Unix Archive

Linux only has a small percentage of the computing market, however Microsoft already considers it a major competition as the open source OS steals the hearts of many users. Following the hard numbers though, Microsoft also increases its market share on both server and desktop space with time. The only logical explanation is that Linux steals quite a market share from the traditional UNIX providers (SCO, Sun, SGI, HP, IBM). But only Sun seems to truly be in a real Linux trouble, as it is the one with a resistance to Linux integration to its full product range.

Hewlett-Packard on Monday plans to ship the latest version of its Unix-based HP-UX operating system for Intel's family of Itanium processors. The company also plans to announce commitments from 40 developers to deliver applications for the platform.

Just weeks after a Windows server took top spot in a key speed test for the first time, a new IBM computer has won the crown back for Unix.

Analyst firm IDC believes Unix will remain the first choice for mission critical applications for at least another three years.

"Two or three months ago, I ran into an interesting problem. It was interesting for a couple of reasons, the first being that it has since recurred a number of times. The second is that it highlights a rapidly growing trend in the IT world." Read the article at UnixReview.

Hewlett-Packard and IBM tied for first place in the hotly contested Unix server market in the fourth quarter of 2002, pushing aside Unix heavyweight SUN, according to a new study released Friday.

James Maguire has written an article for osOpinion.com regarding the continuous industry move from Unix towards Linux based solutions: "As tech buying cycles progress, year by year, Linux will eat away at more of Unix' mission-critical work. That's because, at each new upgrade point, servers running Linux will grow ever more capable." As reported earlier IBM's top software executive recently stated that Linux is the 'Logical Successor' to IBM's Unix solutions.

"One of the most important considerations in choosing an operating system for a new embedded platform is how long it takes to port the operating system to the hardware. If your hot, new product's hardware is six months ahead of the curve, but it takes you six months to port the software, you've lost your hardware advantage." Alistair Crooks, engineering director at Wasabi Systems, writes for EETimes.

A new study predicts that Linux will take over low-end servers and share the spotlight with .Net in high-end servers. Plus, hardware heavyweights HP, IBM and Sun--will lose out.

"It used to be that Unix was for the geeks, while the rest of the world used less command-intensive, and usually less powerful, operating systems such as Windows or the Mac OS. Even with the advent of native GUIs such as the X11 system, Unix was not for the uninitiated." Read the article at OnLamp.

In this article, SAMag will explore OpenPKG, a software development and packaging project initiated by Cable & Wireless, an international ISP. The OpenPKG project began in November 2000 and has grown into a collaborative software development effort managed and maintained by many. The project aims to create a modular and flexible UNIX subsystem for cross-platform software packaging and installation.

The previous version of AIX, version 5.1, had static partitions, which meant administrators had to reboot after making changes to system resource utilization, Giga's Brad Day said. In a competitive move against Sun Microsystems, IBM has released new eServer software designed to let customers harness the untapped power within their Unix systems.

"It's not an easy job, but Hewlett-Packard is determined to support no fewer than five major operating systems: Linux, HP-UX, Tru64, OpenVMS and Windows. Dig a bit deeper and it's even more complicated with three main flavors of Linux -- Debian, Red Hat, and UnitedLinux -- and at least as many versions of Windows -- Windows 2000, XP and the up coming .NET Server." The story is at NewsForge.

Sams Publishing sent us in "UNIX Unleashed", Fourth Edition, by Robin Anderson and Andy Johnston. Read further, for our review of this very interesting 1150-page book.