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SGI Clarifies Multiple OS Strategy

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the more-information dept.

Silly-G writes "SGI's free DevCentral web site features a story called "SGI Invests in OS Technology" that "updates information about recent developments" on SGI's four supported operating systems: Linux, IRIX, UNICOS and that other operating system. Perhaps nothing new is discussed but at least it's clearly described in one breath. Tons of interesting info including delivering intellectual property to the open source community, the upcoming IA-32 Linux server, the relationship with VA Linx Systems, the IA-64 Linux port, and the accelerated OpenGL graphics environment for Linux. "

3 of 41 comments (clear)

  1. Re:hmm. by gavinhall · · Score: 2

    Posted by rdobbs:

    Linux was never designed to run the kind of hardware that the Cray and Origin SuperComputers run as standard equipment. We're talking a million dollar+ machine here, why run an OS that's free. As I recall of hand, UNICOS is free with the computer. Companies that spend that much on hardware aren't going to abandoned a tried and true platform for an upstart on which NONE of their modeling software, code, or simulations will run without extensive rewrites.

    I'm not bashing Linux here - but I really doubt that Linux was ever intended to compete with a SuperOS. Linux is pretty powerful, but your talking a total rewrite of the entire system to even get it to boot one of those bad-boys.

    If you have the millions to get your hands on the machine, and the time to port the system - be my guest. I'm just saying that you'd have a lot of catch-up pedalling to do to even get in the same league as UNICOS...

  2. XFS Released by Jordy · · Score: 2

    The notes say SGI has released XFS recently for Linux, yet the link they give is to an internal development box no one can get at. Anyone see it loose out there?

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    The world is neither black nor white nor good nor evil, only many shades of CowboyNeal.
  3. Re:Hehe... by daviddennis · · Score: 2

    Perhaps it's wistful thinking on my part, but I noticed something that felt almost like shame in their putting NT dead last in their list. This is especially odd in view of their heavy promotion of the VWS as being a NT-only system.

    Remember when the implication of their press releases was that NT was a major part of their roadmap and eventually every SGI machine worth mentioning would run NT? I must admit to being scared half to death by that one.

    Now if we could just figure out a way to get more useful client software for Linux on the VWS, I might be persuaded to buy one ... I'm sure it would do a nice job running Enlightenment :-).

    D

    (Proud owner of a used Indigo2 Extreme, on which this message was typed).

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