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Date:      Fri, 15 May 1998 16:47:25 -0500 (CDT)
From:      Jeremy Shaffner <jer@jorsm.com>
To:        Randy Foo Jong Suan <randyfoo@pacific.net.sg>
Cc:        freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject:   Re: Difference between FreeBSD & Linux
Message-ID:  <Pine.BSF.3.95q.980515163533.8377A-100000@mercury.jorsm.com>
In-Reply-To: <000001bd8042$816022c0$defc18d2@randyfoo.pacific.net.sg>

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On Sat, 16 May 1998, Randy Foo Jong Suan wrote:

> Dear Chuck,
> 
> 1) I am starting to learn UNIX commands by installing Slackware Linux on my
> PC
> using UMSDOS partitioning. As you know, of course, that there are many
> distributions or 'flavours' of Linux, e.g. Caldera, Debian, Red Hat etc.
> 
> All of them can be classified as Linux OS.
> 
> 2) It seems to me that FreeBSD is like Linux BUT it is not classed together
> with the Linux distributions. (GNU Public Licensing aside. . .)
> 
> So if I were to install, learn and use FreeBSD on my PC, am I learning Linux
> or UNIX or what?!?

It is safe to say that by learning one Un*x system you are learning UNIX.

> By using FreeBSD, can I correctly claim that I am learning Linux??

No.  Linux is a "UNIX-like" clone developed from scratch by Linus
Torvalds. FreeBSD is based off of 4.4BSD.  BSD is one of the two major
branches of the original UNIX (The other being AT&T derived Unices.)
(Technically, the only thing that is UNIX is UNIX (tm).)
 
> 3) Are there any major technical differences between Linux and FreeBSD?
> Or was it just the GNU licensing thing that sets them apart?

On the first, Yes, for reasons that I'm sure someone else could elaborate
on.  On the second, no.

> I am somewhat confused. Moreover, Red Hat seemed to be a very popular
> choice.
> Should I touch on FreeBSD then?

 
Yes, Red Hat does seem to be a very popular distribution.  Slackware is
also.  Red Hat is easier to setup and run, whereas Slackware requires that
you get your hands dirty (And so some say it's a better first Linux, since
it forces you to learn it.)


-===================================================================-
Jeremy Shaffner					JORSM Internet
Senior Technical Support 		  Northwest Indiana's Premium
jer@jorsm.com				   Internet Service Provider	
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