A major feature of the T1 processor and the Niagara 2 is called LDoms - logical domains. With this technology, you can divide the processor into a bunch of logical domains, each with is own O/S and dedicated resources. If you don't have a workload that can use 64-way scaling but instead you have 8 workloads that can each use up to 8 threads, then you can use LDoms technology to assign the resources and create 8 virtual servers.
Imagine 8 web servers each on it's own "server" in an LDom - with the ability to handle multiple requests. While you can do something similar with Solaris 10 containers, LDoms give you control over the memory and independent O/S images.
LDoms can be used with containers. In my example, those 8 "servers" could be owned by different departments who could use containers to have a test and development containers within the same LDom.
People are having good results from similar efforts with VMware for a non-trivial free. By the way, LDoms are free.
Did anyone mention that the T1-based servers such as the T1000 and T2000 don't require a lot of power? 300-350 watts
Replacing 8 older Sun SPARC servers with one (as in my example) can save a lot of space and electricity.
One of the reasons that Sun continues to thrive is that has a great business proposition for Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), Systems Integrators and Resellers.
ISVs make money selling into the hugh Sun installed based. Customers buy the solutions from the ISVs and select the platforms that are well represented in that ISV's installed base. For many large ISVs, Sun - SPARC - Solaris is a tier one platform and often quoted by ISVs as their reference platform. The on-going Sun revenues of $12B/year keeps the ISVs in the game.
Smart ISVs can keep their code portable, but there is a non-trivial cost for supporting each additional platform. With IBM and HP less committed to their brands of UNIX, ISVs know that they can still make money with Solaris. HP and IBM still have significant installed bases for AX, HP-UX. ISVs still support those platforms in addition to Solaris. By the way, IBM makes a ton of money selling their s/w (e.g. WebSphere, Tivoli, Lotus and DB/2) on SPARC/Solaris. As does HP (e.g. HP OpenView)
Systems Integrators drive a lot of business in the commercial and government spaces. Most of their revenues come from selling solutions that consist of services and products. SIs like Sun because Sun does not compete with them.
Resellers also drive a lot of business. Sun has a healthy channel program and it's partners drive business by selling solutions.
Companies who buy large systems (e.g. >$100k initial purchase price), look for many things:
partner who understands their business problem and how to solve them
ISV solutions that integrate well into their existing environment
experienced infrastructure teams (from SIs and Resellers and Vendor)
stable platform (O/S, Servers, Storage, Networks (IP and SAN)
high availability and high utilization
on-line maintenace to support 7x24x365
reference configurations, referencable accounts and demonstrations
Multi-billion dollar year firms have tried to implement large complex business systems using tier one s/w, SIs and platform vendors and failed - and in so doing have caused those business to go bust. Many firms are engaged in implementing such mission critical systems and IT professionals know that buying the right ingredients along does not guarantee success.
Sun is clearly a leader in enterprise computing. When large deals go out to bid, the list of tier one plays has shrunk from the old BUNCH days to IBM, HP, and Sun. (Fujitsu and Unisys are tier 2)
Sun is on of the few remaining major computer systems companies. It has a rich set of products, service and partners. Any firm that continues to spend billions of dollars a year in R&D and creates innovations like Java should not be dismissed lighly.
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Imagine 8 web servers each on it's own "server" in an LDom - with the ability to handle multiple requests. While you can do something similar with Solaris 10 containers, LDoms give you control over the memory and independent O/S images.
LDoms can be used with containers. In my example, those 8 "servers" could be owned by different departments who could use containers to have a test and development containers within the same LDom.
People are having good results from similar efforts with VMware for a non-trivial free. By the way, LDoms are free.
Did anyone mention that the T1-based servers such as the T1000 and T2000 don't require a lot of power? 300-350 watts Replacing 8 older Sun SPARC servers with one (as in my example) can save a lot of space and electricity.
-johnj
ISVs make money selling into the hugh Sun installed based. Customers buy the solutions from the ISVs and select the platforms that are well represented in that ISV's installed base. For many large ISVs, Sun - SPARC - Solaris is a tier one platform and often quoted by ISVs as their reference platform. The on-going Sun revenues of $12B/year keeps the ISVs in the game.
Smart ISVs can keep their code portable, but there is a non-trivial cost for supporting each additional platform. With IBM and HP less committed to their brands of UNIX, ISVs know that they can still make money with Solaris. HP and IBM still have significant installed bases for AX, HP-UX. ISVs still support those platforms in addition to Solaris. By the way, IBM makes a ton of money selling their s/w (e.g. WebSphere, Tivoli, Lotus and DB/2) on SPARC/Solaris. As does HP (e.g. HP OpenView)
Systems Integrators drive a lot of business in the commercial and government spaces. Most of their revenues come from selling solutions that consist of services and products. SIs like Sun because Sun does not compete with them.
Resellers also drive a lot of business. Sun has a healthy channel program and it's partners drive business by selling solutions.
Companies who buy large systems (e.g. >$100k initial purchase price), look for many things:
Multi-billion dollar year firms have tried to implement large complex business systems using tier one s/w, SIs and platform vendors and failed - and in so doing have caused those business to go bust. Many firms are engaged in implementing such mission critical systems and IT professionals know that buying the right ingredients along does not guarantee success.
Sun is clearly a leader in enterprise computing. When large deals go out to bid, the list of tier one plays has shrunk from the old BUNCH days to IBM, HP, and Sun. (Fujitsu and Unisys are tier 2)
Sun is on of the few remaining major computer systems companies. It has a rich set of products, service and partners. Any firm that continues to spend billions of dollars a year in R&D and creates innovations like Java should not be dismissed lighly.