Linked by Thom Holwerda on Tue 4th Sep 2007 17:20 UTC, submitted by adstro
Sun Solaris, OpenSolaris Sun seeks to apply the lessons of Linux and turn open source Solaris into an operating system to rival Linux and to be as commonly used as Java. Sun Microsystems has ambitious plans for the commercial and open-source versions of its Solaris operating system, hoping to achieve for Solaris the kind of ubiquity already enjoyed by Java. In addition, Sun released Update 4 for Solaris 10 (also called Solaris 08/07), introducing a major enhancement in its OS virtualization technology called Solaris Containers.
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RE: Java, again
by google_ninja on Tue 4th Sep 2007 18:21 UTC in reply to "Java, again"
google_ninja
Member since:
2006-02-05

There is more to the computing world then desktop users.

In the embedded space, java is unchallenged, and in the business space, .net is only just starting to make some inroads into a completely java dominated market. There are far more programmers whose job is to develop on java then any other language. Just because as a desktop user you don't come in contact with it that often, doesnt mean that it doesnt have a collosal install base. In fact, home use is more setting their sights lower rather then higher, considering the embedded market compared to the home desktop market.

BTW: Linux has also been "challenging" solaris - for now, the fight is "1-0", with linux as winner. Personally I doubt Solaris can "challenge" linux supremacy in the FOSS field: Opensource is mostly about X.org, gnome, kde, firefox.....ie: things that will run in solaris just as well, there're not many incentives to change just to get the same.


Again, you are looking at it from the perspective of a linux desktop home user, which puts you in less then 1% of the market. UNIX is not about x, or gnome, or firefox. It is about throughput, stability, and security. Linux has wiped many UNIXs off the map, Solaris is one of the few that has stayed strong, as it is probably the most advanced OS on the market. Last time I checked, you weren't able to hotswap a CPU on linux.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 15

RE[2]: Java, again
by nick on Tue 4th Sep 2007 18:39 in reply to "RE: Java, again"
nick Member since:
2006-04-17

Again, you are looking at it from the perspective of a linux desktop home user, which puts you in less then 1% of the market. UNIX is not about x, or gnome, or firefox. It is about throughput, stability, and security. Linux has wiped many UNIXs off the map, Solaris is one of the few that has stayed strong, as it is probably the most advanced OS on the market. Last time I checked, you weren't able to hotswap a CPU on linux

You must have checked a long time ago, then, because you can hotswap CPUs on Linux for a long time. That really doesn't require much "advanced functionality" from the software at all. That myth is probably because the hardware actually is more exotic and nobody would think to do it in their home systems.

You'd want to be careful with that claim. Linux has many areas that rival or better solaris, and many other operating systems like AIX or mainframes have pretty advanced functionality too.

Edited 2007-09-04 18:40

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 3

RE[2]: Java, again
by Knuckles on Tue 4th Sep 2007 18:42 in reply to "RE: Java, again"
Knuckles Member since:
2005-06-29

I agree with most of your comment, just wanted to add that cpu hotswap/hotplugging is indeed possible on linux.

Just google for it: http://www.google.com/search?q=linux+cpu+hotplugging .

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 5

RE[2]: Java, again
by SlackerJack on Tue 4th Sep 2007 18:42 in reply to "RE: Java, again"
SlackerJack Member since:
2005-11-12

I fail to see what CPU hotswaping has to do with it's challenge to linux desktop wise. Sun have some good server orientated hardware/software but for hardware support on the desktop it's not even close.

Sun may have the toys but turning them into a desktop linux killer I fail to see.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 2

RE[3]: Java, again
by kaiwai on Wed 5th Sep 2007 01:54 in reply to "RE[2]: Java, again"
kaiwai Member since:
2005-07-06

I fail to see what CPU hotswaping has to do with it's challenge to linux desktop wise. Sun have some good server orientated hardware/software but for hardware support on the desktop it's not even close.


Just a question: what hardware support is missing from Solaris that prohibits you from installing it?

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 2

RE[2]: Java, again
by CrLf on Tue 4th Sep 2007 21:39 in reply to "RE: Java, again"
CrLf Member since:
2006-01-03

"Last time I checked, you weren't able to hotswap a CPU on linux."

Please check again.

Of course you can't hotswap a CPU (or memory) on most Linux systems, but that's just because the hardware itself doesn't allow it.

If this were to be a pissing contest, then Solaris would loose to the 1024-CPU SGI monsters running Linux.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 2

RE[2]: Java, again
by Snifflez on Wed 5th Sep 2007 01:13 in reply to "RE: Java, again"
Snifflez Member since:
2005-11-15

There are far more programmers whose job is to develop on java then any other language.

Really? I didn't know that. Where did you get this information from? I'm genuinely curious.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 1

RE[3]: Java, again
by kaiwai on Wed 5th Sep 2007 02:09 in reply to "RE[2]: Java, again"
kaiwai Member since:
2005-07-06

Really? I didn't know that. Where did you get this information from? I'm genuinely curious.


It was actaully released by Microsoft; Java was at the top then it was Visual Basic, C++, C then 'misc' right at the end.

Its easy to say, 'more programmers' when there could be a number of programmers who contribute nothing outside a small widget. Numbers are nice, but if they're not using these technologies for something substantial, its like counting the number of people who like to eat jelly beans - completely pointless.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 2

RE[3]: Java, again
by google_ninja on Wed 5th Sep 2007 03:48 in reply to "RE[2]: Java, again"
google_ninja Member since:
2006-02-05

I was at a borland convention thing a little while ago and the dude quoted that, I forget where his source was though.

considering alot of places don't even teach c++ anymore, and what the job posting sites look like, I never really thought to double check his facts.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 3