Sun Microsystems Unveils Plans for Interoperability and Compatibility with Microsoft Systems

Strategic Insights -

Sun Microsystems, Inc. revealed its most significant plans to date to provide interoperability and compatibility between Sun and Microsoft systems, without sacrificing the reliability and scalability of the Solaris operating environment. At the company's Enterprise Computing Forum in New York, Masood Jabbar, president of Sun Computer Systems, announced that Sun would deliver native Windows NT services on the Solaris operating environment, dubbed "Project Cascade." This technology would allow Solaris servers to deliver the same network services as Windows NT servers, such as authentication, directory services, and file/print. Sun would leverage its expertise in building enterprise "backbone" infrastructure, where scalability and reliability are crucial.

Key Takeaways:

  • Sun Microsystems plans to provide interoperability and compatibility between Sun and Microsoft systems, without compromising the reliability and scalability of the Solaris operating environment.
  • "Project Cascade" technology will enable Solaris servers to deliver the same network services as Windows NT servers, including authentication, directory services, and file/print.
  • The technology will be available on both the SPARC and Intel platforms, allowing for flexibility in deployment.
  • Sun intends to leverage its success as the No. 1 UNIX storage provider into the vast Windows NT market, introducing its entire line of storage systems into Microsoft Windows NT environments by year-end.
  • The company is also working on a new high-performance card, the SunPCi co-processor card, which will allow users to run Microsoft Windows and DOS applications natively on their Sun workstations.
  • Sun's Ultra workstations will be able to run Microsoft Windows applications natively, integrating Solaris and PC operating environments in a single desktop.
  • Sun's storage success will be leveraged into the Windows NT market, with the company working to link its entire line of storage systems directly into Microsoft Windows NT environments.
  • The "Project Cascade" technology will support not only Solaris-based Windows NT network services but also Windows NT application servers.
  • 54% of Windows NT server licenses sold in 1997 supported file and print services, presenting a significant market opportunity for Sun.

Statistics:

  • 54% of Windows NT server licenses sold in 1997 supported file and print services, according to International Data Corporation (1).
  • Sun is the No. 1 UNIX storage provider, with a noted competence in price/performance and reliability.
  • The Solaris operating environment is being enabled to deliver native Windows NT services through the "Project Cascade" technology.
  • By the end of the year, Sun plans to introduce its entire line of storage systems into Microsoft Windows NT environments.

Sources:

  • "New York--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 9, 1998--Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:SUNW)"
  • "International Data Corporation, Server Operating Environments: 1998 Worldwide Markets and Trends"
  • Sun Microsystems, Inc. press release, "Sun Brings Proven Reliability and Scalability to Windows NT World"
  • Sun Microsystems, Inc. press release, "Sun Customers Experience the Best of Both Worlds: Workstation Performance and PC Interoperability"
  • Sun Microsystems, Inc. press release, "Sun Microsystems Extends Microsoft Windows NT Compatibility Across Entire Line of Sun StorEdge Arrays"