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Sun Announces New AMD-Based Product Line
Transfan76 writes "Today Sun Microsystems has officially announced an alliance with AMD. They "have formed an alliance to deliver a broad range of AMD Opteron[tm] processor-based systems, Sun also announced it plans to offer its Java Enterprise System on the AMD Opteron processor and is significantly extending the reach of its Solaris Operating System (OS) and leadership in the 64-bit space." You can read the official press release from Sun here. And the AMD release here." We previously reported rumored plans to this effect a few days back.
Interesting, I could not find the paragraph you mentioned in the release.
This is the original paragraph:
"By running the current version of the Solaris OS on the AMD Opteron processor platform, we are experiencing substantial improvements in kernel performance for Solaris over other x86-based systems, " said John Fowler, chief technology officer, software, Sun Microsystems. "With the Solaris OS running on the AMD Opteron processor, our customers and partners can take advantage of unique features such as containers delivering virtualization and high levels of security. Solaris has led the industry in proven military grade security built-in to the OS, and with Trusted Solaris OS, offering unmatched levels of privacy."
Either you added some creative additions (likely) or Sun changed it.
Wow, did they really just say what I thought they said? Lacking an OS? How could HP be lacking an OS for a processor (Itanium) it virtually built? How could IBM's usage of Linux be taken as anything but having an OS for those platforms. What a load.
SPARC is an open specification. Nothing's stopping them from doing it now, except perhaps ROI.
Rule #1 -- Politics always trumps technology.
>Considering that these are JAVA based systems, why
>pick the processor that bent over backwards to be
>x86 compatible?
Because despite the Java branding, Sun's Java Desktop System is really an x86 Suse-based Linux distribution, complete with Gnome. (Java Enterprise System is Solaris with Gnome.)
Of course, Java is also included, and is a key part in Sun's strategy with these systems. But the "Java Desktop..." and "Java Enterprise..." names are pure marketing.
We previously reported rumored plans to this effect a few days back.
Where "previously reported" means "we linked to the article on news.com".
Credit where credit is due?
Never approach a vast undertaking with a half-vast plan.
Could be because the Opteron is one of the fastest chip in the world at executing Java code right now, and that's when running in IA-32 (aka 32-bit x86) mode?
Check out the results for SPEC JBB2000. On a per-processor basis, AMD's Opteron chips are second only to Intel/HP Itanium2 based systems, and the Opterons are quite a bit cheaper. Actually, when combined with the new x48 Opteron chips announced alongside the Sun deal, AMD should make up most of the current 8% difference between the two chips.
So, they get better performance than anything IBM has to offer (even the full-fledged Power4 can't match the Opteron in Java if the above test is to be believed) and a much lower price tag than what Intel is looking for. Seems like a pretty good choice if you ask me.
The Java part is a red herring, it can be made to run on just about any platform. Also the Jave Enterprise System offerings from Sun are not written in Java - yes, they do have some Java components, but the majority of the code is C/C++. the Java labeling is just Sun marketing stupidity.
The real reason for the choice of AMD is the 64 bit architecture of the chip. If you have been following the news about the rival AMD and Intel 64 bit offereings, you will have noticed that any somewhat unbiased observer gives the AMD chip a big edge over the Intel chip.
Intel have problems with their 64 bit architecture, which is sowing in the low adoption rate of that device.
AMD on the other hand, is doing very well.
Sun chose the best architecture, and thus the best (potential) performance. The fact that it also sticks one in the eye of intel is a fortuitous by-product.
When has Sun abandoned Solaris on x86? Isn't that wahat x86 Solaris 9 is?
Quite the oposit actualy.... The new 90nm Opterons scheduled to be released sometime in Q1-Q2 timeframe will draw only 40W of power, much less than ANY intel server chip (espicaly the prescot based Xeons that will draw over 100W!!!). The current Opterons run about the same as Xeons as far as heat output is concerned
And on the other side of the anecdotal and completely irrelevant evidence fence, I've never once had a problem with AMD's processors on the very large number of installs that I've done and supported. Not a single one.
Of course, I've also been smart enough to make sure each unit either comes equipped with a set of quality fans, or to pass along the order for the same to staff. And we don't select for substandard motherboards either. The smart professional will spend the few extra bucks to avoid the problems inherent in cheap knock-off equipment, especially if the units are running 24/7.
Leaving these sorts of decisions to manufacturers - who're quite likely to give you the worst parts available - is just begging for trouble. No matter who produces the actual CPU.
Max
My god carries a hammer. Your god died nailed to a tree. Any questions?
When they announced Solaris 9, they said something fairly vague, like that it wouldn't be available for x86 at the time it was released for SPARC. Of course, people wanted them to be more specific and explain whether this meant a delay in the release of x86 version or no x86 version ever. As you can expect, they didn't answer that question.
They released Solaris 9 for SPARC. Then, some time passed (maybe a year?) and they released the x86 version of Solaris 9. During that time, they continue to support Solaris 8 customers on x86.
Now, they are making available some beta releases of Solaris 10, and they are available for both SPARC and x86, so it looks like the two versions will have simultaneous release this time.
So basically, Sun didn't abandon their customers, but they did make them really uneasy for a while there. (It was during a time when Sun was *really* short on cash, so it's partly understandable.) Whether they had intended to axe it and changed their minds or whether they always meant only that it was delayed, well that's up for debate...
According to the Inquirer:
AMD IS LIKELY to get a boost from Hewlett Packard today, with reports saying the firm will start selling a Presario 8000Z as soon as Wednesday.
According to the report on cnet.mp3.com, HP will offer a variety of different options with the desktop, which will be available in retail this week.
The machine, the report says, is just one of a family of Athlon 64 desktops HP will sell, and costs $1,239 for a basic machine.
But HP won't start using the Athlon FX - a sort of Opteron - for a little while, it appears. If and when it does, it will be offered as a gaming machine.
The announcement is a boost for AMD, coupled with Sun's expected endorsement of its Opteron microprocessors today.
Peace and love, y'all
The meat in "Java-based systems" is good old C and C++ software. Sun's "Java desktop" is Gnome with a Java runtime shipping with it. Sun's "Java server" stuff is a C kernel with C userland stuff and a Java runtime.
Sun loves to attach the name "Java" to anything they can, to cover up the fact that what people actually do with Java is pretty limited. In that sense, they aren't all that different from Microsoft and ".NET".
Ding! Right.
Bzzzt! Wrong.
Java Enterprise System is the re-branding of the Sun ONE server stack -- web, application, directory, identity portal and a few more things --, with a fixed, yearly per-employee license price and a synchronized quarterly upgrade schedule.
If I'm not mistaken, Java Desktop System will become the default desktop for Solaris as well.
Always keep a sapphire in your mind