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From: rickert@mp.cs.niu.edu (Neil Rickert)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.msdos
Subject: Re: Unix Vs. DOS
Keywords: Unix, dos file system
Message-ID: <1990Nov20.143319.16061@mp.cs.niu.edu>
Date: 20 Nov 90 14:33:19 GMT
References: <551@caslon.cs.arizona.edu>
Organization: Northern Illinois University
Lines: 30

In article <551@caslon.cs.arizona.edu> musa@cs.arizona.edu (Musa J. Jafar) writes:
>Hello there. I am reading about the
>unix file system and the dos file system(sort of speak)
>Unix is a real Hierarchy while DOS is not
>This is what I understood from my readings.
>But DOS looks like a hierarchy.

  Actually, I think you have it backwards.  The DOS file system is a real
hierarchy, while the Unix file system is not.  The unix file system is a
flat file system, with its single inode list the true directory.  The
heirarchical file system is a virtual hierarchy built on top of this.

  A flat file system in inherently more robust.  Lose on one in a true
heirarchy such as DOS, and you lose all file beneath it.  In Unix the worst
that happens is that some files are moved to 'lost+found'.  The virtual
heirarchy on top of a flat file system also permits multiple links to a file,
which has turned out to be quite useful.

>What is the advantage of UNIX over DOS in a single user Env.
>     other than you have more options under Unix (but you pay for them)
>
 Forget the religious wars about operating systems, and choose the one which,
in terms of available software and hardware products and support services, best
suits your needs.

-- 
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  Neil W. Rickert, Computer Science               <rickert@cs.niu.edu>
  Northern Illinois Univ.
  DeKalb, IL 60115.                                  +1-815-753-6940