[NTLUG:Discuss] difference between linux and solaris

[Mark Bickel]

> From discuss-admin at ntlug.org Thu Mar 15 12:24 CST 2001
> From: "Dan Carlson" <dmcarlsn at yahoo.com>
> To: <discuss at ntlug.org>
> Subject: Re: [NTLUG:Discuss] difference between linux and solaris
> Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2001 12:21:53 -0600
> List-Id: NTLUG Discussion List <discuss.ntlug.org>
> 
> Linux and Solaris are more alike than different, but there are plenty of
> differences that can trip you up and frustrate you when you are first
> starting out.
> 
> You can get the "free" version of Solaris for $75 (media charge).  Go to
> http://www.sun.com/solaris/binaries/ for details.  Source is also
> available.
> 
> Solaris tends to be a lot pickier about what hardware it will install on
> (and what hardware it will support once it is installed) than linux is.  So
> you may need to choose carefully for components like your system board and
> its core logic chipset, display adapter, disk controller, etc.  Just as
> with linux, you can build a low-end system suitable for learning on for
> just a few hundred dollars.  Solaris is also a lot pickier than linux when
> it comes to which drives and partitions it will install into.  By default
> it wants to install on your boot drive and create several partitions.  You
> can install it to an alternative drive and into a single partition, but you

OK, but Dan seems to be talking about Solaris x86 here. That may be fine
for learning and getting a feel for Solaris, but Solaris in the workplace is
typically installed on Sun/SPARC hardware NOT PC/intel hardware. There are
significant differences between SPARC Solaris and SolarisX86.

Solaris is quite different from Linux in the /dev and swap filesystems.
Many other differences are found in system configuration as well. Also,
one should be familiar with Sun hardware including SBUS, SPARC memory, SCSI
devices (there can be differences from SCSI on PC) and their sometimes funky
connectors and cables for video and serial ports. Also you should familiarize
yourself with the firmware, which is similar to a PC's BIOS, but more powerful.

Learn how to install and configure Solaris on a SPARC and it will help you
with installing Solaris on a PC and installing Linux on a SPARC or UltraSPARC.

And yes, really learning Linux at a very detailed level will help you with other
*nix OSes. Learning *BSD on PC can help too, as some commercial *nix OS are more
of the BSD flavour than SysV.

YMMV,
Mark.Bickel at ericsson.com


> Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2001 11:41 AM
> Subject: [NTLUG:Discuss] difference between linux and solaris
> 
> 
> > Hello,
> > I was job searching, and saw a job for a Unix administrator with 1-3 yrs
> > experience.  I've been doing Linux and am wondering what is the
> difference
> > between solaris and linux.  I applied for the job, stating that my admin
> > experience is with linux but wish to get involved in the Unix field.
> > What do you think?  Do i have a chance to get a Unix job w/Linux
> experience?
> > Thanks again,
> > -Micky Fokken