SCO puts focus on countertop

NEWS
The SCO Group, which recently changed its name from Caldera in a move which many saw as a desertion of the Linux operating system, is continuing development of Linux -- with a new focus on the countertop. With the name change, SCO shifted its focus toward Unix in the form of OpenServer, which is typically deployed on small servers in branch offices, and UnixWare, which is marketed as a highly scaleable Unix operating system. But the company retains an interest in Linux, according to chief executive Darl McBride, who took over shortly before the name change. Aside from a desktop distribution and close links with the UnitedLinux project aimed at creating a Linux server distribution that enterprise applications can be easily certified against, SCO is also working on a version of Linux for point of sale devices. "Most point of sale devices are character based," said McBride in an interview with ZDNet UK. "What we are developing is a configuration tool that an administrator can send out to query a cash register and find out what is inside. It will then configure itself for what it finds there and build a light version of the Linux operating system that can be automatically downloaded and installed." The increased focus on point of sale devices does not mean that SCO is giving up on the desktop. The company still sells what used to be Caldera Linux, in the form of OpenLinux Workstation and, it is continuing to develop its Volution Manager product, which helps system administrators manage desktop versions of Linux, automatically installing patches and so on, and plans to extend its reach to desktop versions of Windows too. Although SCO is not releasing details of the service yet, McBride said it will fit in with the company's focus on its UnixWare and OpenServer operating systems, and in particular with retail customers who run OpenServer in their branch offices. "People typically are not buying Linux to put into McDonald's retail applications," he said. "We thought customers would be jumping off open server and UnixWare, but they didn't." In fact, said McBride, when he arrived at Caldera he found that the SCO brand carried significantly more weight than the Caldera brand among customers. "The first thing I did was to turn over all the stones and look underneath to find out where the value was. One thing that quickly became clear was that our sales force would spend the first half hour of 45 minutes explaining who Caldera was -- we had no brand recognition outside the US. But as soon as SCO was mentioned everybody knew exactly who they meant." Despite the hype over Linux in recent years, it has not displaced UnixWare and OpenServer as fast as some had forecast, according to McBride. The hype over Linux in the late 90s was such that IBM ditched UnixWare from its unified Unix initiative called Project Monterey in favour of the open source upstart. Project Monterey aimed to create a Unix platform that would span the 32-bit and 64-bit space with a common application programming interface. At the time, IBM said that the number of developers for Linux was far surpassing those on UnixWare. It was shortly after IBM's rebuff that the old Santa Cruz Operation sold UnixWare and OpenServer to Caldera. However, the new SCO Group believes that these operating systems still have plenty of life left in them. "64-bit computing has not exactly taken the world by storm," said McBride. "32-bit continues to be the mainstay." Although SCO plans to continue work on its Unix operating systems, it has no plans to take them to 64-bit. For that, it will rely on the UnitedLinux project, where a price structure that will typically involve maintenance will make Linux more attractive to SCO's worldwide community of resellers who, until now, have been averse to trying to sell Linux into customers sites because of the lack of revenue structure.
More enterprise IT news in ZDNet UK's Tech Update Channel.

For a weekly round-up of the enterprise IT news, sign up for the Tech Update newsletter. Have your say instantly, and see what others have said. Go to the ZDNet news forum. Let the editors know what you think in the Mailroom.

Post your comment

In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in.

You can also log in with Facebook. Log in or create your ZDNet UK account below

  • Login

Will not be displayed with your comment

By signing up for this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understood our Privacy Policy. Questions about membership? Find the answers in the Community FAQ

Get ZDNet UK's daily newsletter

Enter your email address to sign up

ZDNet UK Live

JCB33

How dare film makers, artists or anybody that invests in creativity stop us pirating their works for free. I want to be able to walk into my local...

5 hours ago by JCB33 on ACTA stumbles in Germany
Moley

@GrueMaster. I prefer horses for courses rather than one size fits all. I, and I suspect most other computer users, do not really wish to have...

