[cobalt-users] Re: Future of Cobalt

[Craig Bernstein <cobalt-users-admin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Mon Jun 2, James Nesbitt (IHQ Network) wrote:

> They would really win me (along with our International IT Director) over if
> they put a web interface on it!

I am certainly not the marketing department around here, but since the topic 
of "Cobalt's future" seems to keep coming up I want to explain a few things.

The reason www.cobalt.com and some other addresses changed recently is so the 
server that provided the redirects could be taken out of service.  All of the 
Sun Cobalt web content was consolidated with the rest of the Sun site months 
ago.  Rather than delete the DNS records altogether, we just pointed them at 
www.sun.com.

AFAIK, the "Cobalt" brand is no longer being developed.  Three products (RaQ 
550, Qube 3, and Control Station) are still available on the price list at 
this time.  All of the other Blue Stuff is somewhere along the End Of Life 
process.  I cannot provide specifics because I don't work in support or 
sustaining, but Sun does have support policies in place for EOL products. 
There is no plan that I am aware of to introduce new Cobalt/RaQ/Qube systems.

Information about Sun's low-cost computing and Linux strategies is available 
at http://wwws.sun.com/software/linux/  Using technology to manage complexity 
is still a key initiative, but I don't think that you will find any mention of 
the server appliance model.  As you all know, the last three x86 products 
announced have been general purpose servers that run both Solaris and Linux.

If you have strong feelings about Cobalt, appliances, Linux, Solaris x86, 
manageability, low-cost computing -- or whatever -- I strongly encourage you 
to seek out your Sun account manager or VAR and speak your mind.  They want to 
hear your input and it does help drive product development.

I hope that helps clear up some confusion, and I really hope that none of you 
are still holding your breath waiting for a RaQ 6 or a Qube 4.  =)

Thanks...

--
...Craig