http://www.hp.com/pressrel/14feb96f.htm (PC Press Internet CD, 03/1996)
San Francisco, California. February 14, 1996
Hewlett-Packard Company and SCO (NASDAQ:SCOC) today announced a next-generation UNIX system technology stream that will form the basis of distributed UNIX system computing products for the next decade. Based on an advanced 3D Architecture (3DA), the technology will provide a single development and porting target for 32- and 64-bit applications, enabling OEMs and ISVs to accelerate the delivery of a wide range of innovative customer solutions.
Fully scalable from embedded systems to large, clustered configurations, the new technology stream will be able to integrate an entire business enterprise by supporting a broad range of applications and processor architectures.
HP and SCO expect to deliver specifications and technology starting in 1996. Full support for the 32-bit and 64-bit extension to the single UNIX system specification standard is slated for delivery by HP and SCO on the PA-RISC and Intel Pentium and Pentium Pro microprocessors starting in 1997, and with the first shipments of the Intel Merced microprocessor-based systems when available. Technology for backward compatibility for existing 32-bit systems is planned to be delivered simultaneously. NEC today announced plans to deliver a MIPS-based port in the same time frame.
The next-generation UNIX system technology stream will include many advanced services, such as self management, continuous availability, advanced Internet security and Windows and NetWare integration. This new technology is expected to define business-critical computing through the next decade.
"This new generation of technology will significantly expand the UNIX system's position as an enterprisewide operating system, integrating hardware platforms at all levels from embedded systems to supercomputers," says Richard (Rich) W. Sevcik, HP vice president and general manager of the Systems Technology Group. "Together with SCO and through the efforts of many other technology providers, we are simplifying porting, software development and systems management for OEMs, ISVs and end users. We are also providing them with a clear and well-thought-out technology stream for UNIX systems."
"This next-generation technology will drive a new wave of innovative UNIX products," said Scott McGregor, SCO senior vice president, Products. "It provides a common technology base for OEMs who offer UNIX systems and a single target platform for application developers of all kinds."
"Intel is pleased to see HP and SCO, two important UNIX leaders, cooperating to deliver a new generation of the UNIX system on our upcoming 64-bit Merced microprocessor," said Dave House, senior vice president and general manager of Intel's Enterprise Server Group. "UNIX is important to the Intel Architecture and the industry, and we are delighted with the commitment of HP and SCO to work with Intel and our customers to provide a single UNIX environment for both 32- and 64-bit applications on Intel's future Merced family of microprocessors."
Several system vendors who participated in today's announcement indicated their support for the HP/SCO joint-development effort. These companies will be providing technology and reselling products based on this new technology. Independent software vendors also announced their support for this single Intel processor-based UNIX system target platform. These ISVs will work closely in the definition and development phases of this next-generation technology.
"Oracle applauds the next-generation UNIX system plans that HP and the Santa Cruz Operation have announced today," said Jerry Baker, executive vice president, Products and Platforms Division, Oracle Corp. "This collaboration between the leading revenue and leading volume UNIX system suppliers will expand UNIX system success into new markets. The architectural design of this new OS will allow Oracle to continue to drive the kind of innovative solutions that have made us the largest UNIX independent software vendor."
The new 3D architecture provides for greater flexibility, more advanced technology development and higher degrees of scalability and reliability than presently available. The three design dimensions expand the open-systems advantage -- innovation through standardization of operating-system interfaces. The three dimensions are as follows:
Modular Functionality -- Separates the basic functions of the operating system, such as the memory management, file system and scheduler, into modules and connects them with well-defined interfaces. By modifying these modules, while maintaining these interfaces, OEMs, ISVs and IT professionals can extend existing functionality or add new capabilities quickly and easily, including configurations for "thin" clients and enterprise clients.
Processor Optimization -- Makes it easy to customize the functional modules in the operating system to take advantage of different processor architectures while preserving compatibility. For example, functional modules may take advantage of new processor features, such as frame buffer caching, on-chip audio/video hardware or Intel Merced's instruction parallelism.
System Optimization -- Enables system builders to extend and tailor the functional modules to support specialized system topologies such as NUMA, loosely coupled clustering or massively parallel architectures. System optimization allows increased scalability and performance while maintaining application compatibility. Current architectures allow portability to these system topologies, but not optimization. With 3DA, users get both portability and cross-platform optimization for clients and servers.
The next-generation UNIX system technology stream currently being developed includes the following:
Advanced System Management -- Systems based on this technology will be easier to use and install on single machines and across enterprise networks than any other version of the UNIX system. This new UNIX system technology will have self-configuration, auto-detection, self-healing/correction, remote administration/maintenance, remote control and asset management/tracking capabilities. With this technology, system administrators will be able to install single machine and network installations with the click of a button.
Clustering -- The technology will support clustering to provide more scalable performance and continuous availability. The benefits to end users are increased performance and reliability for enterprise applications.
Advanced Software Management -- The technology's software management will include software keys, policy enforcement, encryption, electronic distribution, viral immunization and a serialization toolkit. This robust software-management tool will enable users to take advantage of just-in-time software delivery, software on demand, electronic software publishing, inventory-free software, on-line software management and Internet commerce.
Universal Software Development Environment -- The new technology includes a comprehensive GUI-based integrated development environment, standard package format installation and licensing support, network server application frameworks and leading performance analysis and measurement tools. These technologies will be provided on leading industry software development platforms, such as SoftBench from HP. A common, integrated, universal and mulitarchitectural software development environment, makes it easy for users to create applications that integrate Windows and UNIX systems.
Universal Network Support -- The next-generation UNIX system technology will support all major network protocols and advanced network services. For example, HP and SCO are working closely with Novell, Inc. to support key NetWare services in all next-generation systems, including file, print, and directory services (NDS). These NetWare services also will be integrated with DCE services. This will provide millions of UNIX system and NetWare users with a common set of network services for their workgroup and enterprise systems. Other supported networking environments include Microsoft networking and ONC services.
Advanced Internet Services -- The technology will include a complete range of advanced Internet services such as a client, browser, server and firewall. This technology will provide a powerful Internet infrastructure for the entire enterprise.
Comprehensive Security -- The next-generation UNIX system technology will provide comprehensive network security, including network authentication; public and private encrypted keys; a comprehensive Internet firewall; authenticated access of servers, data and resources; and support for secure Internet transactions. The technology will integrate with the International Cryptography Framework (ICF) to provide superior security and encryption for the enterprise and Internet environments. PC Integration -- The technology will support full PC integration, with features that include NetWare file and print services, Microsoft file and print services, networked OLE/DCOM integration, mobile computing and server-based client management.
HP and SCO believe that UNIX systems, Windows 95 and Windows NT all play significant roles in business networks. To ensure that these computing environments are well-integrated, the next-generation UNIX system technology will include three key features:
By making Windows and UNIX systems interoperable, HP and SCO are ensuring that customers have access to the best in desktop, workgroup and enterprisewide computing in a networked environment.
As part of the next-generation UNIX system technology stream, HP and SCO will ensure application, data and hardware compatibility with existing HP-UX and SCO UnixWare and SCO OpenServer systems. The technology will also include a compatibility framework that will enable OEMs to provide a smooth upgrade path for their customers.
To provide designers and software developers with more details on the progress and direction of development for the new technology, HP and SCO are hosting a technical session on Thursday, Feb. 15, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. at UniForum in the Moscone Convention Center, Room 120.
