The OpenPKG project today announces the availability of the
OpenPKG 1.1 software. A flexible and powerful software packaging facility,
OpenPKG eases the cross-platform installation and administration of Unix
software. Consolidating different vendor approaches into a unified
architecture, it serves system administrators of large networks previously
burdened by non-conformant systems. OpenPKG leverages proven technologies
like Red Hat Package Manager (RPM) and provides an additional system layer
on top of the operating system. With OpenPKG, a new and unique method of
cross-platform software deployment is taking form.
Link

Sun needs beta testers to help test Sun(tm) Download Manager
1.0 (SDM), the world’s first 100% Java GUI-based download
manager. SDM works on any platform running J2SE v1.2.2 or
higher (including Solaris 8 and 9, Linux, Windows 98, ME,
NT, 2000, XP, and Mac OS X), and uses patent-pending
technology to improve the reliability of large file
downloads (e.g., Solaris binaries) from the Sun Download
Center and other HTTP download sites.
Link

Peritek Corporation, the leading provider of mezzanine graphics boards
for embedded systems, has introduced a new dual channel PCI Mezzanine
Card (PMC) graphics board that simultaneously supports multiple
monitors and dual digital/analog video input channels. The board
also supplies an on-board USB 2.0 hub. The high-resolution Argus/PMC
graphics controller supports independent 2D, 3D, OpenGL, and
DirectX-compatible displays in Solaris, Linux, Windows, VxWorks, and
LynxOS environments.Link

Sun is now shipping the Sun Fire V100 server with a
550 or 650 Mhz CPU and 512K of L2 cache, instead of 500Mhz with 256K.
Thes are the same CPU/cache combinations now shipping in the Blade
150.Link

This Register article has details on the upcoming Sun Fire
V1280 12-way server. The V1280 is based on the V880, and will use
the same CPU and memory boards as the V480 and V880 (the article
has some facts wrong).Link

The August edition of Sun BluePrints includes Monitoring and
Tuning Oracle, Sun StorEdge[tm] Instant Image 3.0 and
Oracle8i Database Best Practices, Customizing JumpStart[tm]
Framework for Installation and Recovery, Windows NT Server
Consolidation and Performance Improvements with Solaris[tm]
PC NetLink 2.0 Software, Introduction to the Cluster Grid,
and Sun’s Quality, Engineering, Deployment (QED) Test Train
Model.
Link

Sun has announced the Sun Blade 150, with a 550Mhz or 650Mhz
UltraSPARC-IIi CPU and 512KB of on-chip L2 cache. A base system with
550Mhz CPU, 40GB of disk, 128MB of RAM, and built-in 2D graphics will
cost $1395.Link

This Register article details how future Sun Linux versions
will not be based on Red Hat Linux (as is Sun Linux 5.0). I’ve also
heard this from various Sun employees.Link

This NEWS.COM article has some of Bill Joy’s thoughts on
the open-source movement. Joy is a Sun co-founder and the principal
designer of BSD Unix.Link

AEleen Frisch has updated her classic title on UNIX
systems administration from O’Reilly and Associates. The second
edition of this book is one of the references (along with the
Prentice-Hall system administration book) that helped start
my career almost ten years ago. I’ll be posting a review as
soon as my copy arrives.Link

According to this NEWS.COM article, Sun will be using Linux
as part of its “iWork” program, where some employees have a
“floating” office and not a dedicated one. I think it will
be a Linux client that allows connection to Sun servers (e.g.,
a software version of the Sun Ray appliance).Link

Sun has announced the Cobalt LX50 Intel-based 32-bit
server. The machine is based on an Intel motherboard and
enclosure, with up to two Pentium-III 1.4Ghz CPUs, 6G of
PC133 SDRAM, dual 10/100 Ethernet interfaces, dual-channel
Ultra160 SCSI, two PCI slots, and two front-accessible SCSI
drives. Sun Linux 5.0 is based on Red Hat Linux 7.2, and
the machine will also be available with Solaris 9 x86.Link

According to this eWeek article, Sun will be shipping
Solaris 9 X86 after all (as noted in earlier article as well).Link

This NEWS.COM article details Sun’s plans (among
other companies) for new product announcements at the
Linux World conference starting the 12th.Link

A bit of history for you; here’s a review of the Sun-2
workstation from UNIX/WORLD magazine, October 1984, pages
84 to 91. Its interesting to see how far technology has come
in 18 years. Link