Caldera, SCO Unveil Open UNIX 8
Mar 26th, 22:36 UTC
Collaborative Product Deploys Linux Applications In
Enterprise-Class Environment, Launch to Follow Proposed
Acquisition - Developers to Get Early Access
HANOVER, Germany, CeBIT, March 26 -- Caldera Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CALD) and The Santa Cruz
Operation, Inc. (SCO) (Nasdaq: SCOC) today announced the forthcoming release of Open UNIX 8. By incorporating the Linux
Kernel Personality (LKP) technology into the next release of the UnixWare(R) 7 kernel, Open UNIX 8 will enable Linux
applications to be deployed on top of the powerful and highly scalable UNIX kernel. Caldera will become the owner of the UNIX
kernel when the acquisition of the SCO Server Software Division is completed as estimated in the second calendar quarter of
2001.
Open UNIX 8 will maintain compatibility and continuity with the UnixWare 7 operating system while providing a complete Linux
environment. In addition, the product will incorporate support for the execution of unmodified Linux Intel(R) Architecture binaries,
giving users, resellers and ISVs the best of both UNIX and Linux technologies. The result is transparent execution of Open UNIX
8 (or UnixWare 7) applications and most Linux applications, which will run without modification or recompilation.
"Open UNIX 8 is the first step in implementing the vision of the pending new company," said Ransom Love, president and CEO of
Caldera Systems. "It combines the heritage of UNIX with the momentum of Linux, and will be our premiere product for data
intensive applications like database, email and supply chain management. The incorporation of the Linux application engine into
the UnixWare kernel essentially redefines the direction of the product, and motivates a new brand identity -- Open UNIX."
"If you need to run a Linux application in a data center environment, Open UNIX 8 will fill the bill with the highest standard of
reliability and scalability," said Dave McCrabb, president of the SCO Server Software Division. "We are 'unifying UNIX with
Linux for Business' and this product is a major proof point."
"One of the strengths of UNIX is its ability to provide enterprise-class, data intensive applications," said Bill Claybrook, research
director for Linux and UNIX of Aberdeen Group. "Open UNIX 8 is positioned to play a significant role in bridging the gap to Linux
implementation in a data center environment."
The LKP technology in Open UNIX 8 will include the same GNU tools and libraries built into Caldera OpenLinux(TM), which
were developed with close adherence to the specifications of the proposed Linux Standards Base (LSB). Open UNIX 8 will track
this developing standard, assuring the highest degree of application compatibility.
Open UNIX 8 will be demonstrated at Caldera's booth at CeBIT in Hanover, Germany, March 22-28, Hall 3 Stand C45. An Early
Availability Program is in place to supply selected partners with LKP technology previews based on UnixWare 7.1.1 systems. In
April, Caldera and the SCO Server Software Division will begin distributing Open UNIX 8.0 beta versions to a broad list of
partners.
The product is targeted to be available mid-year and will include additional enhancements and refinements to the UNIX platform,
representing an additional value for existing UnixWare 7 customers. Open UNIX 8 will be available to UnixWare 7 customers as
a system upgrade.
For more information about Caldera Systems' and SCO's products and services, please visit http://www.calderasystems.com and
www.sco.com.
Caldera Systems, Inc.
Founded in 1998 by Ransom Love, Caldera Systems (Nasdaq: CALD) is a "Linux for Business" leader. Caldera specializes in the
development, deployment and management of Linux-based clients and servers. Based in Orem, UT, Caldera has offices and
1000+ resellers worldwide.
The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.
With headquarters in Santa Cruz, CA, The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc. is comprised of three independent divisions -- Tarantella,
Inc., the Server Software Division, and the Professional Services Division. The Server Software Division is a leading provider of
UNIX server operating systems. Tarantella, Inc. promotes a range of software technologies and products that web-enable any
application instantly, for access by users anywhere. The Professional Services Division helps organizations create and deploy
personalized IT strategies. The three divisions sell and support their products and services through a worldwide network of
distributors, resellers, systems integrators and OEMs.
Caldera is a registered trademark of Caldera Systems, Inc. All other products, services, companies, events and publications are
trademarks, registered trademarks or servicemarks of their respective owners in the U.S. and/or other countries.
The Santa Cruz Operation, SCO, UnixWare and Tarantella are trademarks or registered trademarks of The Santa Cruz Operation,
Inc. in the USA and other countries.
LINUX is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.
UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group in the United States and other countries.
Forward Looking Statements
The statements set forth above include forward-looking statements, including statements relating to the pending sale of SCO's
Server Software and Professional Services divisions to Caldera Systems, Inc., that involve risks and uncertainties. Caldera and
SCO ("the Companies") wish to advise readers and investors that a number of important factors could cause actual results to
differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Those factors include SCO and Caldera shareholders not
approving the transaction, conditions to the merger not being satisfied or waived, the failure of the products described above to
operate as designed due to incompatibility with some platforms or other defects; the Companies' reliance on developers in the
open source community; new and changing technologies and customer acceptance of those technologies; the Companies' ability
to compete effectively with other companies; failure of the Companies' brands to achieve the broad recognition necessary to
succeed; unenforceability of the GNU general public license; the Companies' reliance on third party developers of components of
their software offerings; claims of infringement of third-party intellectual property rights; and disruption in the Companies'
distribution sales channel. These and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially, are also discussed in the
Companies' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including their recent filings on Form 10-Q.
(Submitted by Martin Pitts of Linux Today)
| 
