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Sun releases OpenSolaris 2008.11 From the "it's not Linux, but it's got the same apps" files:
Sun has rolled opensolaris 2008.11, loaded with open source applications that are well known to Linux distribution users. The 'What's New' page for opensolaris 2008.11, lists the new features which include GNOME 2.24, Firefox 3, Songbird and OpenOffice.org 3. On the apps that are more opensolaris specific the Image Packaging System, IPS gets an update but to my naked eye it looks surprisingly like GNOME's Synaptic package manager. Fast boot times (something that Linux distros are working on too) is also a key new feature for the opensolaris release. Where opensolaris 2008.11 may well differ most is with its Project COMSTAR (Common Multiprotocol SCSI Target) implementation for an open storage system. The first phase of Project COMSTAR has been included in OpenSolaris 2008.11, allowing you to turn any OpenSolaris host into a SCSI storage device or target, accessible by any initiator hosts. Only Fibre Channel is supported at this time, however the iSCSI port provider will be provided in the developer repository soon.So, sure there are alot of open source applications in opensolaris 2008.11 that are common to other open source operating systems, but Sun has also made sure that it has several differentiators as well. 0 TrackBacksListed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Sun releases OpenSolaris 2008.11. TrackBack URL for this entry: https://swarm.jupitermedia.com/mt-tb.cgi/5971 5 CommentsLeave a comment |
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The important point here is the license on the drivers. The GPL protects the kernel and the drivers for your hardware. Sun chose to use their own license and embraces binary hardware drivers ("BLOBs"). It may look like Linux, but OpenSolaris is not Linux where it counts.
That's right, OpenSolaris is not Linux. It offers a significantly higher learning curve, and significant improvements to match.
When i evaluate an operating system looks don't really count that much. Sure i don't want people to throw twm at me when i want a desktop os, but there are more important features. For me the first that come to mind when looking at Solaris are ZFS and Dtrace (i don't really consider an OS that does not feature Dtrace, it made me so much more productive when coding, it's amazing), but those are personal preferences. Others are Zones, SMF and the excellent documentation (after over a decade of Linux-"HOWTOs" scattered on the net I really started to value a good centralized knowledgebase that doesn't just deal with the surface of the topics I am investigating). OpenSolaris might not be ideological like Linux or GNU, but it's solaris where it counts and less Linux where i think it's healthy.
"It may look like Linux, but OpenSolaris is not Linux where it counts."
Like "counts where" exactly? All the Linux will need to use xorg, so they are all the same in the end with some cosmetic addons like Gnome or KDE.
Not so huge a difference in the year 2008.
Fast boot times?
I tried out opensolaris 2008/11 and it actually boots like 200% more slowly (than my Ubuntu) and shuts down like 500% more slowly. No kidding. Running on AMD64 with 1.5GB. Perhaps it's just my hardware.
I'm very surprised that somebody found that opensolaris boots faster.