UNIX and Networking Network Fundamentals

Chapter 14: Network Fundamentals

14.1 UNIX and Networking

One of the greatest advantages of the UNIX system is its inherent network−related structure. From its very beginnings, UNIX included a number of network−based characteristics that made it quite different from other existing operating systems. At a time when network technologies were in the very early stages, UNIX already provided certain network services and powerful tools to cope with network issues between remote hosts. From a network standpoint, the concept of UNIX was so well done that it allowed an easy integration of UNIX into network technologies. It is even more appropriate to say that UNIX and networking merged, making UNIX the core operating system in the new emerging network environment. Today, even after so many years of intensive commercial use, UNIX is still far from being considered an obsolete operating system. UNIX was the first commercially successful and available network−oriented OS, and UNIXs use in networked environments was perhaps the biggest factor leading to the end of the supremacy of mainframe computers and gigantic OSs. Despite its advancing age, UNIX is still the leading OS, offering more than any other OS alone, and permanently keeping pace with newcomers. The primary advantages of UNIX are its openness and flexibility, which make it suitable for almost any kind of upgrade. Most of these upgrades were made in the network arena, which makes sense, given the incredible advances in the field of networking. However, this flexibility and UNIXs ability to integrate so many changes only prove the sound conceptual approach that UNIX designers had while creating UNIX. Regardless of where the credit should go, UNIXs main contribution to the overall development of computer technologies was, and still is, in networking; it is fair to say that the network−oriented UNIX concept practically enabled the tremendous growth of networking technologies. Networks have grown so prolifically because they provide an important service: to share information among users. Computers generate and process information that is often useless unless it is shared