Unix help: the Unix flavours today and where to get help

Updated November 2026

"Unix" covers a family of systems that share a design and most of their commands. Some are thriving, some are maintained for existing customers, and some are museum pieces still running in a back room. This section explains each one and where to get help.

The Unix family in 2026

Help by system

• IBM AIXIBM AIX explained for administrators: current versions and support (AIX 7.3 TL4), checking the level, installing fixes, LVM, JFS2, devices, performance tools such as topas, and the commands that differ from Linux.
• HP-UXHP-UX after the end of standard support in December 2025: what it means, how to keep remaining systems safe, the essential HP-UX commands, and how to plan a migration to Linux.
• Oracle Solaris (Sun)Oracle Solaris today: Solaris 11.4 support until 2037, SPARC and x86 servers, IPS package updates and boot environments, ZFS, zones, SMF services and the essential commands, plus illumos and OpenIndiana.
• IRIX (SGI)IRIX, the Unix of Silicon Graphics workstations and servers: its history, the end of support in 2013, the XFS file system it gave Linux, and how hobbyists and museums keep IRIX machines and software running.
• DG/UX (Data General)DG/UX, the Unix of Data General's AViiON servers: its history, end of life after EMC bought Data General, and advice for anyone still maintaining or migrating a DG/UX system or its data.
• Digital UNIX / Tru64Digital UNIX and Tru64 UNIX on DEC Alpha: from DEC OSF/1 to Compaq and HP, the end of support in 2012, its influence on Linux, and advice for keeping or migrating legacy AlphaServer systems.
• Unix for PCsThe free Unix-like systems you can run on an ordinary PC, laptop or Raspberry Pi: Linux distributions, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD and illumos, how they differ, and which one to choose.
• SUSE Linux EnterpriseSUSE Linux Enterprise Server from SLES 9 and 10 to SLES 16: release history and support dates, upgrading from old versions, zypper, YaST and Cockpit, btrfs snapshots, SUSEConnect and openSUSE Leap.
• Linux training and certificationHow to learn Linux system administration and which certifications are worth it: LPIC, Linux+, LFCS, RHCSA and RHCE, SUSE certifications, AIX and cloud, plus free courses and how to build practical experience.
• Unix softwareA curated list of free and open-source software for Unix and Linux administrators: shells and terminals, editors, monitoring, backups, configuration management, web and database servers, security and file transfer tools.
• Hardware vendorsWho sells hardware for Unix and Linux in 2026: IBM Power for AIX, Oracle SPARC for Solaris, x86 and Arm servers certified for Linux, Linux laptops and desktops, and how to check hardware compatibility before you buy.

How to ask for help and get an answer

1. Read the manual page first (man command) and search the exact error message in quotes.
2. Say exactly what system you run: uname -a and cat /etc/os-release on Linux, oslevel -s on AIX, pkg info entire on Solaris, swlist -l bundle on HP-UX.
3. Show what you typed and the complete output, as text, not as a screenshot.
4. Explain what you expected and what you have already tried.
5. Remove passwords, keys, and internal host names and addresses before posting anything.

Where to ask

• Unix & Linux Stack Exchange and Server Fault for system administration questions.
• Distribution forums: Ubuntu Discourse, Debian forums, Fedora Discussion, FreeBSD forums.
• IBM TechXchange community (AIX and Power), Oracle Solaris community, HPE community (including the HP-UX boards).
• Your vendor's support, if you have a contract: for production problems this is usually the fastest route.

Unix standards

The name UNIX is a trademark of The Open Group, which certifies systems against the Single UNIX Specification. The same specification is published as POSIX (IEEE 1003.1), currently in its 2024 edition. Writing scripts and programs to POSIX makes them run on all of the systems above. Linux distributions are not formally certified, but follow POSIX closely.