Linux vs Solaris

Differences Between Linux vs Solaris

Linux is an open-source operating system. Linux is not a program. It is an interface between software and hardware. Linux is one of the best software that provides high stability and dependency. Linux is free and easily available as it is platform-independent. Solaris is an operating system based on UNIX OS. Solaris was written in C and C++ language. Solaris has supported the SPARC and Power PC platforms. Solaris was created with the concept of open source and incorporated the source code, including libraries, commands, and kernel.

Linux

•  Linux was developed by Linus Torvalds and released in the year 1991. In Linux, new changes like upgrading of components, modifications, configuring the components are really easy without creating any problems with existing components.
• The terminology of Linux consists of a bootloader, Init-program, Kernel, system library, system utility. Linux has a wide range of distributions, which are: 1. Ubuntu Linux 2. Linux Mint 3. Arch Linux 4. Deepin 5. Fedora 6. Debian 7. Opens Use.
• Each distribution is different and has different interfaces to each other. One can choose distribution depending upon their requirements. Linux architecture mainly divided into two parts or layers that is Kernel Layer and the User layer. The kernel layer consists of interface, kernel code, board support package.

Solaris

• Solaris was initially created by Sun Microsystems and released in the year 1992.  Solaris has initially licensed software and needs to obtain the licenses to install in machines. After Oracle acquired sun microsystems in 2010, it renamed to Oracle Solaris. Oracle discontinues the open-source Solaris.
• Oracle is providing 90 days free trial version of the software to use. To continue with the software after a free trial day’s period, we would have to purchase the license from Oracle to use Solaris as a development platform.
• Oracle has released Solaris with new features and enhancements over the years, like service management facility, kernel zones, and other services. Oracle Solaris considered as easy to update the cloud installations, and it has been used for legacy applications on the cloud environment by providing the foremost security and performance.

Head to Head Comparison Between Linux and Solaris (Infographics)

Below is the top 8 comparison Between Linux and Solaris:

Key Differences Between Linux and Solaris

Despite having many similarities, both Linux vs Solaris have many differences as well; we will look into these Difference between Linux and Solaris in details:

1. Linux has less stability. Solaris has more firm stability as compared to Linux.
2. Linux has basic scheduling. Solaris has a wide range of scheduling and the ability to use and configure when required.
3. Linux has a standard Input-output ability. Solaris has wide multipathing COMSTAR support.
4. Linux has an old service mechanism as SVR4, which is text-based, does not allow any dependency and services configuration cannot be reverted. Solaris has a new service mechanism with great features as SMF, which is x ml configuration-based, allowing dependencies and configuration to be reverted whenever required.
5. Linux is platform-independent. Solaris is not available for some of the platforms though it is available for different architectures.
6. Linux provides good security and performance. Solaris has provided the strict security feature, which gives a great edge to security to performance.
7. Linux has good administrator ability. Solaris has an excellent administrator ability which has the ability to install and administer the system easily.
8. Linux support mainly provided by Red Hat. Solaris support provided by Oracle (after acquiring Sun Microsystem).

Recommended courses

Linux and Solaris Comparison Table

Following is the Comparison table between Linux and Solaris.

BASIS FOR COMPARISON	Linux	Solaris
Intended	Linux intended for Embedded tablets and phones.	Solaris not intended for the same.
Throughput	Linux has good throughput.	Solaris has excellent throughput.
Programmed	Linux was written in C language.	Solaris was written in C and C++ language.
Compatibility	Linux has good binary compatibility.	Solaris has excellent binary compatibility.
Platform	Linux supported IBM power and Z series.	Solaris supported SPARC and Power PC.
Upgrade	For Linux, upgrade tools are used for updates.	Solaris updated with software updates.
Installation	Kickstart installation.	The automated installer used to install.
Management	Linux does not have any such facility.	Solaris has a system management facility (SMF).

Conclusion

Linux and Solaris both are operating systems. These are UNIX-like systems having similarity in virtual memory, process, kernels, paging, system calls, buffer, cache, multiprocessor support, CPU scheduling and support, resource controls, mapped files etc. Linux and Solaris having a different set of command-line command to use. If you are familiar with one, it would be easy to use another.

Linux is mainly used because it is open source. Linux is free and readily available. Linux can be downloaded easily and install in machines as many as required. Solaris has licensed software; a license needs to obtain from Oracle to get it installed on machines. The number of licenses obtains equals the number of machines to install.

Oracle Solaris is not having the luxury of popularity as Linux. Solaris is mainly used because of security and performance factors. Solaris is secure, simple, cloud-friendly, and cloud-ready as it provides great compatibility with management tools to easily and efficiently run the infrastructure on the cloud.

Both of them are learning and innovating themselves from each other and implementing new features as required. From the above, you will be having an overview of the differences and features of Linux and Solaris.

Organizations are selecting the operating system these days wisely; security is the primary concern for them. In today world, there are so many types of viruses; malware is available to make your system slow and insecure. System security is at the top of the list, which will provide good performance from systems as well.

Recommended Articles

This has been a guide to the Difference between Linux vs Solaris. Here we have discussed Linux vs Solaris head to head comparison, key difference, and infographics and comparison table. You may also look at the following articles to learn more –

1. Linux vs Windows
2. Linux vs Windows Server
3. Linux vs BSD
4. Linux vs Android