Sun is shipping a full-featured Linux with the Intel-based servers it is announcing this week.
Sun Linux uses the Linux 2.4.9-31 kernel and is based on Cobalt Linux 4.0, which powered the company's server appliances. Cobalt Linux was less configurable and had fewer features as it was designed for simple execution in appliances. Sun Linux has many of the same features that other Linux distributions do and is designed for installation on x86 servers at the edge and core of the network.
Analysts are surprised that Sun Linux has not been hardened for security since it will be used on the network edge as a Web, caching or load-balancing server.
"Given that Sun is targeting the edge of network applications it is notable that Sun has not indicated any plans to leverage a security-enhanced Linux distribution, which is important for government and financial services customers," says Stacy Quandt, senior analyst for Giga Information.
"Security at the edge of the network is a relevant market opportunity for Sun, and it doesn't force the cultural and systemic issues of moving Linux support to [four-processor] systems and beyond."
Sun has added an installer program that automates the installation process and makes the package easier to install. The operating system is compatible with applications and distributions from other Linux vendors. Sun ships the GNOME and KDE graphical user interfaces, as well as Secure Shell and Secure Sockets Layer for security. Like the Linux 2.4.9 kernel, it works best on servers with 2-4 processors.
Sun Linux supports a variety of file systems, including ext, FAT, NFS and Reiser FS. It includes support for SMTP, IMAP4, POP3 e-mail protocol support, as well as FTP and anonymous FTP.
Sun also ships a bundle of extra software with Sun Linux, including Sun ONE development stack, streaming media and Web caching software, Simple Network Management agents, Apache Web server, TomCat, Sun Grid Engine and the Sun Cobalt Control Station management and provisioning software. It will also ship with the Sun ONE Directory server after the first of the year.
Sun's Control Station, used with its Cobalt appliances is used for distributing and installing software automatically on the company's LX50 Intel-based servers. Control Station can be integrated with a variety of system management frameworks such as CA Unicenter, HP Openview and Tivoli Management Environment. In addition, it supports the Simple Network Management Protocol and can be integrated into the Sun Management Center, the software used to manage Sun's SPARC-based servers and its StorEdge storage.
Because Sun Linux is intended for use in server environments, it does not ship with Sun's StarOffice suite, a desktop replacement for Microsoft Office.
Sun Linux is available immediately. It will only be sold with the company's LX50 servers.
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