Very Computer

Is there differences between Solaris 9 and Linux 2.6 in term of :
- performance w.r.t database, web, and other server related apps
- compatibility with various hardware
- cost
- expandability
- security
- hardware vendor support, e.g disk storage
- dependability - i've seen Solaris on SPARC running for years
                          without rebooting
- stability
- recoverability when disaster happen
- interopability with other OS

Is it safe to say that outside SPARC platform, Linux win for all the above?
How about if we install Linux on SPARC as well?  Many are comfortable with
single platform architecture such as SPARC from Sun Microsystem or they are
already invested in SPARC hardware.

Regards

|Is there differences between Solaris 9 and Linux 2.6 in term of :
|- performance w.r.t database, web, and other server related apps
|- compatibility with various hardware
|- cost
|- expandability
|- security
|- hardware vendor support, e.g disk storage
|- dependability - i've seen Solaris on SPARC running for years
|                          without rebooting
|- stability
|- recoverability when disaster happen
|- interopability with other OS

Yes, there are definitely differences.

|Is it safe to say that outside SPARC platform, Linux win for all the above?

Absolutely not.  Linux will win in some areas or for some applications,
Solaris for others, and some will simply be a draw.

Even something as simple seeming as cost, it's hard to declare a winner
for all cases.  From what you list as important, it sounds like you want
an enterprise server, in which case I believe Solaris x86 is cheaper
than several of the big enterprise Linux packages.

--
________________________________________________________________________


  Working for, but definitely not speaking for, Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Not in the least.  Linux might win a few (e.g., it works on more
HW), but loses on others (RHES is more expensive than Solaris x86,
for example).

Quote:> How about if we install Linux on SPARC as well?  Many are comfortable with

Linux on SPARC is just not an option, IMHO.

Depending on your needs (which you haven't articluated in detail
here), Linux might be an OK choice for you.  But I strongly
expect that Solaris x86 would be a better one.

--
Rich Teer, SCNA, SCSA

President,
Rite Online Inc.

Voice: +1 (250) 979-1638
URL: http://www.rite-online.net

forth in comp.os.linux.misc

Quote:>> Is it safe to say that outside SPARC platform, Linux win for all the
>> above?

> Not in the least.  Linux might win a few (e.g., it works on more
> HW), but loses on others (RHES is more expensive than Solaris x86,
> for example).

Why would he want to install RHES ? A properly configured Linux system can
do all of that.

Quote:

>> How about if we install Linux on SPARC as well?  Many are comfortable
>> with

> Linux on SPARC is just not an option, IMHO.

IIRC, Debian has a SPARC port.

Quote:>Is there differences between Solaris 9 and Linux 2.6 in term of :
>- performance w.r.t database, web, and other server related apps
>- compatibility with various hardware
>- cost
>- expandability
>- security
>- hardware vendor support, e.g disk storage
>- dependability - i've seen Solaris on SPARC running for years
>                          without rebooting
>- stability
>- recoverability when disaster happen
>- interopability with other OS

>Is it safe to say that outside SPARC platform, Linux win for all the above?
>How about if we install Linux on SPARC as well?  Many are comfortable with
>single platform architecture such as SPARC from Sun Microsystem or they are
>already invested in SPARC hardware.

Interesting discovery, I should enable my FULL HEADER more often.
It could be just coincident, but the same type of questions keep
coming up, and lack of reading on materials responded by posters.

X-Trace: news.uni-berlin.de
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X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.3790.132

X-Trace: news.uni-berlin.de
X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.3790.0
X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.3790.132

--
 slrn is a command line newsreader.
 please reply, to the newsgroup(s).

Well, we have gone thru this path a few month ago after the huge linux
buzz in the company, then upper mgnt realized that linux is very
expensive and not much to offer (we were telling them all along). Now,
we are testing apps on Solaris x86.
Sun is very aggresive about rolling out x86 and will give a very good
price on AMD H/W and Solaris x86 for free depending on your current
contract.

Quote:

> Well, we have gone thru this path a few month ago after the huge linux
> buzz in the company, then upper mgnt realized that linux is very
> expensive and not much to offer (we were telling them all along). Now,
> we are testing apps on Solaris x86.
> Sun is very aggresive about rolling out x86 and will give a very good
> price on AMD H/W and Solaris x86 for free depending on your current
> contract.

From a developers standpoint, I wouldn't bother with Solaris X86.  Sun's on
again off again approach to supporting it's development doesn't make one
feel cozy about spending money developing applications for it.  Linux has a
huge installer base and it isn't extremely expensive.  Yes, Redhat is now
earning money on the software but there are other freeware versions out
there that are growing in installed base as well.  I would jump to BSD
before Solaris X86.

