A doubt on " linux asking unix password..."
 

I am aware that Linux is a Unix-like operating system and also it does not use any source code of Unix..I came to know that in early stages unix had sued linux for having stolen significant part of Unix's code.. I am having a doubt related to the following:

When root user or normal user changes his password the system asks for "UNIX password...". Why it is like this...? why it is not asking for linux password ;).
Is n't that a violation....?

Thank u..

Are you aware that this is incorrect??...;)
there are a whole bunch of Gnu utilities that can be used on any "Unix-like" system, including Linux, BSD, etc.
Unix is not one specific system---there are many flavors--some of which have now become "open".
Unix is not a legal entity and cannot sue anyone---especially not Linux (which is also not a legal entity) Perhaps you were referring to SCO suing IBM?

Violation of what??
the utility giving you that message---from Gnu or otherwise---has its roots in the Unix culture and methods.

thanks for your quick reply..

I just wanted to know why it specifically asks for a unix password if it is not a unix system, okay, but you have already given me the answer as "...(having) roots in the Unix culture and methods" thank u..

In focusing on that part of the answer, you are ignoring the important distinction between Linux and GNU. When you install a Linux distribution, that will include a lot of GNU software. But much of that GNU software is written carefully avoiding the assumption that it will be run on Linux and instead made to run on any OS that is similar to Unix.

So if some current GNU utility has prompts based on running on some Unix like system, that is not directly because of the original relationship between Unix and Linux, but because of the current efforts to keep GNU utilities portable.

rajeshkerala:

There is no legal issue on the matter you asked. It is only a matter of "terminology" not involving part of software codes.

I am a Unix lover. I love that term even if seen and felt by pretending one inside Linux O.S. Many GNU software were intended to run in Unix, BSD or Linux. It is no surprise that texts portions of its inner codes happen to use the word "Unix" instead of "Linux" "BSD" or "UNIX-Like" and as such are left alone today for the lack of "imperative" need to change them.

Microsoft mentality sets our minds to presume centralized software production with strict adherence to "copyright" sanctity. In Linux the products belong to thousands of people who don't take orders from central command, here we don't copyright, we copyleft. Unix is not SCO, nor Linux GNU. Don't worry.

Hope this helps.

rajeshkerala:

There is no legal issue on the matter you asked. It is only a matter of "terminology" not involving part of software codes.

I am a Unix lover. I love that term even if seen and felt by pretending one inside Linux O.S. Many GNU software were intended to run in Unix, BSD or Linux. It is no surprise that texts portions of its inner codes happen to use the word "Unix" instead of "Linux" "BSD" or "UNIX-Like" and as such are left alone today for the lack of "imperative" need to change them.

Microsoft mentality sets our minds to presume centralized software production with strict adherence to "copyright" sanctity. In Linux the products belong to thousands of people who don't take orders from central command, here we don't copyright, we copyleft. Unix is not SCO, nor Linux GNU. Don't worry.

Hope this helps.