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I've been puzzled by Sun's Linux strategy for a long time. On the software side, things make sense: Linux is Unix, so supporting Linux in the short term brings new value to Solaris in the long term. On the hardware side, however, I couldn't see any logical reason for Sun to sell x86 boxes until just last week, when Intel announced its 64-bit Xeon extensions. My idea about this is pure speculation, but if I'm right, Sun may be creating some interesting opportunities for Linux users everywhere to save a few bucks now while positioning itself to lead the next great wave in technology change.
There are so many wrong things in this article, that I don't know where to begin. There are both wrong facts and wrong assumptions.
Xeon servers have been replacing Sparc servers in a rapid speed the last couple of years. This continues today and will continue. Just because x86 has become 64-bit does not matter that much, btw, 98% of all applications on Solaris are still 32-bit. It is mostly databases that have been 64-bit. Opteron have very good performance and price/performance and Sun had to do something about the declining Sparc/Solaris sales. I think it correct though that Sun will have just as hard time making money on x86 as HP and IBM have.
VMS and HP-UX (and NonStop) run well on Itanium. The performance of Itanium is good, not outstanding but sufficient and much faster than Sparc.
Users who want to migrate to other platforms should wait until things stabilize more. There is no rush to leave Alpha and PA-RISC. Most of those can wait years until they decide. VMS users most likely want to stay on VMS because VMS is better and it is more difficult to move away from VMS.
Opteron does not have much "Sun design influences". Opteron have very good latency and bandwidth. Sparc have very bad bandwidth altough they actually have pretty latency (look at the STREAM benchmark for example.) Opteron is an Alpha-EV7-baby. The "page execute only" is not a specific Sun feature, most non-x86 CPUs have had this for a long time.
Intels Xeons will also get the "page execute only" feature later this year. Opteron does have it's advantage in superior memory latency and bandwidth. Xeon cannot really compete there.
"multicore-capable Solaris" ??? If that means that Solaris can handle many CPUs I don't know what that has to do with Opteron. Sun will sell up to 8-way boxes and all OS's today can easily scale to 8 CPU's, Solaris does not have an advantage there. I also think that most of Sun's Opteron boxes will run Linux, and this is also something that Sun officials believe.
And at last a thought. I think most x86 buyers actually look at HP/IBM/Dell before they even think of Sun. Sun is not seen as a x86 company, this might ofcourse change in the future though.
Xeon servers have been replacing Sparc servers in a rapid speed the last couple of years. This continues today and will continue. Just because x86 has become 64-bit does not matter that much, btw, 98% of all applications on Solaris are still 32-bit. It is mostly databases that have been 64-bit. Opteron have very good performance and price/performance and Sun had to do something about the declining Sparc/Solaris sales. I think it correct though that Sun will have just as hard time making money on x86 as HP and IBM have.
VMS and HP-UX (and NonStop) run well on Itanium. The performance of Itanium is good, not outstanding but sufficient and much faster than Sparc.
Users who want to migrate to other platforms should wait until things stabilize more. There is no rush to leave Alpha and PA-RISC. Most of those can wait years until they decide. VMS users most likely want to stay on VMS because VMS is better and it is more difficult to move away from VMS.
Opteron does not have much "Sun design influences". Opteron have very good latency and bandwidth. Sparc have very bad bandwidth altough they actually have pretty latency (look at the STREAM benchmark for example.) Opteron is an Alpha-EV7-baby. The "page execute only" is not a specific Sun feature, most non-x86 CPUs have had this for a long time.
Intels Xeons will also get the "page execute only" feature later this year. Opteron does have it's advantage in superior memory latency and bandwidth. Xeon cannot really compete there.
"multicore-capable Solaris" ??? If that means that Solaris can handle many CPUs I don't know what that has to do with Opteron. Sun will sell up to 8-way boxes and all OS's today can easily scale to 8 CPU's, Solaris does not have an advantage there. I also think that most of Sun's Opteron boxes will run Linux, and this is also something that Sun officials believe.
And at last a thought. I think most x86 buyers actually look at HP/IBM/Dell before they even think of Sun. Sun is not seen as a x86 company, this might ofcourse change in the future though.
