Difference between DOS and UNIX

In this article, you will learn the difference between the DOS and UNIX operating systems. But before discussing the differences, you will need to know about the DOS and UNIX.

What is DOS?

DOS stands for a Disk Operating System. It is a computer operating system that was used in Microsoft's x86-based PCs. The Disk Operating System (DOS) was released in 1981, and it was a single-processing operating system. X86-based PCs are Microsoft Corporation-expanded personal computers. The hard drive device will be used to run DOS. MS-DOS was renamed IBM PC DOS, and several operating systems were suited with MS-DOS and referred to as DOS.

The Disk Operating System (DOS) contains C Programming Language, Assembly Language, and x86-based language. The Microsoft Corporation and Tim Paterson develop the Disk Operating System. Microsoft created the x86-based computers, which run on the DOS. The source models were available in DOS format. DOS was first introduced in 1981, while Windows 8.0 was released in 2000. Since 2018, the DOS has close source and open-source versions for selected versions.

DOS is a mono-spaced raster typeface with a font size that is comparable to Courier. This type of font size was intended as an MS-DOS typeface and utilized cross zeros. Deltree is the command used for external code, whereas Dir was used for internal code. Disk Operating System (DOS) was used for personal computers before Windows had arrived. It is a single-command operating system that cannot handle multiple commands. DOS can be used to access disk storage devices, including optical disks, floppy disks, and hard disk drives. Operating disk drives help in the organization of file systems for reading and writing to disk storage.

Features of DOS

There are various features of the disk operating system. Some features of the operating system are as follows:

1. It is a free OS.
2. It is a 16-bit OS.
3. It aids make file management, e.g., creating, editing, deleting files, etc.
4. It doesn't support GUI.
5. It is a single-user OS.
6. It has a text-based interface and operates completely on text and codes.

What is UNIX?

UNIX is a computer OS that supports multiple processors. UNIX was derived from the original AT&T UNIX system, which was designed and developed in the 19th century. The UNIX operating system was created by FreeBSD, Brian Kernighan, Nokia Bell Labs, Douglas Mcllroy, Ken Thomson, Dennis Ritchie, and Joe Ossanna. Plan 9 and Linux are two OS versions of the UNIX OS.

The C and Assembly languages were used to develop the UNIX OS. UNIX was first introduced on November 3, 1971, and the Turning Award was later given to this operating system. UNIX OS uses servers to run medium-to-large-scale computer systems. The servers used for the UNIX operating system are Application Servers and Database Servers. The servers include SUN, IBM, HP, and some others.

UNIX is a multi-purpose operating system that may be used on desktops, laptops, and servers. The UNIX end-of-line system is known as ("/n"). UNIX is made up of environment variables, some of which are set by the system. The user controls some variables, while the shell and program control others. The UNIX operating system contained a regular expression with characters in the sequence that matched the text. The UNIX operating system contains multitasker and multiuser features.

UNIX offers a graphical user interface that is comparable to that of Windows. The abbreviation for UNIX is UNICS, which stands for UNiplexed Information Computing System. It began working on programming in the 1960s and became operational in 1971. The UNIX operating system has been widely utilized in complicated, critical applications for some companies. Data Enterprise Centre prefers the UNIX OS.

Advantages and Disadvantages of UNIX Operating System

There are various advantages and disadvantages of a UNIX operating system. Some of the advantages and disadvantages of the UNIX operating system are as follows:

Advantages

1. If you want to run complex programs, UNIX operating system uses less memory. UNIX operating system may manage virtual memory very effectively. The virtual memory grows as additional programs are loaded into the main memory. In UNIX, most of the jobs are completed with fewer resources.
2. Many online stores operate their websites on UNIX or Linux servers. UNIX has also been used to manage mobile phones and other electrical systems.
3. Since the UNIX operating system is free and safe, it is commonly used by web hosting providers. Various web hosting servers use utilities such as DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), DNS (Domain Name Server), and the webserver.
4. UNIX operating system offers a safe and secure platform for various users to interact with servers online without any security breaches. UID and GID control users' permissions in UNIX and files are accessed through these permissions. The interaction with the UNIX servers is quick and error-free.
5. Since the UNIX operating system is written in C, so it is a highly portable operating system. It is suitable for both personal computers and MAC machines. C is a famous programming language, and most programmers may easily work in it. The C programming language may be used to interface with hardware.
6. If you've worked with MS-DOS on Windows, you'll find that UNIX is easy to use. The user interface and command usage are quite similar to MS-DOS.

Disadvantages

1. There is no proper documentation for UNIX. If the user finds an issue, he must seek the advice of an expert because getting online assistance from the documentation is difficult. When compared to Windows and macOS, you will find proper and easy documentation available online.
2. UNIX commands are far more difficult to learn than the other operating systems like Windows, MS-DOS, and macOS. It is also tough to recall the commands. You must first read the documentation every time you need to use a difficult command. The new UNIX OS includes a graphical user interface (GUI), although most work is still done via the command-line interface (CLI). UNIX apps and software are also not widely used, and you must learn them before utilizing this software.
3. UNIX is difficult to use for a beginner. Beginners must memorize various commands because CLI commands are used for most of the UNIX work. Some people with a lot of experience have trouble utilizing commands since the names of some commands are extremely different. UNIX is designed mainly for programmers, not for beginners.
4. Most UNIX commands employ cryptic words. It is tough for beginners to understand how commands work. Some commands employ unusual characters, making it difficult for inexperienced programmers to grasp them. If you type the wrong character in the command, your system will begin performing unknown tasks, including deleting or changing data on your computer. Some UNIX commands function in conjunction with other commands, so your task will be incomplete if you forget one.

Key differences between the DOS and UNIX operating system

There are various main differences between the DOS and UNIX operating systems. Some of the main differences between the DOS and UNIX operating systems are as follows:

1. DOS is an operating system that is only used in x86-based computers. On the other hand, UNIX is an operating system that is used in all types of computers.
2. DOS is a single command-line system. On the other hand, UNIX operating system is a multitasking, multiuser system.
3. DOS was firstly released in 1981. On the other hand, the UNIX operating system was firstly released in November 1971.
4. DOS operates from a hard disk device. On the other hand, the UNIX operating system was installed after being obtained from the original AT&T UNIX.
5. DOS contains three proprietary versions (MS-DOS, IBM DOS, and DR-DOS) and one free version (FreeDOS). On the other hand, UNIX operating system has numerous proprietary and free/open-source implementations.
6. DOS is an abbreviation for Disk Operating System. On the other hand, UNIX operating system is an abbreviation for UNiplexed Information Computing System.
7. DOS has no native support for IP networks. On the other hand, UNIX operating system comes with built-in support for IP networks.
8. DOS contains batch files. On the other hand, UNIX operating system contains shell files.

Head-to-head comparison between the DOS and UNIX operating system

There are various head-to-head comparisons between the DOS and UNIX operating systems. Some of the main head-to-head comparisons of the DOS and UNIX operating systems are as follows:

Conclusion

In this article, you have learned the difference between the disk and UNIX operating systems. Disk operating system and UNIX operating system are different from each other. Disk operating system is mainly used in embedded devices and X86-based processor systems. In contrast, the UNIX operating system is used in all computer systems and servers. The other difference is that the Disk operating system is a single processing system. On the other hand, UNIX operating system is a multiprocessing system.