I'm Excited for OpenSolaris 2008.11, Who else is?

[Canis familiaris]

The 2008.05 version of OpenSolaris was nice and very promising. Now OpenSolaris 2008.11 is on the horizon, I really feel excited...

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=opensolaris_200811_pre&num=1

[Naiki Muliaina]

I realy wanted to like Solaris, and have tried it a few times. I like Sun Microsystems. But i dunno, i can find many reasons to say why Solaris is good, but not many to say its utterly fantastic. Does that make sense? Its a good OS, but not good enough to make me move from Ubuntu or its derivatives.

[16777216]

I got a free CD the other day, can't get it to boot for the life of me, so.. for me.. not so much.

[handy]

I've tried Solaris, I didn't like it.

[techmarks]

I suppose for me the main attraction of it is that it offers development tools other then the FSF gcc tools.

Being a System V derived Unix it feels alot like Linux.

I think that's why I like FreeBSD so much now. It's not based on System V Unix. (none of those concepts of run levels etc..)

I installed OpenSolaris a month ago but could never get wireless to work, even though I don't have any problems at all on FreeBSD or Ubuntu.

Still I'll probably try the next release.

[Soldierboy]

OpenSolaris is getting better and better with each release and I commend the team for their efforts. In my opinion, its still a few years away for it being usable for *me*. The pace of Linux development is going faster though and I think that once OpenSolaris does get to the point where its a viable alternative, not many will have a compelling reason to switch (the same reason many Windows users won't switch to Linux).

I have been checking out each new release and will continue doing so.

// 2 cents

[aamukahvi]

I think the ZFS/Nautilus integration is pretty cool.
http://blogs.sun.com/erwann/entry/zfs_on_the_desktop_zfs

[handy]

Yes, I agree, ZFS is certainly a strong point.

[Canis familiaris]

ZFS is certainly great. It's very sad there's no support for it in Linux or rather Linux support for ZFS just due to political disagreements. :(

[Sorivenul]

@ZFS on Linux:
Old Article about porting ZFS to Linux using FUSE. (http://www.linuxworld.com/news/2007/061807-zfs-on-linux.html)
zfs-fuse download page. (https://developer.berlios.de/project/showfiles.php?group_id=6836)
Hope that provides some fun for all of you.

On-Topic:
I'm really excited for the 2008.11 release. While 2008.05 was a letdown for some, I have no complaints personally (other than the package management system), and am sure the new release will be an improvement on an already great project.

[Canis familiaris]

i have no complaints personally (other than the package management system),
+1

[smartboyathome]

ZFS is not great for me. It corrupted my hard drive by saying it was bigger than it actually was. :(

[cardinals_fan]

I wrote a blog post about what I want to see in OpenSolaris in the future. In any case, I'll certainly request a 2008.11 CD.

[cmay]

i started using open-solaris and actually like it very much. however i have not so solaris compatible hardware so i am going to build myself a new computer designed for solaris starting this month. but i cant imagine that solaris is going to be less hardware compatible so if there is a new version out soon then i am actually very exited.

[motang]

The 2008.05 version of OpenSolaris was nice and very promising. Now OpenSolaris 2008.11 is on the horizon, I really feel excited...

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=opensolaris_200811_pre&num=1
I sure am looking forward to OpenSolaris 2008.11. I have 2008.05 running in VirtualBox and it works well, plan on using my Windows XP partition on my notebook to install OpenSolaris 2008.11. :-D

[loneowais]

It's a great step towards a great OS. But it simply ain't ready yet.

There intention is to create an Ubuntu like OS.Which I hope they do...

But Ubuntu will be my primary OS. May I'll use OpenSolaris for JAVA Development.

[fiddledd]

There were a couple of things that didn't work on my laptop, but it does look a very promising OS.

I will certainly try the next release.

[Liviu-Theodor]

Some years ago I used Solaris and I liked it, so I tried OpenSolaris 2008.05, but it did not recognized the sound and network card. If it were only sound, I would have searched the internet or over it's repository for a driver, but without network (wired)? Do you have any idea? Will 2008.11 have better driver support?

