Volume 120, Issue 4 - Sun #1 for UNIX Shipments; MySQL Update; Indiana and VirtualBox; X4150 Tops JVM Benchmark
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Feb 25th, 2008 — Mar 2nd, 2008 Generate the Custom HTML Email for this Issue
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Sun completed its acquisition of MySQL this week and has announced new subscriptions and services to accompany the product line [19531]. The company also completed its acquisition of Vauu, Inc. this month [19501].

In 4Q07 Server Market analyses, Sun reportedly held the number one spot in UNIX shipments [19499]. The Sun Fire X4150 has set both single- and dual-JVM benchmarks [19486].

Storage news finds the Sun StorageTek 5800 System source code released [19539] and new additions to Sun's open archive portfolio launched [19543].

Learn how to run Indiana Preview 2 under innotek's VirtualBox [19504]. Plus, new software downloads include Solaris Cluster 2/08 [19526] and Sun xVM Ops Center installation documentation [19511].


News
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Sun Completes Acquisition of MySQL; Offers Subscriptions and Services
Entire Product Line, Services Available as Downloads
Sun is now the owner of MySQL AB and MySQL's complete portfolio of products and enterprise services are available as are free downloads, which can be found at Sun's MySQL home page. With the acquisition completed, Sun announced it is offering 7X24 year round global, enterprise-class database subscriptions and services for the entire MySQL product line.
Gartner and IDC Release Reports on 4Q07 Server Market
Sun Takes Top Position in UNIX Shipments
Both Gartner and IDC reports on the fourth quarter server shipments for 2007 show Sun and Dell neck-in-neck, tying for the third position in total server factory revenue. Gartner's numbers, in terms of server revenue, listed Dell at 11.4% and Sun at 10.8%. IDC determined the two companies ended the quarter in a statistical tie for third place with factory revenue market share of 10.1% and 9.3% respectively.
People's Republic of China Signs Three-Year Agreement for Sun's OpenSPARC Technology
To Meet China's Demand for Cultivating Integrated Circuit Engineering Talent, Industry Development
Sun will be collaborating with the Ministry of Education (MOE) for the People's Republic of China to promote OpenSPARC technology within select Chinese universities under a three-year agreement that targets three specific areas: Education, Research, and Industry Development.
Sun Completes Vauu, Inc. Acquisition
New Sun Java System Role Manager Features Vaau's RBACx Solution
In the midst of the MySQL and innotek/VirtualBox acquisition excitement, Sun quietly completed its buy of Vaau, Inc. on February 15. The Enterprise Role Management (ERM) and identity compliance solution provider is expected to improve Sun's overall competitive position in the identity audit and compliance space.
Solaris OS Support Now Available From IBM
For Select IBM System x and BladeCenter Servers
The six-month old Sun-IBM OEM agreement allowing IBM to distribute the Solaris Operating System and Solaris subscriptions for select x86-based IBM System x servers and BladeCenter servers has finally hit the market. In its February 19th software announcement, IBM noted that the Solaris OS will be supported on BladeCenter LS41 and HS21 servers and IBM System x3650, x3755, and x3850 M2 servers.
Sun Named as a 2008 Best Corporate Citizen by CRO Magazine
Ranked 15th for its Excellence in Corporate Responsibility
Sun's commitment to transparency, its "Innovate, Act, Share" philosophy, and continued practice of openness through innovation while driving economic and social progress around the world has earned the company the 15th spot on Corporate Responsibility Officer (CRO) Magazine's 2008 100 Best Corporate Citizens list.
    System News For Sun Users Blog Recap
    Recent Blog Entries of Interest to Sun Users
    System News posts items of interest for Sun users on a regular basis on the System News For Sun Users blog. Some of those items will become detailed articles in this newsletter. A quick recap of posts for the last week includes Announcements from the Sun Worldwide Education and Research Conference, VMware Infrastructure Product Suite on Sun x64 Servers, Federal Agencies to Have Easier Access to Sun Solutions Through CDW Government Agreement, and Sun Completes Acquisition of MySQL; Offers New Services.
    Software
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    Download Solaris Cluster Express 2/08 from OpenSolaris HA Community
    Latest Version Runs on Solaris Express Developer Edition (SXDE) 1/08

    Solaris Cluster Express 2/08 is the third revision of the open source software that offers a complete version of Solaris Cluster software. It runs on SPARC-based platforms and on 32-bit or 64-bit x86-based platforms. This latest version is compatible with Solaris Express Developer Edition (SXDE) 1/08.

