Linked by Robert Escue on Wed 4th Jun 2008 05:06 UTC
Let's take a closer look at OpenSolaris, particularly its use of ZFS, network problems that people have reported, the use of bash, and differences between OpenSolaris and Solaris and Solaris Express. Note: This is the latest article in our OSNews Article Contest.
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Member since:
2008-06-05
I've used various models ranging from the weird oblong bricky-shaped ones that required their own LAN(?!) to the modern sleek ones with USB ports and LCD screens. I've also used WYSE and other RDP thin clients, VT and 3270 terminals, PXE/NFS net stations, ...
I wouldn't think a Sun advocate would be so surprised that someone might have actually encountered one of their products in the real world.
I guess Sun has the Sun Ray packages and can install them on their own systems if they feel like it. I don't know the details; it's only the rumor I've heard but if true it's telling.
Regarding internal beta testing / dog food, that may well be, but the point remains that users in the real world will be left further in the cold as no one at Sun will have experience with the problems of Solaris 10 in the real world. All they will see is OpenSolaris without even some lawyer or accountant to run into real life problems. OpenSolaris may be great but customers are not going to run it because as you pointed out so well it's not supported.
Solaris 10 made a lot of sweeping changes from Solaris 9. A lot of these were good ideas but real world experiences were not incorporated into rapid design improvements and now can't be due to compatibility. Furthermore Solaris 10 was a half job. A lot of stuff was left undone and everything has been put on hold for years now while OpenSolaris gets hacked on. Solaris 11 may be great but it won't matter if all the users have migrated away in the meantime, especially if Solaris 11 breaks Solaris 8/9/10 compatibility.
Now why is that. I can roll out the latest OpenSUSE across my userbase and they gain a functionality superset. I've also done Fedora, CentOS, Gentoo upgrades, same thing. Sun is always touting ABI/API compatibility of Solaris over other Unix/Unix-like OSes. Solaris even has containers! Why don't you just have the latest update of Solaris 10 everywhere?