[fiddledd]

Some years ago I used Solaris and I liked it, so I tried OpenSolaris 2008.05, but it did not recognized the sound and network card. If it were only sound, I would have searched the internet or over it's repository for a driver, but without network (wired)? Do you have any idea? Will 2008.11 have better driver support?

Here's some info:

http://gdamore.blogspot.com/2008/10/new-stuff-in-opensolaris-200811.html

[Liviu-Theodor]

Here's some info:

http://gdamore.blogspot.com/2008/10/new-stuff-in-opensolaris-200811.html

My problem seem to be related to points 2, 4 and 6 there. I think it would be worth a try. Maybe this time will work... This does not mean I would give up ubuntu, as I have plenty of computers to broke, especially at work...

[ethoms]

I'm Excited for OpenSolaris 2008.11, Who else is?

Yep, it's like waiting for Xmas. I lov Solaris and Linux equally but there is something special about Solaris, there's a feeling when using it that can't be easily described. ZFS is absolutely amazing! It's not just what it can do, it's how fast it can do it. It will revolutionize the way we as IT administrators deal will filesystems. It's so logical and easy to do things, and once you've learnt what it can do and how to do it, the possibilities are endless. Aside from ZFS, It is such a clever OS. The driver support is really holding it back, that seems to be what puts people off, but Sun are working really hard on that. Open Source apps can relatively easily be ported to Solaris so that's not too big an issue in the long run. Printer support is one of the main reasons I'm still using Ubuntu. Other than the fact that Ubuntu Rocks. For me, it's very hard to chose which one to back, right now I'm on the fence. I have a Solaris Express server but Ubuntu workstations.

I'm also very excited about my Intepid Ibex that I've just updated to, seems like some very nice changes under the bonnet, not seen too many on the surface though. Must have a wee play tonight. :guitar:

[SunnyRabbiera]

Solaris is very promising, but its behind even BSD when it comes to desktop use.
But I would use it on a server without a second thought

[Thelasko]

I tried it on a virtual machine about a month ago. It was very nice, but my system just wasn't powerful enough. If I had a brand new machine that I didn't know what to do with (when is that going to happen?) I would put it on there.

[BGFG]

First thing that impressed me with it was the speed of the live cd and the fact that it could generate desktop effects.
But i'm not a developer and as an end user the system felt incomplete and unpolished.
I've been to the site this morning and i see that they have redone the entire thing(the site i mean), seems like the marketing is really going to begin now.
Aside from ZFS, sun says that they have the fastest kernel and since i'm a performance freak this is a lure for me.
It also looks like a LOT of development has happened since 2008.05 So yeah, colour me excited, looks like Ubuntu and OpenSolaris are my choices.
Ubuntu + BTRFS, Solaris + ZFS, both with GNOME ....seriously....:)

[fballem]

I did a braindump on OpenSolaris here: http://forums.opensolaris.com/thread.jspa?threadID=609&tstart=15

Somewhere, I think in this thread, I read a suggestion that because OpenOffice and other applications were not installed by default, that was a bad thing.

I actually think that it is a good thing. Part of the bloat of GNOME are the applications (like Ekiga and Evolution) that are considered as 'core components' and are always installed. As far as distributions go, I would prefer to be able to easily choose what applications should be installed rather than have a default set of choices. That is my preference however, and for a new user (which we all were at one point in time, and still are in many situations), installing a good set of default applications is not a bad thing.

Still, I like the fact that OpenSolaris will install itself and make it possible to then install the appropriate applications - aside from those that are installed as part of the GNOME desktop (Ekiga and Evolution). I use evolution, but I know that others use Thunderbird and Sunbird and would prefer to not have evolution installed at all.

I may try OpenSolaris once it is released, but I have a feeling that I'm going to be waiting for 2009.05 before I find something close. I think it's the Adobe support, ext3/ntfs, and the Fluendo support that are going to be missing and will be showstoppers for me.

