Sun Ships Solaris 9 For Intel x86

Zardon · Feb 6, 2003, 11:26 PM

Sun Microsystems has delivered on its promise not to abandon Solaris on the Intel platform.

On Thursday, the company, based here, announced the shipment of Solaris 9 x86 Platform Edition. The Solaris 9 version for Unix shipped last May. Last fall, Sun made available the beta of Solaris 9 for the 32-bit Intel platform for $20.

"We're redoubling our commitment to the Unix space and bringing it to the x86 platform," said Ann Wettersten, vice president of marketing for Sun's operating systems group, noting the company continues to evaluate the threat of Intel's 64-bit Itanium platform but intends to capitalize on the entry-level Intel server market with this release and with its Linux distribution.

Many of Sun's Solaris developers and partners were irate when Sun announced plans to pull the plug on the Intel platform in early 2002. The company instead shipped an update of Solaris 8 for the x86 market.

Citing developers' significant protests, however, Sun reversed course and recommitted to its Intel developers and partners, promising that it would make available a version of Solaris 9 for the x86 platform.

"We're coming on strong for capturing part of the $8 billion entry server market, and we're doing it to increase sale opportunities for ourselves and channel partners," Wettersten said. "We needed to strengthen our offerings in our portfolio mix."

Sun also intends to deliver its upgraded version of Solaris with an integrated Sun One software stack for both Unix and x86 by the end of 2003, she added.

The delivery signifies a change for Sun, which is moving cautiously toward a new multiplatform approach.

Wettersten said Sun remains committed to enhancing its leading Solaris Unix operating system while also supporting Linux and Solaris 9 for x86 on entry-level, two-CPU servers. The x86 version is free for download, but priced at $99 per CPU.

In effect, Sun is lobbing salvos at both of its Unix competitors for de-emphasizing Unix, while also taking Microsoft to task for what it claims is the higher cost of Windows 2000 server for the x86 platform

"We're redoubling our commitment, unlike our competitors, IBM and HP, who are waffling on their Unix strategy," she said. "And we are delivering a compelling alternative to Windows." Paula Rooney, CRN

Feb 6, 2003, 11:26 PM	#1
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 177	Sun Ships Solaris 9 For Intel x86 Sun Microsystems has delivered on its promise not to abandon Solaris on the Intel platform. On Thursday, the company, based here, announced the shipment of Solaris 9 x86 Platform Edition. The Solaris 9 version for Unix shipped last May. Last fall, Sun made available the beta of Solaris 9 for the 32-bit Intel platform for $20. "We're redoubling our commitment to the Unix space and bringing it to the x86 platform," said Ann Wettersten, vice president of marketing for Sun's operating systems group, noting the company continues to evaluate the threat of Intel's 64-bit Itanium platform but intends to capitalize on the entry-level Intel server market with this release and with its Linux distribution. Many of Sun's Solaris developers and partners were irate when Sun announced plans to pull the plug on the Intel platform in early 2002. The company instead shipped an update of Solaris 8 for the x86 market. Citing developers' significant protests, however, Sun reversed course and recommitted to its Intel developers and partners, promising that it would make available a version of Solaris 9 for the x86 platform. "We're coming on strong for capturing part of the $8 billion entry server market, and we're doing it to increase sale opportunities for ourselves and channel partners," Wettersten said. "We needed to strengthen our offerings in our portfolio mix." Sun also intends to deliver its upgraded version of Solaris with an integrated Sun One software stack for both Unix and x86 by the end of 2003, she added. The delivery signifies a change for Sun, which is moving cautiously toward a new multiplatform approach. Wettersten said Sun remains committed to enhancing its leading Solaris Unix operating system while also supporting Linux and Solaris 9 for x86 on entry-level, two-CPU servers. The x86 version is free for download, but priced at $99 per CPU. In effect, Sun is lobbing salvos at both of its Unix competitors for de-emphasizing Unix, while also taking Microsoft to task for what it claims is the higher cost of Windows 2000 server for the x86 platform "We're redoubling our commitment, unlike our competitors, IBM and HP, who are waffling on their Unix strategy," she said. "And we are delivering a compelling alternative to Windows." Paula Rooney, CRN