[cobalt-developers] [ANNOUNCEMENT] SUN BROADENS SUPPORT FOR LINUX - Aggressive new program expands the role of Linux on entry-level servers.

[Gordon Garb <gordon.garb@xxxxxxx>]

07.Feb.02--Sun Microsystems has embraced the Linux operating system, 
rolling out a multipart program that will significantly broaden the 
offerings of Linux on low-end Sun servers and commit new resources to 
the ongoing development of the Open Source operating system.

The program, announced today, comprises three ambitious goals to be 
met in the coming year.

    * Sun will ship for the first time a full implementation of Linux 
on a new line of general-purpose servers aimed at providing "edge" 
services to environments such as workgroups and remote offices. New 
single- and multiprocessor systems, to be announced mid-year, will 
use the x86 architecture and be capable of running thousands of Linux 
applications natively.
    * Sun will dramatically expand its line of Sun Cobalt[tm] Linux 
appliances, the world's leading Linux-based appliance systems. Look 
for innovations beyond the current eight-inch-square Qube[tm] and the 
1.75-inch-high rack-mountable configurations. Sun's Cobalt server 
appliances start around $1000 and have an installed base of more than 
100,000 units.
    * Sun plans to participate more aggressively in the Linux 
developer community by freely offering key components of its 
Solaris[tm] operating environment software, and by releasing tools to 
help developers ensure compatibility between the two Unix[R] 
derivatives.

Delivering Value

Sun's commitment to the Linux operating system brings additional 
value to customers of its Solaris/SPARC[tm] architecture. Already, 
Sun systems have built-in compatibility with Linux, so that any 
Solaris-based system can also run Linux applications. New software 
such as Linux Compatibility Toolkit (LinCAT), announced today, can 
help simplify the process of assuring that Linux applications will 
run on the Sun Fire[tm] family of servers. And in the future, Sun's 
upcoming Solaris 9 Operating Environment will provide additional 
built-in Linux commands, utilities, and interfaces.

For Linux users, the new program will make key Sun[tm] Open Net 
Environment (Sun ONE) technologies available to the Linux platform, 
including the iPlanet[tm] Directory and Web servers, Forte[tm] for 
Java[tm] development tools, the Java/XML platform, Project JXTA, 
StarOffice[tm] productivity suite, Sun[tm] Chili!Soft ASP, and the 
Sun Grid Engine.

"We will now offer our customers an incredible value proposition by 
delivering our binary-compatible industry-leading SPARC/Solaris 
system family, which starts at less than one thousand and goes to 
nearly ten million dollars, along with our new Sun Linux low-end 
servers and Sun Cobalt appliances for emerging edge services 
applications," said Ed Zander, Sun's president and chief operating 
officer. "And with our Sun ONE Java- and XML-based software platform, 
developers can write to one software platform and run their 
applications or services across a vast array of systems."

Open for Business

Sun is already one of the largest providers of intellectual property 
to the Open Source development effort.

Sun today contributes resources and technology to free and open 
source projects including: OpenOffice.org, GNOME.org, Mozilla.org, 
Apache.org, NetBeans.org, X.org, WBEMsource Initiative, the 
University of Michigan NFS version 4 Linux port, the Grid Engine 
Project, and Project JXTA.

Now, Sun plans to take an even more active role in contributing 
software and expertise to the Open Source software movement.

"We have some of the industry's most advanced Unix, Java, and XML 
experts now working to advance Linux with the key mission-critical 
features of the Java platform and Solaris operating environment," 
Zander said. "By adding the Linux community to the hundreds of 
thousands of Solaris developers, and the nearly three million 
Java/XML developers, Sun's customers have unified access to the 
broadest array of innovation in the industry on which to provide 
services. Sun remains the best open business opportunity for 
developers."
Pushing the Envelope

Sun is working on a number of fronts to support and further the work 
being done in the Open Source community, and on the Linux code base 
in particular.

    * Today, Sun released an application development tool, ABIcheck, 
to the Open Source community; the tool helps ensure compatibility 
between Linux releases.
    * In the future, Sun will offer contributions to the Linux kernel.
    * Sun will expand its partnerships with the Linux community to 
provide native support of Linux on SPARC systems for both the 
telecommunications and embedded markets. Companies such as SuSE and 
Lineo support Linux native on Sun's SPARC microprocessors today.
    * Lineo will adapt and support Lineo's Embedix embedded Linux 
operating system on UltraSPARC[tm] processor-based end user-developed 
custom hardware.
    * Sun will support its Linux products with a rich set of support 
and professional services.
    * Sun will support Linux on its key StorEdge[tm] line of storage 
systems and software.
    * GNOME, the most advanced Linux user environment, will become 
the preferred desktop for Solaris when GNOME 2.0 begins shipping 
later this year.
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--						--
Gordon Garb				cobaltgordon@xxxxxxx
Senior Manager - Developer Evangelism
Sun Cobalt Server Appliance Business Unit

Sun Microsystems, Inc.
555 Ellis Street, UMTV33			+1 650 623-2501 fax
Mountain View, CA  94043 USA 			+1 650 623-2534 voice

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