(Q): Can Linux do anything that Solaris cannot do ? How committed is Sun with x64 servers and Windows support? Will Sun give Windows support option?
Larry Wake (A): The big question when choosing any OS is whether the apps you need to use are supported, and then whether the systems you want to run are supported. By the raw numbers, Solaris supports more applications and more systems than just about any distro out there, but there may be cases where the app you need or the system you have is supported by Linux and not Solaris (or vice versa). Sun is absolutely committed to the x64 market. We've gone from nowhere to number 6 in the market in just a couple of years, and have products that we believe are compelling for anyone using Linux, Windows, or Solaris — and yes, we support all of them. Since I'm a Solaris guy, I'll point out that 2/3 rds of Solaris licenses have been for x86/x64 systems... and that's been true for the last several years, not just the very recent past. We feel that Solaris supporting both x86/x64 systems and SPARC systems gives us a unique advantage compared to any other Unix.

(Q): I'm a startup and Sun hardware seems more expensive than others. Is there any special pricing for Startups to use Sun hardware and software?
Steve Staso (A): We have heard from start-up companies that you want to run your business on Sun. Sun Startup Essentials is a simple, highly-discounted program designed to make it easy to get Sun systems, software, and the Solaris Operating System up and running quickly: http://www.sun.com/startupessentials/.

(Q): Does Solaris 10 support Endeavor Voyager, if it does than what is the recommended hardware?
Larry Wake (A): It looks like Endeavor does support Solaris 10 — I would check with the company to see what their recommended hardware is. Support and product requirements are handled by the software vendor, not by Sun.

(Q): I run MySQL on Linux. Are there any benefits to run it on Solaris?
Steve Staso (A): MySQL is one of the free open source software packages that we have compiled and tuned for Solaris on T1000 and T2000 servers: http://cooltools.sunsource.net/index.html. Comparing the max ops/sec of the DL145 to the T2000 showed an approximately 4x performance increase for the T2000. See Digitar's own report on MySQL performance on Sun versus Linux: http://www.sun.com/servers/coolthreads/testimonials/.

(Q): I've got a lot of older SPARC systems that are getting close to end of service life, what are my options?
Christine Kipp (A): There are a number of options available to you for simple server upgrades or we can do a more comprehensive assessment of your environment and help architect a consolidation solution lower total cost of ownership and improve efficiencies. You can start with the resources at this web site: http://www.sun.com/tradeins/usiirefresh/index.html.

(Q): I am thinking about migrating from Linux to T2000? Can you tell me if or why I should?
Matthew Keep (A): The T2000 can run Linux or Solaris, so you have lots of choice to create the solution that is perfect to your environment. The T2000 delivers much higher levels of performance in much smaller space and power envelopes than competing systems equipped with x86, Itanium or p5+ processors, and therefore you can get these benefits whether you are running Linux or Solaris applications. It is important to ensure that the application is multi-threaded and has low floating point content (as all web servers, app servers and OLTP database servers are) — we have a tool to run this analysis for you: http://cooltools.sunsource.net/cooltst/index.html. Ultimately, Solaris will always offer better value than Linux. Not only is it open source, but it is free to download and has lower support costs than Red Hat. It offers proven mission-critical reliability and scalability, while supporting the rich threading capabilities of most commercial apps — enabling you to get most out of your application hardware investments. It is also fully indemnified — no need to pay Microsoft in their current protection racket with SuSE. But ultimately the choice of OS is down to you — the T2000 supports both.

(Q): What is the biggest x64 machine Sun has for consolidation?
Arvie Martin (A): The Sun Fire X4600 is the largest X64 server for consolidation. This is an 8-socket, 16 way server.

(Q): I'd like to take advantage of the free, open source Solaris. Are there any tools to assist with migrating applications from Linux to Solaris?
Steve Staso (A): We've got tools and partners you can see today at http://www.sun.com/solaris/move; we have training courses on helping Linux administrators add Solaris to their skill set, and stay tuned for more in the near future.

(Q): I know a beta of Solaris 11 was released in February of this year. When is it expected that Solaris 11 will be the OS marketed? What high level changes are expected to come between the two releases or will this be more of a transition like Solaris 7 to 8?
Larry Wake (A): The next version of Solaris is currently code-named project Nevada. Rather than a beta program, we have an ongoing program called Solaris Express, which delivers a new build of Nevada each month that anyone can download and work with. What we're doing today is taking the features under development in Nevada and releasing them in Solaris 10 updates. Solaris 10 6/06 is our current update, and Solaris 10 11/06 is coming out in a few weeks. Expect to see new features in areas such as security and availability, as well as incorporation of open source technologies such as Xen. Since we're getting the necessary new features into Solaris 10, we haven't set a date for a new release yet. When we do, we expect we will be able to offer the same guaranteed compatibility that we have for the last several releases.

(Q): How many ISV applications are currently shipping on Solaris 10 x64?
Pradeep Parmar (A): More than 1,800!!