Wholly specious.  Applications developed on Solaris will compile without
error or rewrite on Linux.  Do you really wish to exclude a potential
market by using Linux specific API?

Quote:> Linux has a
> huge installer (sic) base and it isn't extremely expensive.

Free is not expensive at all.  Software support contracts *are* possibly
expensive regardless of which OS the customer chooses.

Quote:> Yes, Redhat is now
> earning money on the software but there are other freeware versions out
> there that are growing in installed base as well.

Good for them and their customers who had previously been using Microsfot
products.

Quote:> I would jump to BSD
> before Solaris X86.

Which one?  None of the presently available BSDs have scalable SMP
capability.  FreeBSD claims that but I can crash its kernel by running
xine under a user account.  Same thing with NetBSD.

I don't think anyone does develop applications specifically (except
drivers) for Solaris x86, we develop for Solaris and compile for x86 or
Sparc.  Or Linux for that matter.

Ian

You're obviously not very up to date with Sun's recent commitment
to Solaris x86.

Quote:> feel cozy about spending money developing applications for it.  Linux has a
> huge installer base and it isn't extremely expensive.  Yes, Redhat is now

Try comparing the cost of RHES and Solaris x86.

Quote:> earning money on the software but there are other freeware versions out
> there that are growing in installed base as well.  I would jump to BSD
> before Solaris X86.

Then you are, with all dur respect, a fool.  But to each their own...

--
Rich Teer, SCNA, SCSA

President,
Rite Online Inc.

Voice: +1 (250) 979-1638
URL: http://www.rite-online.net

Rich, that is a bit difficult.  RHES has such a high price because the
software maintenance contract comes bundled with it.  One would need to
add the cost of Sun's contract to the RTU license fee to get the
equivalent cost of Solaris.

RHES includes support in their package (I believe it's a year of support,
but might be more).  RHES has a much larger installed base.

Quote:> > earning money on the software but there are other freeware versions out
> > there that are growing in installed base as well.  I would jump to BSD
> > before Solaris X86.

> Then you are, with all dur respect, a fool.  But to each their own...

Funny thing is... many agree with this fool.  I used to develop for Solaris
x86 back in the mid 90's.  It's highly doubtful that I'll ever go back.  I'm
not at all convinced that it's not a dead end project.

Fair comment about the support, but I'd be surprised if RHES
has a bigger installed base than Solaris x86.  I don't doubt
that the regular version of RH does, however, have a larger
installed user base.

Quote:> Funny thing is... many agree with this fool.  I used to develop for Solaris
> x86 back in the mid 90's.  It's highly doubtful that I'll ever go back.  I'm
> not at all convinced that it's not a dead end project.

On what basis are you not being convinced?  Device drivers
aside, developing for Solaris x86 is essentially the same
as developing for Solaris on SPARC.  For properly written
software, a recompile should be all that's required.

Veritas, Oracle, and many other ISVs are "going back" to
Solaris x86, so maybe you should reconsider your decision...

--
Rich Teer, SCNA, SCSA

President,
Rite Online Inc.

Voice: +1 (250) 979-1638
URL: http://www.rite-online.net

True, although RHES does have other advanatages over the regular
version.  I'm think of support for more than 1 year (IIRC, RHES
is supported for 5 years).  Even without a support contract, Solairs
users are "supported" for more than 5 years, in the way of patches
and Update releases.

It's the longer than one year support I was thinking of, from an
enterprise point of view.

--
Rich Teer, SCNA, SCSA

President,
Rite Online Inc.

Voice: +1 (250) 979-1638
URL: http://www.rite-online.net

Don't be surprised!  Redhat is doing very well with the RHES product.  Other
Linux vendors may follow suit it's worked so well for them.  They have
credibility few other Linux vendors enjoy.

Quote:> > Funny thing is... many agree with this fool.  I used to develop for
Solaris
> > x86 back in the mid 90's.  It's highly doubtful that I'll ever go back.
I'm
> > not at all convinced that it's not a dead end project.

> On what basis are you not being convinced?  Device drivers
> aside, developing for Solaris x86 is essentially the same
> as developing for Solaris on SPARC.  For properly written
> software, a recompile should be all that's required.

> Veritas, Oracle, and many other ISVs are "going back" to
> Solaris x86, so maybe you should reconsider your decision...

I suppose that would "depend".  You have endian issues to deal with amongst
other things (most at the hardware level of course e.g. packing).  For high
level C++/Java type development, cross platform should be relatively
seemeless for the Solaris versions.  There are very few header issues last I
checked.  Still, it is just not widely used which is why I'm not convinced
that it's not a dead end project.  Sun's on again off again support for the
product has allowed Linux to really take a huge foothold and make Solaris
x86 a passing thought.  Even BSD gets more attention these days.