Unix vendors go on offensive

Unix vendors, faced with the growing threat of Linux and open systems hardware, have introduced more powerful versions of the operating system, and promise even better support for data center-critical business operations. The latest Unix variations from IBM, Compaq, Caldera, Hewlett-Packard and Sun are more scalable, secure and manageable than their predecessors - and they can run Linux and Web-based applications on 32-bit multiprocessor systems. Soon most will operate on upcoming 64-bit Intel processors and be used to run applications formerly requiring mainframes or supercomputers.

"Unix systems are starting to crowd the edge of what used to be done with a mainframe. The No. 1 use of Unix is to support databases and distributed applications," says IDC analyst Dan Kuznetsky. "Unix is still at the core of many companies' networks, although it has lost ground on the low-end to Windows and Linux."

While the front end of many networks use Windows or Linux, Kuznetsky says back-end systems are typically Unix. He says Unix grew from 54% to a 57% share of overall operating system revenue in 2000.

Unix vendors aren't sitting still. Most are improving Unix features to handle more complicated applications and server duties. For example, vendors are expanding the clustering and multiprocessing capabilities of the operating system and adding features that make Unix more competitive with operating systems such as Windows 2000 and Linux.

Sun, the Unix market share leader, is expected to beta test its next version of Solaris this fall. Dubbed Helix, Solaris 9 will include support for Jini, a Java-based technology for tying net applications together and delivering network services, Sun sources say. Users familiar with Sun's plans say the next version of the popular operating system will also include Itanium support. Sun 8 currently includes the ability to run any recompiled Linux application on Solaris and to use the Gnome desktop interface. Sun would not comment on other future directions.

Meanwhile, IBM is moving full steam ahead with its AIX 5L Unix package. AIX 5L was developed as part of Project Monterey, a collaborative project between IBM and The Santa Cruz Operation (SCO) to create an operating system that combines Linux and Unix and will run on industry-standard Itanium servers.

IBM shipped AIX 5L, an operating system designed for transaction-intensive database environments and high-speed processing on Power-based RS/6000s and Itanium servers this year. AIX 5L includes system and debug tools and the ability to work in mixed Unix environments. AIX 5L supports features such as multipath I/O and symmetrical multiprocessing. AIX 5L also adds a Workload Manager that lets IT professionals define how applications will be handled and allocate processor cycles, real memory and disk I/O to them so they will perform optimally.

But most important is IBM's adoption of Linux. AIX 5L has "Linux affinity" - the ability to run recompiled Linux programs on Power-based servers, as well as future 64-bit Intel Itanium PCs and servers.

"Before Linux affinity, porting applications using C was simple because C was ANSI-standardized. However, porting C++ applications was a nightmare because of incompatibilities with AIX xlC libraries," says Roman Kanala, a consultant who writes Linux applications in Geneva. "Now that Linux libraries are present in AIX, every programmer can develop applications that run on IBM's machines. The cost of becoming a programmer is now much lower, and IBM will benefit from the fresh blood circulating in the Linux community."

IBM says it will introduce additional scalability and management capabilities for AIX in the next year, although executives wouldn't provide specifics. The company will allow increased tuning, management and dynamic allocation of processors and capacity in pSeries (formerly RS/6000) servers. And IBM will also enhance the operating system's ability to manage multiple distributed systems, clusters of servers or a multiple partitions within a single system.

IBM isn't alone in boosting its Unix package. Compaq has also reinforced its version of Unix - Tru64 Unix Version 5.1 - which adds the ability to better manage systems, reallocate resources and support up to 32 processors.

The company has added ARMTech software from Aurema that allows system resource allocation. Version 5.1 also includes enhanced workload tools and the ability to add and remove processors without taking down the system. Version 5.1 includes iPlanet Server, iPlanet Enterprise Server and a secure version of the Apache Web server. With 5.1, Compaq has also added a less-expensive local clustering technology that uses Ethernet as the system interconnect.

Tru64 Unix also includes the company's Linux and Tru64 Unix Affinity Program, the ability to run Linux applications such as Linux Gnome and KDE desktop environments on Tru64 Unix machines or to run Tru64 Unix on Linux machines. With Tru64 Unix, network developers can save time because they can develop applications for a single platform and port them to other Unix environments instead of writing separate code for multiple Unix platforms.

The company recently said it will port its Tru64 Unix code to the Itanium platform by 2004. Development of RISC-based Alpha processor servers will continue through 2008. By 2003, Compaq will be able to make Unix systems more fault-tolerant by hot-swapping all Unix system components, including memory and I/O capability. Compaq will also expand its systems up to 128 processors by 2003.

Caldera, which acquired OpenServer and UnixWare from SCO last year, has added capabilities from these operating systems into its Linux products. A company spokesman indicates that the company doesn't plan any further development of SCO OpenServer other than to fix critical bugs. Instead, Caldera will maintain and support OpenServer customers while migrating them to Open Unix Release 8.0, the new name for UnixWare.

Open Unix 8 has a Linux Kernel Personality Kit that lets it run recompiled Linux applications and also makes it compliant with the recently released Linux Standards Base, a specification that lets any Linux application run on any company's distribution of Linux.

It also supports files of 1 terabyte and up to 32-processor servers. Caldera's products work on Intel and AMD-based servers and PCs. Open Unix 8 shipped in June.

HP-UX 11i, introduced last summer, supports Linux and simplifies the transition of Linux applications to HP-UX. HP offers the Linux Compatibility Solutions on HP-UX for the Itanium Processor Family and two other tool kits for porting Linux applications. HP-UX runs on PA-RISC and Itanium processors.

Companies can run native Linux applications on 64-bit Itanium servers when they become available without recompiling. HP indicated that it would also add Mobile IPv6 support for wireless devices and introduce 32-way clustering next year.