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Solaris 9 is a hugely important product for sun. this new version of the basic Sun operating system must encourage users to upgrade, attract Microsoft fans still unconvinced Windows is ready to run the enterprise and hold off open-source advocates about to defect to Linux—all this as the economy remains in the doldrums, Suns stock remains face down in the mud and executive defections have reached into the companys core management.
This week, we report on whether Solaris 9 can provide the ammunition Scott McNealy needs in todays enterprise marketplace. While we find compelling reasons to upgrade at the low end, the issue becomes more complex for larger, enterprise-level upgrades. See our review by Senior Labs Analyst Henry Baltazar. Accompanying articles focus on one users upgrade considerations and the benefits of Solaris 9s directory integration.
While Sun is betting on a new version of its operating system to rekindle growth, another company with a long history in the enterprise business is betting that an acquisition will finally give it the full portfolio it has lacked. In this weeks eWEEK Interview, Executive Editor Stan Gibson caught up with Novells CEO, Jack Messman, right after the company announced its acquisition of SilverStream Software to ask how this builder of Web services and application server software fits into Novells game plan. Remember, this is the same Novell that bought Cambridge Technology Partners just as the computer consulting business was heading over the cliff. Whether through serendipity or good planning, the three legs of the new Novell triangle—Novell, Cambridge Technology Partners and SilverStream—really do make sense. To see how all the pieces fit together, read Stans interview.
In an article by Matt Hicks, “Scaling Toward the Petabyte,” the senior writer speculates that in less than two years, some organization will reach a petabyte of information in its database. Its still undetermined which organization will hit 1,000 terabytes first—possibly a media company storing video broadcasts or a bank storing millions upon millions of transactions. What is determined is that tools needed to manage those gigantic databases must be ready at the same time that petabyte storage comes online.
What do you think of Suns and Novells efforts? Let me know at eric_lundquist@ziffdavis.com.