Operating systems and Linux distributions: Difference between revisions
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==Linux== | ==Linux== | ||
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux GNU Linux] aims to be a free and open-source unix (or unix-like) operating system that will run on most types of computer hardware. Various [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_distribution distributions of GNU/Linux] exist that have different package management systems and other features. Most of these are ideal platforms for X-ray crystallography and other scientific computational requirements. | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux GNU/Linux] aims to be a free and open-source unix (or unix-like) operating system that will run on most types of computer hardware and uses an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Window_System X11 graphical user interface]. Various [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_distribution distributions of GNU/Linux] exist that have different package management systems and other features. Most of these are ideal platforms for X-ray crystallography and other scientific computational requirements. | ||
===Linux Distributions=== | |||
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_%28Linux_distribution%29 Ubuntu] | |||
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debian Debian] | |||
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Hat_Enterprise_Linux Red Hat] with its clones [[CentOS]] and [https://www.scientificlinux.org Scientific Linux] (binary compatible; produced from the source provided by Red Hat) | |||
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fedora_%28Linux_distribution%29 Fedora]: see [[CCP4 on Fedora 12]] | |||
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opensuse OpenSuse] will run most Red Hat and Fedora packages | |||
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandriva_Linux Mandriva] | |||
These differ greatly in the time they support their releases: | |||
* OpenSuse: 2 years | |||
* Fedora: 18 months | |||
* Ubuntu: 18 months | |||
* Ubuntu LTS: Server 5 years, Desktop 3 years | |||
* RedHat, [[CentOS]], Scientific Linux: 7 years | |||
* Gentoo: less relevant; "rolling releases" | |||
* Debian: 1 year after a new release; thus usually 2.5 - 3.5 yrs | |||
* SUSE Linux Enterprise Server: see http://support.novell.com/lifecycle/lcSearchResults.jsp?st=suse+linux+enterprise+server; generally 6 years or more | |||
===Useful Links=== | |||
* [http://xanana.ucsc.edu/~wgscott/xtal/wiki/index.php/Crystallography_on_Ubuntu Crystallography on Ubuntu Linux] | |||
* [http://linux.dell.com/wiki/index.php/Repository Dell's RPMs for Linux machines, including BIOS-update stuff] | |||
==Mac OS X== | ==Mac OS X== | ||
Mac OS X is a proprietary [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FreeBSD BSD]- | Mac OS X is a proprietary [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FreeBSD BSD]-Unix-derived operating system that runs on Apple's computers. The BSD-subsystem, called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwin_(operating_system) Darwin], attempts to be open-source. Unlike most other flavors of Unix, OS X is not based on an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Window_System X11 windowing system], but instead uses a proprietary [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqua_(user_interface) Aqua] graphical user interface. For crystallographers and others who need the conventional X11 windowing system, an [http://trac.macosforge.org/projects/xquartz Xserver for OS X] is available, and can be easily installed on all versions of OS X. | ||
===Links:=== | ===Links:=== | ||
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==Irix (SGI)== | ==Irix (SGI)== | ||
By all accounts, SGIs are now obsolete. They are more expensive and perhaps offer higher productivity, but it is not worth the money when $500 Linux box takes 1/2 hour to calculate a simulated annealing omit map. There are some examples of software (such as [http://wiki.c2b2.columbia.edu/honiglab_public/index.php/Software:GRASP GRASP]) that you can only run on SGIs, not Linux. O is also wicked fast on SGIs. | |||
Irix is a flavor of UNIX and is still supported by [http://www.sgi.com/products/software/irix/ SGI]. | |||
== See also == | |||
Linux [[filesystems]] | |||
Latest revision as of 17:07, 12 March 2014
Operating Systems[edit | edit source]
Linux[edit | edit source]
GNU/Linux aims to be a free and open-source unix (or unix-like) operating system that will run on most types of computer hardware and uses an X11 graphical user interface. Various distributions of GNU/Linux exist that have different package management systems and other features. Most of these are ideal platforms for X-ray crystallography and other scientific computational requirements.
Linux Distributions[edit | edit source]
- Red Hat with its clones CentOS and Scientific Linux (binary compatible; produced from the source provided by Red Hat)
- Fedora: see CCP4 on Fedora 12
- OpenSuse will run most Red Hat and Fedora packages
These differ greatly in the time they support their releases:
- OpenSuse: 2 years
- Fedora: 18 months
- Ubuntu: 18 months
- Ubuntu LTS: Server 5 years, Desktop 3 years
- RedHat, CentOS, Scientific Linux: 7 years
- Gentoo: less relevant; "rolling releases"
- Debian: 1 year after a new release; thus usually 2.5 - 3.5 yrs
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Server: see http://support.novell.com/lifecycle/lcSearchResults.jsp?st=suse+linux+enterprise+server; generally 6 years or more
Useful Links[edit | edit source]
Mac OS X[edit | edit source]
Mac OS X is a proprietary BSD-Unix-derived operating system that runs on Apple's computers. The BSD-subsystem, called Darwin, attempts to be open-source. Unlike most other flavors of Unix, OS X is not based on an X11 windowing system, but instead uses a proprietary Aqua graphical user interface. For crystallographers and others who need the conventional X11 windowing system, an Xserver for OS X is available, and can be easily installed on all versions of OS X.
Links:[edit | edit source]
- Apple's Mac OS X Unix page.
Irix (SGI)[edit | edit source]
By all accounts, SGIs are now obsolete. They are more expensive and perhaps offer higher productivity, but it is not worth the money when $500 Linux box takes 1/2 hour to calculate a simulated annealing omit map. There are some examples of software (such as GRASP) that you can only run on SGIs, not Linux. O is also wicked fast on SGIs.
Irix is a flavor of UNIX and is still supported by SGI.
See also[edit | edit source]
Linux filesystems