    Download Sun xVM Ops Center Installation Documentation
    Covers Servers, Proxies, Agents
    Documentation for the Sun xVM Ops Center 1.0 installation is available now, as indicated by Jeff Ferreira in Sun xVM Central, where he invites users to have a look and provide feedback. The documentation addresses installing Sun xVM Ops Center servers, proxies, and agents.
    Running Indiana Preview 2 Under VirtualBox
    Author Suspects Install Can Run on Linux as well as on Solaris OS

    Alan Burlison blogs on his experience with innotek's VirtualBox and Indiana. He reports that he found the Virtualbox admin GUI "very easy to use," and that it was possible to quickly set up a VM to install Windows XP on top of the Solaris Operating System (Solaris OS). He discovered as well that he could run Indiana 2 under VirtualBox.

    Sun Java System Role Manager 4.0
    Comes With Enhanced Role and Rule Management Features

    Version 4.0 of the Sun Java System Role Manager brings enhanced role and rule management features along with enhanced identity certification, glossary, application program interface (API), and system features. Role Manager was formerly known as Vaau's flagship solution RBACx prior to Sun's acquisition of the company.

    Service Tools Bundle 1.0 Features ServiceTags, Explorer
    Now Available for Download

    Service Tools Bundle 1.0 (STB 1.0), an install script that contains ServiceTags 1.1.2 and Explorer 5.11, is available for download. ServiceTags 1.1.2 and the script accommodate the Solaris Operating System (Solaris OS) version with roll out simplified for Solaris 8, 9, or 10 OS addressable in the same way.

    Official Retirement Announced for Sun Java Studio Enterprise 8.1
    Last Order Date Set for May 23, 2008

    Back in December, Sun announced that with the release of NetBeans 6.0, the Sun Java Studio Enterprise would eventually be retired and encouraged users to migrate to the open source Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Well, that time has come. May 23, 2008, is the last order date for the Sun Java Studio Enterprise 8.1.

    Servers
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    Sun Fire X4150 Sets Single- and Dual-JVM Benchmarks
    BM Seer Blogs on SPECjbb Measures
    In a recent blog, BM Seer reports on the two SPECjbb2005 benchmarks set by the Sun Fire X4150 Server in both single- and dual-JVM tests. In both instances, the Sun Fire X4150 Server was equipped with 2 Intel X5460 quad-core processors and running Sun J2SE 1.6.0_05-p. Using the same processor, Seer reports, the Sun Fire X4150 with the Solaris 10 Operating System (Solaris OS) and Java HotSpot 32-Bit server beat the results of Dell and Lenovo, which used Windows and BEA JRocket on the multi-JVM test.
    Browser-Based User Interface Functionality Added to Sun Blade 6000
    Download Firmware Update Sun Blade 6000 Chassis 1.1a
    Sun Blade 6000 chassis 1.1a firmware provides a browser-based user interface (BUI) to the ILOM 2.0.3.1 for the Sun Blade 6000 Chassis Management Module (CMM), giving users a choice of Command Line Interface (CLI) or BUI for managing and monitoring the Sun Blade 6000 chassis and blades.
    73GB 15RPM Ultra 3 SCSI HDD Hard Drive X-Option for Netra Servers
    For Netra CT410 and Netra CT810 Bladed Servers

    One of the latest updates to the Netra CT410 and Netra CT810 Bladed Servers is the 73GB 15RPM Ultra 3 SCSI HDD Hard Drive X-Option. The RoHS-6 opt. internal disk X-option offers a faster spindle rate, and combined with higher indexing operations, faster data transfer rate.

    Sun Netra T5220 Server Earns Rave Review
    The Latest Sun Netra Products Drawing Positive Attention
    Sun's recent announcements on the release of the Niagara 2 rack server in the Netra line drew the attention of IP Communications Group Richard Grigonis who suggests that the Sun Netra T5220 server "should be terrific for virtualization and consolidation scenarios" because of its 64 virtual systems in a 2U high, 20-inch-deep form factor.
    How to Configure the Sun Fire X4500 as NAS for Symantec Enterprise Vault
    Paper Provides Detailed Steps, Promises Quick Results
    Tim Thomas has written a paper on "Configuring the Sun Fire X4500 as Network Attached Archival Storage for Symantec Enterprise Vault." Thomas' paper includes a configuration script for this solution that should enable one to configure a Sun Fire X4500 Server as Network Attached Archival Storage in just a few minutes.
    Newly Listed Sun Remanufactured Product Offerings
    Includes Sun Fire, Netra Servers, Sun Ultra Workstations, and Sun Ray

    Recently added products to Sun's remanufactured list include Sun Fire X4600 M2, Sun Fire X4500 Data Server, Sun Fire X4600, Sun Fire X2200 M2 X64-based servers, and Netra 1280 servers. Remanufactured Sun products are rebuilt to deliver the same performance, quality, and investment protection as new Sun systems, at reduced prices.

