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Oracle and Hewlett-Packard, locked in a dispute over the future of Oracle software support for HP's Itanium processor-based servers, this week released a series of previously unpublished documents each hopes bolsters its case -- or at least its image in the mind of customers.
The flurry of new documents, including several internal emails from both companies, are the latest salvos HP and Oracle have shot at each other in an on-going dispute over Oracle's decision to end development of new software for HP's Itanium-based Integrity server line.
The ongoing dispute between the former partners resulted in a series of lawsuits stemming from Oracle's decision to suspend all software development on the Intel Itanium microprocessor, citing what it called indications from Intel management that it is focusing on the x86 processor line and that Itanium was nearing the end of its life.
[Related: Oracle's Move To End Itanium Support May Hurt HP]
Oracle this week posted 12 emails and documents it claims shows that HP knew well in advance of the dispute that Intel, its partner in developing the Itanium, was planning to end development of the processor.
Allegations that Intel was no longer interested in developing the Itanium processor is central to Oracle's argument that it should not have to invest in developing software for HP's HP-UX operating system.
HP followed Oracle's move by making available seven internal HP and Oracle documents it said shows that HP had long-term plans for its Integrity servers, and that Oracle was determined to use its dispute with HP as a way to hurt the company whose products competed with Oracle's own ex-Sun hardware.
HP's Itanium-based Integrity servers, which the company uses as the hardware platform for its HP-UX Unix operating system, was one of the primary platforms for which Oracle developed its market-leading database and other middleware.
However, that relationship started to unravel when Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems, a move which gave Oracle its own server platform. Oracle has since moved to integrate its software and server hardware into tightly-integrated appliances.
HP last June filed suit against Oracle alleging breach of contract, libel, intentional interference to disrupt business relationships, and violations of business codes in relation to Oracle's decision. The two have since filed a series of suits and countersuits against each other related to that dispute.
NEXT: Oracle Releases Docs Showing HP Concerns About Itanium
