IBM's Unix Ambitions: A Legacy of Loyalty and Addiction

Strategic Insights -

IBM's foray into the commercial Unix market in 1990 sent shockwaves through the industry, legitimized by the Big Blue seal of approval and elevating the status of Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-Packard, and other Unix vendors. However, this market did not unfold as expected, with traditional midrange and mainframe vendors embracing Unix technology and open APIs, while IBM's participation had far-reaching consequences for all players involved.

Key Takeaways:

  • IBM's entry into the Unix market in 1990 had a profound impact on the industry, with vendors like Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-Packard, and others adapting their product and marketing strategies to reflect IBM's actions.
  • Despite IBM's commercial clout, it failed to achieve its goal of becoming the number one or number two Unix vendor by 1995, with upstarts like HP and Sun Microsystems sustaining the competition.
  • The RS/6000 announcements in 1990 were significant, but they did not live up to the hype surrounding the event.
  • IBM's Unix business has continued to thrive, with over 125,000 RS/6000 customers and around 15% of the installed base comprising servers.
  • RS/6000 hardware sales rival those of the AS/400 and are expected to surpass S/390 sales soon, making it a crucial reason for IBM to remain in the Unix market.
  • IBM cannot afford to leave the Unix market, as the AS/400 business also relies on the underlying hardware sold as RS/6000 Unix servers.
  • The Unix market has evolved significantly, with vendors embracing open APIs and internet protocols, leading to a backhanded takeover of the proprietary midrange and mainframe markets.

Statistics:

  • IBM has over 125,000 RS/6000 customers.
  • Approximately 90% or more of these customers buy Unix servers from IBM.
  • IBM has shipped more than 850,000 Unix machines since 1990.
  • Around 15% of the installed base, or 150,000 machines, are servers.
  • About 30% or so of current ship rates are servers, showing a decline in the Unix workstation business.

Sources:

  • (Source not available, as the original text does not provide a specific reference for this quote or anecdote.)
  • Monday's RS/6000 announcement extravaganza
  • (Source not available, as the original text does not provide a specific reference for this quote or anecdote.)
  • The article's narrative is primarily a subjective interpretation and analysis of the situation, without explicit citations.