Linux
| Linux and xBSD |
These are operating systems that can run on PC type computers as well as other platforms. These operating systems are open source and are freely available. Built into them are all the TCP/IP stacks and support functions. |
Linux and xBSD are Unix type operating systems. They both have full support for networking. The big difference between them is the licensing conditions. Linux and xBSD are 'free' and open source. |
Linux |
Linux has had more publicity and is tending to be a challanger to MS Windows. When linux is mentioned it is usual to think Redhat, Suse or Slackware. These products include a very lot more than just the Linux Kernel but also a complex desktop and lots of programs. The Linux distros (nerd for distributions) are easy to install and at the end you have a windows like environment complete with office software. Linux is well documented. Suse is owned by Novell Wind River owners of Vx-Works have partnered up with Red Hat to produce a embedded Linux toolkit |
xBSD |
xBSD refers to freeBSD, netBSD, openBSD. Development of these OS started in the 1980's They tend to be less commercialised and harder to set up (in my opinion) than Linux. After installation you have a commandline (dos type screen). netBSD works on the most platforms. xBSD is not so well documented as Linux. It is more secure and are not updated as often as Linux. A lot of Linux software works on xBSD platforms. 6 CD's come with netBSD full of programs that Linux people would recognise. Many large companis trust these OS. freeBSD is used by Yahoo for their servers and the Apache Project (60% of internet service providers use Apache) uses freeBSD. |