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Xref: sserve comp.unix.aix:49121 comp.unix.bsd:15650 comp.unix.pc-clone.32bit:7810 comp.unix.solaris:28656 comp.unix.unixware:15472 Path: sserve!newshost.anu.edu.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!bunyip.cc.uq.oz.au!munnari.oz.au!news.hawaii.edu!ames!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!newsfeed.pitt.edu!hudson.lm.com!netline-fddi.jpl.nasa.gov!nntp.et.byu.edu!news.provo.novell.com!bikini!darrend From: darrend@bikini.USG.Sandy.Novell.COM (Darren R. Davis) Newsgroups: comp.unix.aix,comp.unix.bsd,comp.unix.pc-clone.32bit,comp.unix.solaris,comp.unix.unixware Subject: Re: Unix for PC Date: 7 Dec 1994 17:31:29 GMT Organization: Novell Inc. Lines: 151 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <3c4rhh$54a@bantu.Provo.Novell.COM> References: <3bvmo1$hgr@cascade.pnw.net> <3c0cir$5i2@engnews2.Eng.Sun.COM> <STEINAR.HAUG.94Dec6203939@runit.sintef.no> <D0Ex7E.2nv@ssbunews.ih.att.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: bikini.usg.sandy.novell.com In article <D0Ex7E.2nv@ssbunews.ih.att.com>, jack1@iexist.flw.att.com (55433-jack fijolek(hhall)) writes: |> |> I have UW1.X and am looking forward to UW2.0 but there are several advocates |> of Solaris 2.4 who want to turn around our project. I have included a recent |> endorsement of Solaris that was sent to me. I'm hoping some of the Novell folks |> and other users can substantiate or refute some of these claims. |> |> thanks, |> Jack Fijolek |> |> -----Begin Included Message-------------------------------- |> Standards: |> Both are based on UNIX SVR4, so apps should port readily between |> the two. Solaris does seem to support a wider range of standards and |> is more aggressive in incorporating new technologies. This is a subjective statement. What criteria was used when the statement the Solaris agressively persues new technologies? How about new technologies such as NetWare support? How about CDE (Both Sun and Novell contribute here). What aggressive technology has Sun persued that has not been persued by Novell? |> |> Processor Portability: |> |> Solaris runs on Intel, Power PC and SPARC. |> UNIX Ware is only available on Intel. |> UnixWare is definitely Intel only, but so are we. Novell provides UnixWare for Intel. ICL provides UnixWare for SPARC. When is the PowerPC port of Solaris going to be available? |> |> |> Market Presence: |> The initial release of Intel solaris got off to a slow start because it |> did use the lateste technology. This has been fixed with the 2.4 release |> and in the future all platfom versions of solaris will have the |> same feature set. In the overall UNIX market, Solaris is the leading UNIX |> derivitive. In the Intel UNIX market , SCO is the leader (not SVR4 based) |> with UNIXware and IntelSolaris trailing behind. Press reports have |> indicated that they expect Intel Solaris to gain momentum with the |> 2.4 release. How many licenses of Solaris does Sun have? How many of their Unix licenses are still Sun OS 4.x. Yes, Sun has the claim that they have sold the most Unix licenses but how many are Solaris? (I am refering to Solaris 2.x). Press reports also indicate that UnixWare 2.0 is expected to gain momentum. I guess it all depends on what the customer buys. |> |> Features: |> Solaris is a more feature rich platform than UNIX ware. |> The major advanatge of UNIX ware is its integration with NOvell's |> Netware Presence in PC networking. If Novell network connectivity |> is not a requirement, then the value of UNIX ware is greatly diminished. Yet another subjective statement. What criteria was used in determining feature rich. What features does Solaris have that are not present in UnixWare? How many features does UnixWare have the Solaris doesn't? :^) How about price? The value of UnixWare is not diminished at all if you are not going to use the NetWare connectivity. UnixWare is just as capable OS as is Solaris. You choose what you need. |> |> Sales / Support: |> UNIXware is distributed via resellers, where SOlaris is sold |> directly by SunSOft. I suspect better support is facilitated |> via the direct route. Our experience with Solairs support has been goo(but not great). |> I believe one of the VARs such as Evan can answer how resellers are better suited to handle you than direct route. How about having them close at hand when problems arise? Novell also provides direct support through support contracts and the 1-800-NETWARE number. You decide what support you need. |> Applications: |> |> There are over 3000 applications (tools, add-on devices, etc.) for |> Sparc SOlaris. To date 700 of these have migrated to the Intel version. |> It is expected that more will migrate with Solaris 2.4. Applications on Intel Unixs are a moot point. I think you will find that Intel Unix is supported in general the same. Drivers may be a bigger issue since Solaris has chosen a different route for their drivers. Remember, Novell is leveraging their PC presence and the Novell Labs YES program. :^) I think you will find that Novell has more PC muscle than Sun (IMO). |> |> MicroSOft WIndows App Support: |> Solaris includes a facility for running MS windoows apps in the UNIX |> environment (called WABI). Other UNIX vensors are liscensing WABI, but I |> dont know if UNIX ware is one of them. We provide Advanced Merge which is capable of running Window apps as well. Which one runs your Windows apps? We are also a licensor of WABI. |> |> Object Support: |> If you are considering obect oriented development approaches. Soalris |> will be incorporating the NextStep object development environment which |> is considered the leading object development environment. Currently (And I emphasize currently) rely on third party vendors for object support. We do provide a full C/C++ development environment for UnixWare. Is NextStep the leading object environment? Will it be? Only you can decide how important this is to you. Novell is persueing object technology just like the rest of the industry. The jury is still out on object technology. Some say NeXTstep, some say Taligent, some say Cairo [I don't know why though :^) ]. There are many third party options as well. |> |> Network Management / OA&M: |> Solaris includes standard network management agents and applications as well |> as easy to use interfaces for users and administrators. |> UNIX ware does not offer as much in this regard. Our network management tools are improving, after all we are the largest network software company in the world. We provide many of the same network tool the Solaris does. I can not say for sure though because I haven't seen all the tools provided in Solaris and how they differ to UnixWare. |> |> Future: |> |> Solaris is much more strategic to SUN than UNIXware is to Novell. Recent |> history and future projections indicate that Solaris is more likely |> to be evolved to support new/emerging technologies. How many subjective statements are they going to make. What makes people think that UnixWare is not strategic to Novell? What makes people think that UnixWare is going to stagnate into UnixWare 1.x forever. UnixWare 2.0 will soon be available and we are working on future projects. No company that stays in business allows their technology to stagnate. Don't expect Novell to let that happen either. Sun is our competitor too! We will compete! |> |> I`m continuing to research this to find a more detailed feature comparison. |> There are other users of Intel Solaris on the campus which you may also |> want to contact. I 'll pass along additional info as I get it. Please |> feel free to call me to discuss. |> ----End Included Message------- Contact Novell as well. Darren R. Davis UnixWare Developer Support Engineer Novell Developer Support