The OpenPKG project has released version 2.0 of their RPM-based cross-platform Unix software packaging facility.

OpenPKG 2.0 consists of 473 selected (from a pool of 700) packages which include latest versions
of popular Unix software like Apache, Bash, BIND, GCC, INN, MySQL, OpenSSH, Perl, Postfix, PostgreSQL, Samba, Squid, teTeX and Vim — all carefully packaged for easy deployment on 16 different Unix platforms, including FreeBSD 4.9/5.2, Debian GNU/Linux 2.2/3.0/3.1, Red Hat Linux 9, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3, Fedora Core 1, SuSE Linux 8.2/9.0, and Sun Solaris 2.6/8/9/10.

Highlights in OpenPKG 2.0 are the upgrade to RPM 4.2.1, custom RPM extensions for more complete packaging, new platform product and technology identification, usage of UUIDs, etc.

Sneaking in just before the end of the month Solaris10 Build 51 has been released. This month’s additions include the Solaris IP Filter, Solaris Zones Partitioning Technology, zonename audit token and policy options, the Single UNIX Spec Version 3, and some new Kerberos enhancements. The IP Filter comes directly from the Open Source IP Filter we all know and love, allowing for basic host based firewalling including packet filtering and NAT using CLI tools. The addition of Solaris Zones is very interesting however, providing some new options for workload isolation, resource management and security. Go grab the latest ISOs and make sure to give a copy to everyone who ever dared to mock Solaris.

Sun introduced the Software Express program to provide customers with prerelease software on a regularly scheduled basis. This is especially useful for software developers who must port their applications to Solaris Express and for system administrators who support such environments. The Software Express program is also beneficial to early adopters who wish to examine and test system functionality and new features.

Click on the URL below to learn how the program works, and many more features, including using the Community web site, what’s new in Solaris Express, installation, upgrades and more.

http://www.sun.com/bigadmin/features/articles/solaris_express.html

Sun today announced the second phase of the Technology Preview for its much anticipated Sun Java[tm] Studio Creator, code named “Project Rave.” The product brings together the power of the Java platform with a simplified development model to provide a streamlined, highly productive working environment.

The press is starting to take notice of the next release of Solaris. The Register put up a piece overviewing some of the highlights on the next release today. eCommerce Times has a piece, so does CRN. Looks like this release is going to get alot more PR than previous releases, especially with all the IP questions that make releasing any UNIX OS look like a bold move, at least to the mainstream press.

According to this News.Com article, Sun’s Java ID card will soon be available for PCs, currently the card is used mainly for mobile phones.

NextCom has released the NextBook 260, a server and high performance workstation in a Notebook package for Linux and Solaris users. Pre-installed Operating environments include Red Hat Linux as well as Sun Microsystems’ Java Desktop System or Solaris 9 x86. Complete systems are priced starting at $2,175.

The Register gives brief details on Sun UltraSPARC IV+ processor, which includes new high-speed cache memory, and supposedly doubles the performance of its predecessor, the recently released UltraSPARC IV.

This News.Com article details Sun’s new name and pricing structure for their N1 initiative.

Mozilla FireFox 0.8 (formerly “Mozilla FireFird”) for Solaris/SPARC is out.
Get it here. The readme is available as well.

According to The Register, Sun says HP customers are ripe for the picking. Due to the slow adoption rate of Itanium (x86 running in emulation mode), the increase in popularity of AMD Opteron (x86-64), HP’s migration from their PA-RISC to Itanium (HP PA-8800 is the second-to-last chip for HP’s Precision Architecture), and Intel supposedly releasing a new chip that is capable of x86-64 (no x86 emulation, codename Yamhill), HP customers are left confused and overwhelmed.

The Register details how Sun will shelve the UltraSPARC VI processor in favor of the “Rock” and a slight possibility of teaming up with Fujitsu in the near future.

According to this NEWS.COM article, Sun plans to inrease its “attach-rate”–selling servers, storage and services along with Sun’s core server products.

According to this NEWS.COM article, Sun is in a better position than most companies due to Sun’s dual-market of hardware and software. In addition, due to Sun’s late offering of Linux, most media outlets would have most readers believe that Sun is not an advocate of Open source. However, Sun has contributed to the Open source community more than most companies, and just had a dud as a previous marketing strategy.

Here’s a brief interview with Andy Bechtolsheim from a NEWS.COM article.