Is OpenSolaris a Linux Distro? Just curious

No.......Unix

http://www.opensolaris.com/

Unix

"And the difference is...?" said the newbie.

Linux is a community distribution built and used by 'the people' while Solaris doesn't matter which version has Sun Microsystem's backing!

They also handle things in different ways, such as the way they run low down in the system. Also support for services is quite different too.

Things like network infrastructure service are configured in slightly different ways between both operating systems and doing things like configuring network interface cards and graphics sub-systems is completely different although Solaris has Xorg too but by default uses Sun's own graphics drivers and handles.

At the end of the day which ones best? Up to you!!! They both take a while to get used to and understand but transitioning between them isn't that demanding once you're compliant with one the other just takes a few days or weeks depending on how deep you go.

Just a quick Google search resulted in these:

http://opensolaris.org/os/article/20...eebsd_kernels/

http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/compar...-vs-linux.html

http://www.softpanorama.org/Articles...vs_linux.shtml

Solaris is run mainly in industry by Telco's (GSM/3G and copper providers), ISP's, Data Center's, Universities, and large financial establishments like Banks etc.

Linux is also run by large enterprises, but then you're talking about non-community distributions such as Suse Enterprise and Red Hat.

There is also BSD, AIX, HP-UX, Citrix Mainframes, and IRIX in the UNIX world. All pretty similar but have their own characteristics, strengths and weaknesses.

Your best bet really is to Google around as much as you can before hand then according to which one you like the sound of most you can decide what to use!

For everyday tasks Open Solaris or Solaris Express Community Edition (SXCE) is pretty cool and has almost everything you need, while Linux distros such as Debian, Fedora, OpenSuse, Ubuntu, and others which I can't think of now are pretty cool too for both desktop and server systems.

Hope this helps!

Also it's worth noting that "Linux" is a kernel while "UNIX" is an OS...

-C

custangro, I thought Linux was an OS too based around UNIX just open source and full of communities trying to do things in their 'own' way??

Since every 'computer' has a kernel including MS Windows it would seem to not make sense, however the boundaries maybe blurred and I maybe in error?

This is quite a controversial topic but strictly speaking, Linux is indeed just a kernel.

On top of that kernel, using Gnu utilities and libraries, a Unix like OS dubbed Gnu/Linux is built. Most if not all of the (Gnu/)Linux distributions are based on it. Of course, most people do not matter and call all of the above simply Linux.

Solaris on the other hand has both its kernel and the userland Unix utilities originally coming from a common single source (AT&T SVR4.0).

These days, the difference between the Linux based OSes, Solaris, *BSDs and the likes isn't as sharp as it used to be. You'll actually find a lot of open source common components shared by all of them, just like their communities are overlapping.

Thanks for pointing that one out jlliagre, even my university used to consider Linux as an OS so I guess as you say it's controversial or a grey area!

Thanks for the input. I'm happy with SlamD/Slackware, I'm not looking to convert. I was just curious what OpenSolaris was when I ran across it. Then when the Unix Vs Linux came up, I was thinking similar to the difference between MS_DOS and PC_DOS. But it sounds more complicated than that.

It one of the computer topics I'm almost curious enought to actually research. 8-)

Thanks again.
Ace

Just wait til GNU/Hurd becomes stable, then it will get even greyer. People can't even call it *nix anymore.
www.gnu.org/software/hurd/hurd.html

And stay away from SUN, the company is bad news right now, rumor is that they are going under... Or being bought out... can't remember.

Not interested in Changing OS/Kernels, though I have become dependant on Open Office, I wonder if the company status will have an impact on it.

I honestly didn't know that Open Office had anything to do with Sun Microsystems.

Oracle is buying Sun

http://www.sun.com/third-party/global/oracle/

And why would I stay away from Sun??? Solaris is, in my opinion, the best UNIX out there

Anyway, if you use OpenSolaris...you ("you" meaning the average Linux user) will probably see no difference...it has the same look/feel as Linux...

To put it simply...

OpenSolaris is GNU tools built on top of the Solaris UNIX kernel (as opposed to the Linux kernel).

-C

The open office splash screen has Sun Microsystems. I assume it's the same co.