The AIX® and UNIX® zone of developerWorks contains articles, tutorials, and tips to help developers with AIX and UNIX application development and system administration. For users trying to find their way in a new topic, all of that information can be overwhelming. This page provides an overview for readers who would like to learn about AIX and UNIX, but don't know where to start.
Invented at AT&T Bell Labs in 1969, UNIX (the name is a play on the earlier Multiplexed Information and Computing Service (Multics) operating system) is a robust, flexible, and developer-friendly computing environment. Written originally for the Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) family of PDP microcomputers, this most popular of multi-user, general-purpose operating systems has taken over roles in all areas of computing -- even those once held by mainframes.
Introduced in January of 1986, AIX is the IBM implementation of the UNIX operating system. AIX is an open, standards-based operating system and conforms to The Open Group's Single UNIX Specification Version 3. It provides fully integrated support for 32- and 64-bit applications. The AIX operating system provides binary compatible support for the entire IBM UNIX product line, including IBM System p™ servers, BladeCenter® JS21 and JS22 blade servers, and IntelliStation® POWER™ workstations.
The latest version of AIX, AIX Version 6.1, provides new software-based virtualization capabilities known as WPARs in addition to fully exploiting the advanced virtualization and performance of IBM System p UNIX servers to insure that the IBM UNIX solutions that you deploy are scalable and efficient.
AIX is supported by a broad range of independent software vendors (ISVs) that provide application solutions to meet business needs. IBM also offers:
Several management software products to enhance the performance, availability, and efficiency of those ISV applications running in the AIX environment.
The IBM SDKs for AIX, Java 2 Technology Edition, provides the performance and stability you need for deploying enterprise applications.
XL C Enterprise Edition V8.0 for AIX is a highly-advanced standards-based C compiler intended for use on machines running the AIX 5L V5.1, V5.2, and V5.3 operating systems.
The IBM COBOL Set for AIX brings IBM COBOL technology to AIX. This powerful and versatile COBOL application development environment provides a compiler and support tools for creating mission-critical client/server applications.
The IBM learning services site offers classes that cover everything from the basics to development to highly specialized skills, as well as certification (more about this later). You can also get articles and tips on IBM products from IBM developer solutions. The greater IBM Web site also offers many other resources and IBM developerWorks offers articles, tutorials, and resources on AIX and UNIX, as well as several other open or free technologies including XML, Wireless, Web services, Java technology, and Grid computing.
IBM System p is designed to validate AIX skill and the ability to perform a job role.
In addition to providing a summary of Web references for UNIX certification, the The Open Group's The UNIX System is a source of various UNIX training and information.