(Q): What programs are available for migrating from Linux?
Christine Kipp (A): Sun has a complete portfolio of systems and services to help reduce the cost/risk of this type of migration to Sun platforms. You can find details at: http://www.sun.com/tradeins/lintel/

(Q): What options do you have for consolidating on Sun's X64 servers?
Pradeep Parmar (A): For the non-x64 Servers: The Consolidation Tool for Sun Fire Servers V1.0, Sun Fire T1000 and T2000 Edition, is a software tool designed to simplify the task of consolidating multiple applications onto the Sun Fire T1000/T2000 platform using Solaris Containers. Consolidation Tool: http://cooltools.sunsource.net/consolidation/.

(Q): Is there still a need for Veritas Volume Manager if running Solaris 10 and ZFS?
Larry Wake (A): ZFS does not require an additional volume manager — the functions traditionally handled by volume managers are either built into ZFS, or automated/eliminated by the way ZFS is designed.

(Q): Is X64 server the solution for running virtual instances of OS using VMware. Or that is also an option on the SPARC hardware?
Tom Atwood (A): If you want to run virtual instances of the OS using specifically VMware then the Sun option is our x64 servers. However, you can run virtual instances on our SPARC servers using different technologies than VMware. LDOMs (logical domains) will be released our our US-T1-based SPARC servers (T2000/T1000) early next year. This will allow you to run many instances of Solaris and Linux (Ubuntu at first) on a single T2000/T1000 SPARC server. We also have dynamic system domains on our US-IV+ servers that allow the deployment of multiple instances and different instances of Solaris. We also have Solaris 10 containers that allows for multiple application environments on one instance of Solaris. Solaris 10 containers are available on Sun SPARC servers as well as our Sun X64 servers.

(Q): Can you give me some examples of customers using your virtualization solution?
Pradeep Parmar (A): New Energy Associates was able to achieve 18:1 servers consolidation using Sun Fire x64 Servers and Solaris 10 OS. Please point your browser to this url for more details: http://www.sun.com/customers/servers/newenergy.xml.

(Q): Does Sun provide Oracle support running on Solaris?
Kevin Coyne (A): Yes. Sun recommends that you get your primary support through Oracle. We also offer the Vendor Integration Program (VIP) that includes Oracle support for issues that span Oracle and Sun. In addition, we provide Veritas, Oracle and Sun (VOS) support for premier contracts that connects Sun's backline support to Oracle.

(Q): Hello. I would like to know what's the biggest difference (if you can choose only one) between Xen (virtualization mechanism by Novell) and Sun's Project BlackBox?
Larry Wake (A): An interesting question! Xen is a paravirtualization technology project that is being adopted by many OSes, including Solaris, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and SUSE (Novell). It's part of Sun's overall virtualization strategy, which includes VMware, Solaris Containers, and other technologies in the OS, system and storage space. Companies are interested in virtualization as a way to get more efficient use of their existing data center investments. Project Blackbox is a novel way to add more capacity without the time and expense of building out more data centers — it puts the equivalent of a 10,000 sq ft data center in a standardized shipping center. So, both ideas are all about more efficient use of business resources, but they're radically different ways of achieving it.

(Q): Can you give me some more information about consolidation on X64?
Pradeep Parmar (A): Yes, we have multiple options. For consolidating multiple applications, all Sun x64 servers come standard with Solaris Containers at no extra charge. For running multiple operating systems on a single server, Sun Fire x64 servers support VMware. VMware can run multiple copies of Linux, Windows and Solaris as guest operating systems. Our services offerings help customers maximize their investments in virtualization/consolidation projects. Customers who are moving from HP/IBM/Dell servers to Sun servers can also take advantage of discounted pricing on Sun gear!

(Q): What trade in promotions are currently running for Sun CoolThreads and UltraSPARC IV servers?
Christine Kipp (A): Sun is currently running two promotions for upgrades to the most recent to Sun Fire CoolThreads, UltraSPARC IIIi, and UltraSPARC IV+ servers. Sun Enterprise UltraSPARC II servers are eligible for double trade-in value with discounts up to 20% applied to the list price of the replacement Sun Fire server. Sun is also offering a Sun Fire E6900 and E25K server upgrade promotion where the server chassis is free (up to a $315,000 value), in addition to trade-in discounts of up to 20%. Both promos run through April 1, 2006. There is no better time to upgrade your current Sun servers, or competitive systems to the latest Sun Fire server technology.