8 hours ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
greycynic

The product that scares me every time I have to use it is the Office 2007 version of Excel. The first bug that I found was applying the median...

8 hours ago by greycynic on Ten flawed products that derail productivity
GrueMaster

Nice review and very informative. One thing I'd like to add (in reply to whs001's 1st question), the main reason to have the same interface from...

9 hours ago by GrueMaster on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Frederick Wrigley

I'be been using Mint 12 since the RC came out, and I am far more happy with the Cinnamon, the Mate, and, yes (with extensions), theGnome 3...

10 hours ago by Frederick Wrigley via Facebook on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
bdantas

Excellent article. One small correction, though--although a fresh installation of Linux Mint 12 will, indeed, provide the user with a version of...

11 hours ago by bdantas on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Alan Ralph

In related news, the ISPs club together to get the members of the Home Affairs Select Committee (ya goofed on that part, ZDNet UK) copies of "The...

11 hours ago by Alan Ralph via Facebook on MPs urge ISPs to take down terrorist material
Alan Ralph

In related news, the ISPs club together to get the members of the Home Affairs Select Committee (ya goofed on that part, ZDNet UK) copies of "The...

11 hours ago by Alan Ralph via Facebook on MPs urge ISPs to take down terrorist material
Moley

For Gnome 2 die-hards, it is possible to add icons to the bottom panel (or top top panel, if you prefer) which provide the exact Gnome 2...

12 hours ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
ramwellian

Your comments would seem pretty naive and immature. Your 'solution' appears to be, "gee, let's all just give in to the hackers and give them...

12 hours ago by ramwellian on Cloud computing security: no more oxymoron?
BugStalker

"Interesting thought ... If you installed Win7 as a dual boot on a machine that previously only had Linux, and it wrecked your Linux installation,...

12 hours ago by BugStalker on Windows 7 Declares War on GRUB
whs001

This is an excellent summary of Ubuntu and Mint and the interface differences between them. Most such articles take a very partisan position for...

12 hours ago by whs001 on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Moley

@ewallace. Not so clear. Anyone can obtain the text, for example from here http://www.ustr.gov/webfm_send/2379. I support ACTA so long as it and...

13 hours ago by Moley on ACTA: Facts, misconceptions and questions
45283

I think WinRT is fantastic. I just wish it was an option for people that didn't want to go through Microsoft's App Store with its attendant...

16 hours ago by 45283 on Why Windows 8 needs architectural hygiene for WOA
Burn-IT

Nine people? £30m? Who's back pocket is that lot going in? And IF they say it is for new buildings, what about all the ones the government has...

17 hours ago by Burn-IT on Police set to launch three £30m e-crime hubs
ewallace

Just to be clear, nobody knows what is in the text of ACTA, here is a photograph of the text of ACTA http://twitpic.com/8h9iju as submitted to the...

17 hours ago by ewallace on ACTA: Facts, misconceptions and questions
fgvrg56

Unfortunately main issue is that ASUS is refusing to accept that they make some mistake on this version of asus Transformer prime. 1 - GPS sensor...

18 hours ago by fgvrg56 on Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime Wi-Fi & GPS problems?
Ben Woods

@Marcus A fair question. Just talked with Archos which said it was working on an announcement for next week....

19 hours ago by Ben Woods on Archos confirms G9 Ice Cream Sandwich update schedule
Marcus Karlsson

Any update on this, considering the claimed "first week of February"?

21 hours ago by Marcus Karlsson via Facebook on Archos confirms G9 Ice Cream Sandwich update schedule
apexwm

Bill Goodrich : Just as al_langevin pointed out, with Windows Server 2008 there is no Services for Macintosh anymore. It's gone, not available....

1 day ago by apexwm on Windows Server 2008 drops the ball for Mac compatibility

Latest in Application Development