Unix development started in 1969 at AT&T® Bell Labs as a proprietary but licensable product.  For the next ten years, the development of Unix had multiple versions including V6, which became the first available outside of Bell Labs.

This code soon caught the attention of the academic community due to the nature of the new language. The University of California at Berkley started the development of its own Unix and soon developed an academic version called the Berkley Software Distribution (BSD license). Simultaneously, AT&T evolved their version of Unix into System V. These two versions eventually merged to create the unified seventh edition of Unix and then further evolved into such programs as: Sun Solaris, FreeBSD, NetBSD, and OpenBSD.

In 1984, Richard Stallman created a free Unix clone named GNU (GNU’s Not Unix). This version was open to be used freely, modified, and redistributed as needed. In 1991, Linus Torvalds created the operating system kernel known as “Linux” or the Linux kernel. Combined with FSF and BSD components, Linux became a fully operating system; it now runs on several architectures and has been adopted or supported by old-line Unix vendors.

Enterprise open source is more than just open source, it’s an integration of a single permissively licensed open source library that is run on open source. To be enterprise open source, a product has to be tested, adjusted, and examined for security flaws by a security team who can respond to security issues. Enterprise open source also has convenient features, such as single sign-on (SSO) and integration with SSO platforms and directory management.

Enterprise IT environments require a lot of investment and planning, often making software outdated by the time that applications are installed. These applications also often require additional training and certifications, which are stated in the service agreements. However, enterprise open source has a predictable lifecycle with information and components that move at different speeds. The software has a long lifespan with important applications; for example, Red Hat® Enterprise Linux has a lifecycle of 10 years.   

Many companies and individuals prefer to use open source software over proprietary or commercial software due to its versatility, security, evolution, community, training, and stability.  Some advantages of using open source are: cost and savings, flexibility of customizing code, and freedom of leveraging a community instead of a single vendor. There are some disadvantages to open source, which include: subpar support, poor documentation, undue complexity, intrusive advertising, and vulnerabilities.

For those who still require proprietary software, there are the disadvantages to outdated software, bulk products, higher or unexpected costs, confusing licensing arrangements, and single vendor dependence.  However, some companies are drawn to a single vendor for one-stop shopping, scalable enterprise-grade products, professional interface, routine updates, no programming required, and integration with applications and products.