ARCHIVED: What versions of Unix can I run on my Mac?

Depending on the model of your computer and the kind of solution you are looking for, you have several options for running Unix on your Mac:

Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server

Apple's Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server are Unix-based client and server operating systems, respectively. They can run their own applications, as well as many Unix programs.

Darwin

Darwin forms the foundation of Mac OS X. It doesn't have Mac OS X's Aqua interface and won't run Mac OS applications, but it will run many Unix programs, and a graphical interface in the form of the X Window System is available for it. Darwin is open source and is available free of charge for anyone who signs Apple's license agreement. It requires a PowerPC G3 or better.

BSD

For those who prefer BSD Unix but can't or don't want to run OS X or Darwin, FreeBSD, NetBSD and OpenBSD are available. They are freeware projects and offer varying levels of support for 68k, PowerPC, and Intel-based Macs.

Linux

Several Linux distributions are compatible with Apple computers; see ARCHIVED: What versions of Linux can I run on my Mac?

A/UX

A/UX was Apple's first Unix implementation. It is a System V Unix that will run on certain models equipped with 68030 and 68040 processors. It is a true Unix, but can also run most 68k Mac OS applications. A/UX is no longer being developed and is not compatible with PowerPC or Intel-based computers.

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