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The same reason why Microsoft still releases service packs for Windows XP, the same reason why Fedora still offer patch updates for Fedora 3 - its all about supporting their products until the EOL - thus giving the customer maximum freedom so that they can decide for themselves when they think that it is necessary to move.

Because in some cases software has not caught up with Solaris 10. For example, as much as I would like to deploy Solaris 10, Veritas NetBackup 5.1 does not support backing up and restoring Zones and Containers. That alone puts a few kinks into a Solaris 10 deployment.

Also Solaris Releases support specific hardware, so the 9/05 Release gives people the opportunity to use either 9 or 10 on newer hardware, such as the Galaxy and the Ultra SPARC IV+ machines.

Why can't you use Veritas NetBackup with Solaris 10?? I use it just fine.
Just install NetBackup in the global zone, and backup the filesystem path to your zone you installed. The trick is to exclude the inheirited-pkg-dirs, since those are loopback mounted to the main system. This means you will most likely only have to backup a few directories in the zone (the ones you write to, like /etc, /var, etc.).
I do this with Solaris 10 and it works fine, plus you save on backup tape since you don't have to backup the loopback mounts (another advantage of zones, they use less harddrive space, and tape backup space, as compared to a full virtual OS install).

Incredible, huh? Sun actually cares about their customer's needs, and doesn't force/shove an upgrade down their throats. Instead, they support an older OS, by backporting features from Solaris 10, bugfixing and releasingnew drivers.

Not only that, but Solaris 8 is still supported!

Hey now Mario; don't come in here, with your facts and evidence, you'll get those pengiun fan boys all bent out of shape :-P

Something that will piss them off more; Solaris 9 x86 is still supported - so where is the evidence that they don't give a toss about x86 customers? hmm, I bet the likes of walterbyrd are now doing double summersaults under their penguin duvets as their mummy reads the latest technology news to them, before they go to sleep.

They certainly care about x86 now, but it as recent as 2002 when Sun announced they weren't releasing Solaris 9 for x86. For many years, the x86 ports was the red-headed stepchild.

With good reason, they were leaking cash like there was no tomorrow; they needed to stop the haemorrhaging.

Oh, and even managers have said, that they would have been better off sticking to Solaris x86 9, and building x86 servers around them rather than going to Linux route - atleast they've acknowledged their mistake vs. the numerous Linux distros that went tits up because the lack of any focus on what consumers wanted or the number of VC's who backed pie in the sky ideas with no real future.

Support for 5 years; if I am not mistaken. Sun is doing things right!!!!!!!

Actually, it's longer than 5 years. I think patches and documentation (even though no new development) are still guaranteed to be available 9 years after release (General Availability or what the blink it's called) of Solaris. And with Solaris 8, they seem to be extending this even further.

Sun refers to "General Availablity" as FCS or "First Customer Ship".

Sun has several levels of support for Solaris; you get the last ship date, phase 1 and phase 2 support. These are described in detail in InfoDoc #10012 at http://sunsolve9.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-9-10012-1 which is unfortunately a contract-only document.

Basically once a version of Solaris has hit its last ship date it enters in phase one of the vintage support where contract customers will have access to patches and may request patches for all other than enhancements and cosmetic bugs. Quarterly updates are not performed. Phase one support lasts for two years after last ship date.

After phase one has finished the Solaris version enters into phase two where no new patches are released, but contract customers continue to get phone support and access to patches. Phase two support lasts for three years.

Right now Solaris 2.5.1 - which was last shipped in 200 - is about to end its phase two support. Solaris 2.6 which was last shipped in 2001 will finish its phase two mid-2006. Solaris 7 has just entered phase two support.

Solaris 8 (along with 9 and 10) is still being shipped so no dates have been set for it yet.

Sun refers to "General Availablity" as FCS or "First Customer Ship".

Yes, I knew this. And I know the subsequent two phases of support (even though I didn't know their names) are supposed to last about two years each.

Is this the first time in history of Sun, that three SunOS/Solaris operating system versions are being sold?

"I'm gonna show my ignorance of Solaris here, but why are they making new versions of 9 if Solaris 10 is out?"

If I'm running production servers, where I could not care less about GNOME, then Solaris 8 and 9 fit the bill perfectly. Solaris 8 has had, what, 6 or 7 years to have the kinks worked out? Solaris 9 has been around for 3-4 years?

Also, some people won't consider Solaris 10 complete until some remaining issues with zones get ironed out and ZFS ships. Solaris 10 is shaping into a real killer OS...but it needs a few more months.

They're not lying at all; no more lying than a company that says, "as little as $10 a week" when in reality, the payments are done monthly.

Stop trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill by astroturfing SUN - if you have a problem with the Ultra 20 programme, then make sure its actually factual rather than the whine of someone with a bee in their bonnet.

IIRC, it's harder to get Solaris 8 or 9 for free, like Solaris 10. There are more conditions on whether your Ultra 1 came from Sun or was second-hand, for example. I think a single-CPU right-to-use license for Solaris 9 was something like $100 or so (still not terrible, though). You have to go read the 'binary license agreement' at Sun's website, and if you need a license, they purchasable at Sun's online store.

If you have X Windows working under NetBSD, maybe you would be happiest where you are?

As mentioned with S10 on the sparc side requires > 200 Mhz CPUs without hacking - Ultra 1s topped out at 200 Mhz so you're out of luck even if you did add more memory. If you're not going to add more memory then go with S8 - if you can get to 256 MB or better go with S9.

"Its not hard to get Solaris 9 for free at all, just click on the "Get It" link in Thom's summary."

I was talking about getting Solaris 8 and 9 for free _legally_. That's why I pointed the GP poster to read the license agreements at Sun--just to double check the terms. It didn't used to be as simple as a Solaris 10 download is, now.

"I was talking about getting Solaris 8 and 9 for free _legally_."

What are you talking about? Sun has put up ISO images as freely available downloads on their own website. Ghen clearly falls into the realm of an "educational" user, and thus can download and use Solaris 9 all he wants, completely legally.

I'm talking about Sun's licensing specifically talking about whether used Sun workstations are eligible for free downloads. Go read the license at Sun's website. A while ago, when I read through all the mumbo jumbo, I ended up buying a RTU for Solaris 9 for my used workstation aquired through a third party. Again, anyone who downloads the ISOs without reading the licensing is irresponsible at best. Perhaps there are educational exclusions; if so, they would be mentioned in the license. Sun isn't hiding anything, they just outline who is and is not eligible for the free downloads.