Sun introduces 64-bit Solaris 7

Sun Microsystems announced the next version of its Solaris operating systemthis week, version 7.0 (an upgrade from version 2.6). Solaris 7.0, whichwill become available in November, includes a 64-bit kernel, sophisticatedJava support, and a new Web-based installation program, marks the openingsalvo in Sun's latest battle with Microsoft. The target? Windows NT 5.0,which was recently renamed Windows 2000. It's due in mid-1999.

"Unix is back! We're in vogue and we're cool," said Ed Zander, COO of Sun.

A 64-bit version of Solaris places Sun at least a year ahead of Microsoft,which is preparing a 64-bit version of NT (or whatever it's called whenit comes out) that will be released in conjunction with Intel's Mercedchip. Merced it due sometime in mid-2000. Three new versions of Solaris,East Access Server 2.0, Enterprise Server 1.0, and ISP Server 2.0 are aimedat departmental, data center, and ISP customers, respectively.

Sun says that Solaris, with only 12 million lines of code, is far lesscomplex and less likely to "break" than Windows [2000], which now containsat least 35 million lines of code, most of it new. Solaris, on the otherhand, has been upgraded over time from the same code base and it has a reputation for being reliable.

Solaris will cost about $450 for the desktop version (I'm trying to findout whether a free version for individual use will be available as it wasfor 2.6) and $700 for the server version. Other versions range from $600 to$6000.

For more information, please visit the Solaris 7 Web site