[smartboyathome]

I did a braindump on OpenSolaris here: http://forums.opensolaris.com/thread.jspa?threadID=609&tstart=15

Somewhere, I think in this thread, I read a suggestion that because OpenOffice and other applications were not installed by default, that was a bad thing.

I actually think that it is a good thing. Part of the bloat of GNOME are the applications (like Ekiga and Evolution) that are considered as 'core components' and are always installed. As far as distributions go, I would prefer to be able to easily choose what applications should be installed rather than have a default set of choices. That is my preference however, and for a new user (which we all were at one point in time, and still are in many situations), installing a good set of default applications is not a bad thing.

Still, I like the fact that OpenSolaris will install itself and make it possible to then install the appropriate applications - aside from those that are installed as part of the GNOME desktop (Ekiga and Evolution). I use evolution, but I know that others use Thunderbird and Sunbird and would prefer to not have evolution installed at all.

I may try OpenSolaris once it is released, but I have a feeling that I'm going to be waiting for 2009.05 before I find something close. I think it's the Adobe support, ext3/ntfs, and the Fluendo support that are going to be missing and will be showstoppers for me.

Adobe support? As in Flash? They have flash for OpenSolaris. Just download it from the Adobe web site, simple as that. What I don't like is the lack of programs and how hard it was (for me) to try to compile something on there vs on Linux.

[cardinals_fan]

Solaris is very promising, but its behind even BSD when it comes to desktop use.
But I would use it on a server without a second thought
I would say it the other way around. OpenSolaris was a bit slow, but it actually supported my hardware pretty well.
First thing that impressed me with it was the speed of the live cd and the fact that it could generate desktop effects.
But i'm not a developer and as an end user the system felt incomplete and unpolished.
I've been to the site this morning and i see that they have redone the entire thing(the site i mean), seems like the marketing is really going to begin now.
Aside from ZFS, sun says that they have the fastest kernel and since i'm a performance freak this is a lure for me.
It also looks like a LOT of development has happened since 2008.05 So yeah, colour me excited, looks like Ubuntu and OpenSolaris are my choices.
Ubuntu + BTRFS, Solaris + ZFS, both with GNOME ....seriously....:)
I wasn't impressed by the performance, and the lack of easy-access compiling tools put me off. However, some of your issues can definitely be remedied. VLC is easily installed - read this (http://forums.opensolaris.com/message.jspa?messageID=1374). My HP all-in-one printer (OfficeJet 7310) worked flawlessly out of the box, but I'm not familiar with your model. The lack of Acrobat Reader is annoying, but I assure you that Java works perfectly out-of-the-box, on either x86_64 or i386.
Adobe support? As in Flash? They have flash for OpenSolaris. Just download it from the Adobe web site, simple as that. What I don't like is the lack of programs and how hard it was (for me) to try to compile something on there vs on Linux.
Yeah, getting GCC working is surprisingly difficult.

[cmay]

Yeah, getting GCC working is surprisingly difficult. yes it is ;)

[cardinals_fan]

My free CD arrived. To my disappointment, 2008.11 is using recent NVIDIA drivers, which are utterly broken with my card. I won't blame OpenSolaris for this; it's NVIDIA's fault for hanging their customers with older cards out to dry. I've reported this several times, to no avail.

[DeadSuperHero]

Although I've really liked Solaris, there is one flaw that is really frustrating me right now:

-No Android SDK.

I've got Eclipse installed. Heck, I even have the Linux SDK installed inside it, just for kicks. And most of it works, except for adb and the Android emulator.

This is really frustrating, as I was really getting excited about writing Java apps to run on Dalvik for Android.

I emailed the Open Handset Alliance about it, hopefully it'll reach someone.

[cmay]

i just upgraded to open-solaris 2008.11 .
it has more packages now i think. there is songbird which i do not know from linux and the sunstudio and gcc compiler is very easy to find and install this time. the install took about 40 minuttes and everything worked out of the box like it also did on the last install. i found some good artwork from gnome.org and use this as i always do as my office computer and internet computer. so i still not found out all the more exiting things about it but i read that it has a redistributor program that allows one to make a remix of the solaris distribution for live cd. which i will read up on a bit and then maybe try out .

