Sun Consolidates Its Software Strategies

With the recent announcements of Sun Java Enterprise System (formerly called Project Orion) and Java Desktop System (formerly called Mad Hatter), Sun Microsystems Inc. has significantly consolidated its software strategies.

These software strategies are tied closely to Sun ONE and the Solaris/SPARC server platform.

Sun is targeting Java Enterprise System at enterprise customers, aiming to provide an open, flexible, competitively priced platform for building Java-based Web applications and network services.

Java Enterprise System is designed to run on the SPARC server platform and supports the latest Solaris operating environments (Solaris 8 and 9).

The central part of Java Enterprise System is a suite of enterprise network services, including Network Identity services, and Web and application services based on J2EE (Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition) technology. The suite provides portal services, high-availability services for always-on functionality at the application level, and new security services that support single sign-on to online content and other business demands.

Sun has introduced a new licensing structure for Java Enterprise and Java Desktop systems—an annual per-employee price of $100. Company officials said this plan aims to help corporations reduce the complexity of software license management by providing a licensing scheme that makes it easier for customers, with a single-priced subscription model for software, support and consulting.

Java Enterprise Systems annual license subscription provides a comprehensive suite of network and Web development services. Customers can also choose to purchase and implement individual components, giving IT managers the flexibility to develop and roll out services as they see fit.

The initial release of Java Desktop is the software stack that provides an enterprise-class desktop solution based on Linux. Java, of course, plays an important role; the major components of Java Desktop integrate with Java technologies.

Some of the core components of Java Desktop are the Linux kernel, GNOME 2.2 Desktop, the Mozilla 1.4 Web browser, Evolution 1.4 e-mail, StarOffice 7 and Java 2 Standard Edition.