Sun Microsystems Announces Industry Standard for OpenBoot Firmware

Strategic Insights -

The industry has been witnessing a significant shift towards openness and interoperability, with several major players endorsing Sun Microsystems' OpenBoot firmware as an industry standard. Apple Computer and IBM Corp. have announced their support for OpenBoot, a non-proprietary open standard for boot firmware that is completely processor- and bus-independent. This move is expected to simplify the process of porting to multiple system architectures and reduce product cycles.

Key Takeaways:

  • Over one million systems worldwide are currently running OpenBoot, including all Sun Microsystems workstations shipped since 1989.
  • The IEEE Standards Committee has approved a Boot Firmware standard based on Sun Microsystems' firmware design, known as IEEE Standard 1275-1994 for Boot Firmware or Open Firmware.
  • Open Firmware device code can be reused across all CPUs and hardware platforms, reducing product cycles and increasing the markets for devices and adapters.
  • Sun Microsystems' Open Firmware eases the effort to port to multiple system architectures by providing a mechanism for loading and executing programs from disks, tapes, network interfaces, and other devices.
  • Apple intends to adopt Open Firmware in their next-generation Power Macintosh computers, which will enable consistent PCI card support and enhance the Power Macintosh platform.
  • Sun's OEMs, IHVs, and end-users have benefited from OpenBoot for the last five years, with benefits including ease-of-use, a flexible development environment, better time-to-market, and increased market opportunity for new innovations.
  • Open firmware is open and has no fees, with Sun Microsystems pleased that another open Sun technology has been adopted as a new standard by IEEE, major systems companies, and the rest of the industry.

Statistics:

  • Over one million systems worldwide are currently running OpenBoot.
  • The IEEE Standards Committee has approved a Boot Firmware standard based on Sun Microsystems' firmware design.
  • 100% of Sun Microsystems workstations shipped since 1989 are running OpenBoot.
  • 100% of Apple next-generation Power Macintosh computers will adopt Open Firmware.
  • 5 years is the duration for which Sun's OEMs, IHVs, and end-users have benefited from OpenBoot.

Sources:

  • "Sun Microsystems Announces Industry Standard for OpenBoot Firmware" (Business Wire, November 1, 1994)
  • IEEE Standards Committee (IEEE Standard 1275-1994 for Boot Firmware)
  • Sun Microsystems (Sun, OpenBoot, and Sun Microsystems trademarks)
  • Apple Computer (Apple and Macintosh trademarks)