    End of Life for Select Sun Blade, Sun Fire, and Ultra Products
    Newer Generation of Products Cause for Retirement

    With newer generation products in place, Sun has decided to retire a few Sun Blade configurations and products along with Sun Fire and Ultra products. These include Sun Blade X8420 Server Module with AMD Opteron 8216 Processor; Standard Configuration and CPU upgrade kit for Sun Blade X6250; 80 GB SATA Hard Drive for Sun Blade configurations; AMD Opteron Quad Core Upgrade Kit, SAS HBA for Sun Fire X2100 M2 and X2200 M2 Servers; and Ultra 20 M2 workstation.

    Storage
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    Sun Donates Code for Sun StorageTek 5800 System (Project Honeycomb)
    Fixed Content Object Storage is Now Free and Open
    Code for the Sun StorageTek 5800 (previously known as "Project Honeycomb") has been donated to the OpenSolaris storage and Java.net communities. Developers can now freely download the Sun StorageTek 5800 binary code, which runs on virtually any x86 system.
    Sun Releases New Open Archive Products
    SL3000 Modular Library, T9840D Tape Drive, Sun Crypto KMS 2.0, and More
    Sun has released some new additions to its open archive portfolio, including the Sun StorageTek SL3000 Modular Library System, Sun StorageTek T9840D Tape Drive, Sun Crypto Key Management System (KMS) 2.0, and Sun Customer Ready Infinite Archive System. Developers can download open archive technology at OpenSolaris for free.
    New Capacity Options for Sun StorageTek Virtual Tape Library Value
    Designed to Reduce Cost and Complexity of Backup and Recovery
    Sun is making available new capacity options for 36TB and 48TB of storage to its Sun StorageTek Virtual Tape Library Value (VTL Value) product line with Integrated Services (Sun System Packs.) VTL Value is designed to reduce the cost and complexity of backup and recovery processes for small to medium size IT environments. This product also supports remote office/back office environment replication of back-up data to core IT sites for disaster recovery and business continuity.
    New Sun StorageTek 2510 iSCSI Disk Array
    Provides Consolidation Through SAN Setup Without FC Switches
    Among the new product offerings in the Sun StorageTek 2500 Series of Arrays is the Sun StorageTek 2510 iSCSI Disk Array, which provides storage consolidation using iSCSI host connectivity by allowing simple, rapid set-up of Storage Area Networks (SANs), without the cost and complexity of Fibre Channel switches. Sun also is announcing new drive options including new 400GB 10K SAS drives and 1TB 7.2K SATA-II drives.
    Sun StorageTek LTO3 Half Height SAS Drive Options
    For Sun StorageTek SL24 and SL48 Libraries
    There are now Sun StorageTek LT03 Half Height(HH) SAS Drive Options available for the Sun StorageTek SL24 Tape Autoloader and the entry level StorageTek SL48 Tape Library. The Sun StorageTek SL 24 Tape Autoloader provides high capacity automated backup and recovery in a space-efficient 2U form factor (24 slots) that supports one full height drive or up to two half height drives. The Sun StorageTek SL48 Tape Library features automated backup and recovery in a 4U form factor (48 slots) and ships with one drive but can support up to two full height drives or up to four half height drives.
    Sun Lowers Prices for Sun StorageTek 6140 and 6540 Arrays
    With 146GB 15Krpm and 300GB 15Krpm FC Hard Disk Drives
    To maintain its competitive pricing and continue the momentum of interest shown by customers, Sun is reducing the price on 300GB 15K and 146GB 15K Fibre Channel drives for the Sun StorageTek 6140 and 6540 arrays.
    Top10
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    Top Ten Articles for last Issue
    Volume 119 Issues 4 and 5; Volume 120 Issue 1, and 2

    During the last quarter (Dec 06, Jan 08, Feb 08), the web site for this newsletter had 130k unique visitors who viewed 281k pages.

    Each week, we determine which articles have been most frequently referenced by logged-in subscribers to provide you with a list of the most popular articles for the last 4 issues. The top 10 articles for last week, Vol 120 Issue 3, were:

    • Sun xVM Ops Center Released [19487]
    • Sun Scores Benchmark with Single-Chip UltraSPARC T2 SPECint_rate2006 Performance with gccfss [19468]
    • Don't Throw Out Your Mac; Load the Solaris Operating System [19469]
    • Sun Bets on Infiniband over Ethernet for the Datacenter [19470]
    • New Chipmaker Announced for Sun's 45-Nanometer Processors [19488]
    • Sun Reiterates Open Source Strategy During Global Media Summit [19465]
    • Solaris Express Developer Edition 1/08 Reviewed [19436]
    • The Three Databases of SXDE 1/08 [19448]
    • Sun Blade X8450 Server Module with Quad-Core Intel Xeon Processors [19491]
    • Remote Updating from a Single Master Machine [19309]
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