[jrusso2]

The 2008.05 version of OpenSolaris was nice and very promising. Now OpenSolaris 2008.11 is on the horizon, I really feel excited...

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=opensolaris_200811_pre&num=1

Let me know when it works as well as Linux for a desktop.

[cardinals_fan]

Let me know when it works as well as Linux for a desktop.
"As well" for who? Doing what?

[jrusso2]

When it can do everything Linux can do, works just as easy and has the same level of application and hardware support.

[pelle.k]

When it can do everything Linux can do
I don't think it'll ever do that? It's a diffrent tool. It can do some things linux can't, and vice versa.
But i assume you mean "desktop readiness" as defined by the general public?

[cardinals_fan]

When it can do everything Linux can do, works just as easy and has the same level of application and hardware support.
No two operating systems are identical. I worry about my own desktop.

[jrusso2]

No two operating systems are identical. I worry about my own desktop.

Great but I have my own desires not yours. This is what I would want.

[cardinals_fan]

Great but I have my own desires not yours. This is what I would want.
That's exactly my point. Having the "same level of application and hardware support" really just means 'supporting my hardware and the apps I want'. If it doesn't do that for you, then don't use it. That's why we have choices :D

[|{urse]

IMO Solaris is solid but boring. I hope the new release is more ummm lol.. something. I expected solaris to be something way cooler when i first tried it, i guess.

*shrugs*

[Sorivenul]

I expected solaris to be something way cooler when i first tried it, i guess.
Solaris and OpenSolaris are cool, but a lot of, if not most of the work is "under the hood". You aren't going to see OpenSolaris with Compiz + AWN + gdesklets + conky + gkrellm + Google Desktop + + +... It is meant to be functional, and while it doesn't support as much hardware as Linux, it doesn't necessarily have to to fill its niche. There are plenty of features and innovations made by the Solaris/OpenSolaris crew, but many, like ZFS, will not be fully utilized by the average user anytime soon.

[cardinals_fan]

IMO Solaris is solid but boring. I hope the new release is more ummm lol.. something. I expected solaris to be something way cooler when i first tried it, i guess.

*shrugs*
This may have been due to the insane hype ZFS received prior to release. It's an excellent filesystem (though I think HAMMER is cooler), but it isn't the cure to cancer or the bringer of world peace or whatever else the media claimed.

[|{urse]

Solaris and OpenSolaris are cool, but a lot of, if not most of the work is "under the hood". You aren't going to see OpenSolaris with Compiz + AWN + gdesklets + conky + gkrellm + Google Desktop + + +... It is meant to be functional, and while it doesn't support as much hardware as Linux, it doesn't necessarily have to to fill its niche. There are plenty of features and innovations made by the Solaris/OpenSolaris crew, but many, like ZFS, will not be fully utilized by the average user anytime soon.

Thank you for assuming i am an average user =) Actually I've used solaris quite a bit on a few different jobs and i wasn't all that impressed. I made a nice terabyte server with it as the host os for a very well known bank. My lack of "wow" definitely did not come from it's inability to run compiz, which it can run (but i personally dislike/don't use by the way).

):P

[Sorivenul]

Thank you for assuming i am an average user =)
I wasn't assuming anything, but your original statement could easily be misinterpreted as "Im a n00b to Solaris and wish it had 1337 trix like ubutnu".

I made a nice terabyte server with it as the host os
for a very well known bank.
This is something that not every OS is designed for or equipped to do well. You did it with Solaris, which is applaudable.

My lack of "wow" definitely did not come from it's inability to run compiz, which it can run (but i personally dislike/don't use by the way).
I know it can run things like Compiz, but it is not designed to be a "tricked-out" graphical overload like some users want, especially those who will sacrifice performance for appearance. I'm also not a fan of Compiz.

Cheers!

[|{urse]

Yeah, I am cooler than you though.

:lolflag: