Unix Archive

HP has given its hardware line a good scrubbing on Monday, refreshing a broad list of server and storage systems. HP has now included SuSE Enterprise Server 8 on its corporate price list for one- to four-processor Integrity servers. In addition, HP has sent out a beta of Version 8.1 of the OpenVMS operating system for Itanium boxes. In the meantime, Sun Microsystems plans to unveil a major overhaul to its server line on Tuesday, when it will introduce systems that use its own new UltraSparc IV chip and Advanced Micro Devices' Opteron processor.

Total Cost of Ownership for Entry-Level and Mid-Range Clusters by Techwise Research. A detailed analysis of the total cost of ownership of three different RISC-based server clusters including HP OpenVMS, IBM AIX and Sun Solaris. Read the whitepaper here.

As many of you may remember I did a review of Windows Services for UNIX 3.0 (SFU) a few months ago. I remember being frustrated with that release because it seemed to me that all Microsoft did was throw something together just to be able to say "Hey look, we have this". I thought, since Microsoft released version 3.5, I would revisit and see what changes were done with it. I downloaded the beta version a while back and from the beta I was very impressed with the improvements that Microsoft made. Being a beta version it was buggy and some things just didnt quite work. I finally got the final version of the OpenBSD-based SFU 3.5 and this release makes dynamic leaps and bounds over previous releases of this software package. I am glad to see a lot more work was put into this release.

HP has issued patches for HP-UX. These fixes are for an old vulnerability, which potentially can cause DoS and the for dtterm.

For all the talk of Linux sidelining Windows in the server market, the upstart Linux operating system instead has stolen more glory from the older Unix as buyers flock to cheaper systems. But Unix vendors, even those that have embraced Linux, aren't giving up on the old workhorse. They're touting Unix as a complement, and in some cases a grown-up alternative, to Linux on low-cost machines.

Windows Services for Unix 3.5, which is currently in beta testing and will be officially launched next week at the LinuxWorld Expo, is updated for the latest round of Windows offerings, Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP.

For a limited time, you can order the full version of Microsoft Services for UNIX 3.0—at no charge (see conditions). A $99 retail value, Windows Services for UNIX 3.0 provides an integrated environment in which to run applications for both Windows and UNIX on a single system. This offer is available only in the United States while supplies last, so act now (offer expires Dec. 31, 2003).

HP displaced Sun as the market leader in Unix systems this quarter, according to IDC figures released today. Read the news at TheRegister and at LinuxElectrons.

Hewlett-Packard is offering users of rival Sun Microsystems' Solaris operating system $25,000 in free services and equipment as an incentive to switch to Linux-based HP systems. Our Take: It seems HP has decided to jump on the new hype marketing bandwagon, forsaking its own HP-UX, OpenVMS, and Tru64 UNIX in favor of Linux. This is in line with our editorial a few months ago.

The OpenPKG project released version 1.3 of their unique RPM-based cross-platform Unix software packaging facility.

"It's a rather difficult mission to shop for an operating system for a server. When most people think of server OSes they think of Unix, and when they think of Unix they think of SCO, the company that owns the Unix source code. But there are so many more choices out there, the least of which offers a dearth of advantages over SCO's Unix products. Having said that, let's explore the Unix world and take a look at what it has to offer the server and workstation market." Read the article at TheJemReport.

HP developers move some features from Compaq's version of Unix to its own HP-UX, an important part of the company's plan to eventually merge the two product lines. This was known to happen since Day 1 of the merger of HP-Compaq. Additionally, read our recent interview with an HP-UX engineer.

With Windows and Linux becoming increasingly attractive options in the data center, IT managers have good reason to reassess their Unix strategies. Read the analysis at ComputerWorld and here's ours.

In a recent interview with CNET Asia's Winston Chai, Harvard Business School Professor Clayton Christensen said that several venerable computer companies are on a downward slope. Are HP, Sun, Oracle and other the next DEC? Read the editorial at Tech Update. Our editorial on the subject is here.