Sun Makes Available Solaris 9 For Intel Beta For $20

The Unix giant unveiled its early access program for Solaris 9 for Intel x86 Platform Edition. Following the testing of the early access beta version, Sun plans to make available the final code in early 2003, the company said.

Sun caused a stir among its Intel dealers and developers earlier this year when it said it had decided to postpone delivery of Solaris 9 for the Intel platform. The company has traditionally offered earlier versions of Solaris for Intel's 32-bit x86 platform at no charge.

Solaris 9 for Sun's SPARC platform shipped in May. Sun unveiled an update of Solaris 8 for Intel, but that gesture did not placate its Intel constituency.

Sun's competitive posturing, in the midst of Intel's milestone launch of its 64-bit Itanium processor, angered many of its Intel partners, who urged the company to reverse course. The 64-bit Itanium chip from Intel competes head-on with Sun's 64-bit SPARC platform.

Under pressure from developers, Sun conceded soon thereafter--but for a price. Sun, which formerly offered Solaris for Intel at no charge, said it would make available Solaris 9 for Intel for $99. The early access edition is now priced at $20.

The code is now available from the Sun Download Center . Solaris 9 for x86 will offer features now available on the SPARC platform, such as integrated volume management, resource management and "SunScreen" security, Sun said.