Solaris Boasts Updated Features

The latest release is certified for the Sun Fire V20z server,which uses an optimized version of Advanced Micro Devices' Opteron processor,and new support for Sun's UltraSPARC IV processors, said Bill Moffitt, group manager of Solaris product management at Sun.

The Sun Fire V20z server is the first in a family of Opteron-based products from Sun following a strategic pact unveiled by AMD and Sun late last year.

Sun, Santa Clara, Calif., also made available an improved Web interface for installing and patching software, new technology that reduces spam as it arrives from the network, and automatic file-system logging.

Sun also recently unveiled a new project under way for Solaris 10, code-named Janus. Project Janus is software that will enable Linux applications to run unmodified and un-recompiled at near-native speed on Solaris, said a Sun spokesman. The software is aimed at preserving the investment Linux users have already made if they transition to the Solaris OS, he said.

Project Janus will be available as part of a Software Express release later this year as well as with Solaris 10, which Moffitt said remains on track to ship by year's end.

Mark Hatch, COO of Integrated Computer Solutions, a Cambridge, Mass.-based Unix ISV and consulting firm, said Solaris continues to be popular among developers, but there isn't much demand for it on non-Unix x86 platforms or among those working with Linux.

"More platforms are always good. But from an ISV's point of view, Opteron is effectively an extension to the Solaris/Intel product, not the Solaris/SPARC product," Hatch said.