux is considered a non issue. One can therefore state that UNIX and Linux are different software. According to the Glyn Moody, in the work Unix/ Linux History, some of the current key commercial Unixes include the IBM’s AIX/PPCi, HP’s HP-UX/PA- Itanium & RISC, Sun’s Solaris/SPARC/UltraSPARC amongst other products. Work Cited: “Historical Development, Applications and Types of UNIX.” Computer Supports.Com, Accessed 19 Feb. 2012. http://computer-supports.com/historical-development-applications-and-types-of-unix/ Moody, Glyn. “UNIX/Linux History.” The Penguin Press. Accessed 19 Feb. 2012. http://digital-domain.net/lug/unix-linux-history.html Raymond, Eric. “Origins and History of Unix.” 1969- 1995, Accessed 19 Feb. 2012. http://www.faqs.org/docs/artu/ch02s01.html Ross, T Seth. “Unix System Security Tools: A Quick History of Unix.” Accessed 19 Feb. 2012. http://www.albion.com/security/intro-2.html Read More