(Q): For someone who is already a fan of Solaris, what are some of the key items that can be used to convince clients to migrate to Solaris from an existing Red Hat Enterprise Linux solution implemented (usually) on Compaq Proliant hardware, and what would be the significant advantages of switching to Sun hardware vs utilizing the existing hardware?
Larry Wake (A): In general, I'd point out that the reasons why a client might have chosen Red Hat a few years ago are now in Solaris' favor — Solaris has a low overall cost of acquisition and ownership, it is supported on more systems than Red Hat, and is supported by more applications than Red Hat. In addition, it's open source, and has a product life cycle that is significantly more business-oriented than Red Hat's — including guaranteed compatibility between releases. For a better picture of this, we have a case study where a company considering Linux found Solaris to be much more cost effective fit, which you can find at http://www.sun.com/solaris/ning This addresses the question as to "why Sun hardware?" too. ...but all that's really about why Solaris fits in the same place as Red Hat, and why it's more cost effective and business friendly. There are also a whole lot of reasons why Solaris is a better OS, such a DTrace, Solaris Containers, security functionality, and Predictive Self Healing. So the short answer would be better OS at a better price, and a better fit for the business. What's not to like?

(Q): We are looking into the thin client solution from Sun. My question is how will that work considering our desktop O/S is Windows or soon to come Vista ?
Srdjan Matovina (A): Sun thin client solution, Sun Ray, support MS Windows remote client technology. The answer is yes you can access your desktop MS Windows OS using Sun Ray by using MS Windows Remote Client.

(Q): Srdjan, can you give me more info on the Sun Ray answer?
Srdjan Matovina (A): Sun is using Sun Ray Connector for Windows OS and this is a Sun supported terminal service client. This client is based on the Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol, that enables Sun Ray user to access application running on remote Windows Terminal Server. More information available at: http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/coll/1230.5?q=Sun+Ray.

(Q): Is the X64 server Windows Vista compatible?
Arvie Martin (A): Only Sun's desktop products (Ultra 20 and Ultra 40 workstations) are Windows Vista compatible. The Sun Fire x64 Server line support Windows Server 2003 (32 and 64 bit).

(Q): Please explain the differences on how floating point is handled between a T2000 and US-IV+.
Tom Atwood (A): US-IV+ is a traditional processor with 2 cores and each core has 2 floating operations per clock cycle so it gets good FP performance. The T2000 uses the US-T1 processor with has 8 cores. However, on the current T2000 there is only one small FP processor that supports all 8 cores. So, the FP on the T2000 is not good so that is why they system is targeted to non-FP applications. Note that in the second-half of 2007 we will release a new version of the US-T1 processor used in the T2000. This processor will have 1 FP unit per core for a total of 8 FP units per processor. This will improve the FP on the T2000 significantly and FP-based workloads should run well the T2000 and future products based on the US-T1 processor.

(Q): I have heard about logical domains on T2000? Can you explain?
Matthew Keep (A): Logical Domains (LDoms) are a new software feature we previewed several weeks ago, and intend to release early in 2007. LDoms enable a user to create multiple, isolated partitions or domains (up to 32) on a T1000 or T2000, each able to run their own OS instance — which can either be Solaris 10 or certified Linux distros (Ubuntu / Gentoo today — more to come). They are a great complement for the existing Solaris 10 Containers capability which provide application separation. LDoms provide OS separation. Together these technologies enable users to virtualize their server environment, underpinning consolidation initiatives or enhancing business agility. Best of all, LDoms will, as per Containers, be a no cost feature — which further enhances the value Sun Fire T1000 and T2000 servers deliver, when combined with great throughput at low power, cooling and space consumption.

(Q): How does Sun support VMware?
Pradeep Parmar (A): Sun's x64 servers are qualified and certified to run VMware. Customers can also buy support for VMware directly from Sun.

(Q): I am using Tru64 and need to migrate, what are my options?
Tom Atwood (A): Sun has a service called Enterprise Migration Suite. This is a service that helps assess your application and will give an estimated cost of migration. You can then either get Sun to migrate code ready for you to test or Sun can propose a system migration project for.

(Q): Is there any help for migrating Java applications off Solaris 2.6 that use JVM versions that are not available for newer versions of Solaris?
Larry Wake (A): Sun can offer a few different services to help you depending on the size of the applications you need to move. For large applications your local Sun office should be able to help with a workshop to help you move using it Enterprise Migration tools.

(Q): I've got an E4500 servers and I need to upgrade, what should I upgrade to?
Tom Atwood (A): There are two options for upgrading from an E4500 and the answer will be based on your workload...you can upgrade to US-IV+ servers which are 3-5x faster and run Solaris 8, 9, 10. By upgrading to US-IV+ (v490 or v890) you can move your application over unchanged and get a similar form factor. There is another option if you are sensitive to power and cooling issues and that is you can migrate to a T2000 CoolThreads server. This is a server with an 8 core, 32 thread processor that might be able to fulfill the applications that were running on the E4500. If you do go with the T2000 you will need to look closely at your workload. No floating point and no single-thread apps. Web tier and App tier, especially JVM-based apps are ideal. DB for OLTP is excellent at well. Note that the T2000 server will require Solaris 10 but the T2000 is binary compatible with the E4500 so your app can be moved without changes.