SCO Goes To Bat With OpenServer 6

Unveiled in a product launch at Yankee Stadium, OpenServer 6 integrates the System V Release 5 Unix kernel of SCO UnixWare 7.0 with the Web-based OpenServer platform. The upgraded server lets ISVs and customers develop Java, Unix and Web applications for Advanced Micro Devices and Intel platforms on a single SCO code base, according to SCO, Lindon, Utah.

Hewlett-Packard said it plans to offer a portfolio of SCO OpenServer 6 certifications for its ProLiant server platforms. The enhancements will increase speed and performance of applications on OpenServer, which allows customers to manage e-mail, collaboration, backup, mobile support and Internet access on low-cost commodity hardware, SCO said.

"The performance advantages of the Release 5 kernel will support the advanced features of various languages and database products," said David Westrheim, CEO of IntelliNet, a Vancouver, British Columbia-based SCO partner. "We anticipate a strong upgrade flow from our client base."

OpenServer 6 offers up to two to four times the performance of the previous version and provides support for up to 32 processors and disk and network file sizes of up to 1 Tbyte. It also brings increased memory support for 64-bit database applications and multithreading support for C, C++ and Java applications through a POSIX interface.

Westrheim said customers and partners won't be disappointed. "It is not only stable but lightning fast. OpenServer 6 is a great technology upgrade for us and our clients because it provides the Unix Release V kernel with the administrative and user interface of OpenServer, a strong preference of many of our clients over Linux and other pure Unix derivatives."

Several SCO partners said they plan to migrate clients to OpenServer 6. "I expect an influx of new business to OpenServer 6 because it's so easy to port new applications to," said Deepak Thadani, president of SysIntegrators, Woodside, N.Y.