Sun ships OpenSolaris, takes on Linux

A mere three years after starting the OpenSolaris project, Sun Microsystems today releases the first official OpenSolaris version. OpenSolaris includes the all-important Project Indiana, a project from Debian founder Ian Murdock to make OpenSolaris’ package management system more like that of Linux. OpenSolaris is based on the original Solaris kernel but includes features such as the Zettabyte File System (ZFS) which offers a range of tools including instant rollback and checks to prevent data corruption.

OpenSolaris is widely being seen as a competitor to the rival Linux open source operating system. One of the main reasons for this is the inclusion of Murdock’s Project Indiana, a software packaging system that simplifies the installation and integration of third party applications.

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