IBM, Intel, SCO To Deliver 64-Bit Version Of Unix

IBM had some company as it revealed its plans for IA-64 Unix yesterday. IBM will work in a project dubbed Monterey with SCO on a new version of Unix that will have features of both IBM's AIX and SCO's UnixWare 7.

In addition, Intel will contribute resources to the project, which it describes as the most open and strategic Unix-on- Intel effort. The chipmaker will also contribute money to generate support from independent software vendors. Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, and Sun Microsystems have chosen to remain closed in their approach to IA-64 Unix, according to Intel. Sequent Computer Systems Inc., for example, says that Monterey is its most strategic path to IA-64 Unix, not Compaq's effort, which it endorsed before. Dell Computer, which has remained mum with regard to IA-64 Unix, has announced support for Monterey.

SCO's UnixWare 7 32-bit version of Unix-on-Intel will be supported by the group of vendors immediately, as enterprise functionality from IBM and Sequent is added. The as-yet- unnamed 64-bit Unix operating system is planned for availability in 18 months--the same time as the launch of the Merced chip. IBM, Intel, and SCO have invited Compaq, HP, and Sun to join Monterey. If the project is completed on time, the new Unix operating system will be available at the same time as 64-bit Windows NT.

Tony Iams, a senior analyst at D.H. Brown Associates, says the partnership of IBM and SCO gives customers the right combination of enterprise technology with a distribution channel to deliver the products. "This could have some real impact on the industry," he says. "AIX already has strong technical standards, and SCO brings the reseller channel to drive high-volume enterprise computing."