dionj@sco.COM (Dion L. Johnson) (03/06/90)
SCO UPGRADE STORY
-------------------
Due to the recent and lively postings regarding SCO upgrade policies, we at
SCO would like to provide a clear statement of the facts and rationale behind
our policies.
WARNING: The following contains explicit and unexpurgated commercial content.
Hit 'N' now if you wish to forego this sort of information.
BACKGROUND: WHY WE MOVED FROM SCO XENIX TO SCO UNIX SYSTEM V
SCO XENIX has been a tremendously successful product, and it is well known for
its features and capabilities. It is based on earlier UNIX System V source
baselines, and its low memory requirements and mature robustness have
contributed to its ongoing popularity.
In mid-1989, SCO introduced a new operating system based on AT&T's UNIX System
V/386 Release 3.2. For the first time, AT&T allowed other vendors to license
the UNIX System trademark. In order to avoid the historical confusion about
whether SCO XENIX was really a bonafide UNIX System, SCO decided to license
the UNIX trademark and comply with AT&T's strict conformance guidelines and
rename our product line SCO UNIX System V/386 Release 3.2.
SCO UNIX System V is a larger and more powerful version of the UNIX System
than previous releases. For example, it is more easily extended to support
networking and distributed file systems because it was designed with features
such as Streams and File System Switch. To the AT&T baseline, SCO added
features designed to meet the FIPS-POSIX and X/Open Portability Guide
requirements, as well as the U.S. Government Department of Defense National
Computer Security Center (NCSC) Trusted Computer Systems Evaluation Criteria
at the C2 level. SCO UNIX System V also includes a fast file system (AFS) and
provides the basis for SCO's Open Desktop workstation product.
Based on the advanced architectural features of this release, SCO has created
additional optional products such as SCO MP/X (multiprocessor extensions) and
SCO NFS (distributed filesystem). However, we still offer some optional
products--such as SCO TCP/IP, SCO VP/ix, and SCO Xsight--that run on both SCO
XENIX and SCO UNIX System V environments.
SCO UNIX System V Release 3.2 has been well received and accepted because it
provides excellent upward compatibility for running both 286 and 386 XENIX
applications. It also offers much better system administration and
documentation, as well as all of the value-added features that have made SCO
XENIX System V such a success.
We appreciate that some SCO XENIX users are reluctant to switch because SCO
UNIX System V is still in its first release. They feel that SCO UNIX System V
has not yet gained the maturity that comes from dozens of releases based on
feedback from hundreds of thousands of actual field users. It's true that
because of its more modular architecture and enhanced functionality, the UNIX
System requires more memory and disk space than XENIX, and it takes a larger
hardware configuration to provide the same performance. In addition, SCO
XENIX device drivers will not run on the UNIX System without at least a
recompilation, and it takes time before all of the add-on hardware vendors can
provide new versions of their drivers.
Because of these concerns, we have assured our customers that we will continue
to support the SCO XENIX product line as long as significant demand continues.
In fact, since the release of SCO UNIX System V/386 Release 3.2, we have
continuously issued bug fixes and support supplements to SCO XENIX System V in
response to user feedback. If necessary, we will roll these changes into new
versions of the product from time to time. We will also make updates to these
new versions available to existing customers.
Many of these updates and bug fixes are available to anyone over our BBS, via
anonymous uucp. For a copy of downloading instructions, simply mail
support@sco.com.
SCO has also targeted the first customer shipment of SCO XENIX System V
Development System Release 2.3.1 for March 16. This release incorporates all
of SCO Support's level 1 and level 2 bugs, as well as all development-system
bug-fix disks circulating with other retail products. It also includes
significant enhancements to the C compiler.
SCO UPGRADE POLICIES
SCO is committed to providing our customers with a smooth upgrade path so that
they can keep pace with our current product offerings.
At this point, SCO has committed to actively support SCO XENIX 386 until at
least the end of 1991, and we will support SCO XENIX 286 indefinitely.
Furthermore, we will extend our support beyond those dates if customer demand
warrants it.
Meanwhile the bulk of our resources are devoted to making SCO UNIX System V
and related optional products the most advanced and powerful version of the
UNIX System available. We have also based our new Open Desktop product line
on SCO UNIX System V. Open Desktop includes a complete version of the SCO
UNIX System, along with fully integrated TCP/IP, NFS, X Window System, OSF
Motif, DOS emulator and distributed SQL database.
A major new release, SCO UNIX System V/386 Release 3.2 Version 2, will
incorporate all of the current bug fixes that were created in response to
actual customer use of the product, as well as significant performance
improvements and support for additional devices, such as CD-ROMS, more tape
drives, disks, printers, etc. In addition, Version 2 will provide more
flexibility in configuring the enhanced security features to meet customer
needs--for example, developers who do not require extensive multiuser security
features, and BBS sites who wish to implement their own security features.
Other improvements included in Version 2 will be a full Job Control Korn Shell
and tools to ease the conversion from the SCO XENIX to SCO UNIX System V. In
addition, Version 2 will include features added for Open Desktop that better
support a networked, X-Window environment, such as support for LAN Manager
networks and X/Open-conformant ISAM.
SCO encourages current SCO XENIX users to consider upgrading to SCO UNIX
System V/386 Release 3.2 when Version 2 becomes available in June.
We have attempted to make the upgrade from SCO XENIX to SCO UNIX System V as
painless as possible. Unfortunately, this upgrade requires a complete new set
of floppies and manuals, as well as a new AT&T UNIX System license. This
upgrade is available in a convenient prepaid mailer through all SCO dealers
and distributors or directly from SCO if you are an SCO SoftCare or SCO
SoftTech customer or a member of our certified SCO Developer Program.
(The SCO Developer Program is for hardware and software vendors who
are creating products to operate on the SCO platforms.)
If you wish, you may subscribe to our SCO SoftCare or SCO SoftTech support
service or join our developer program prior to ordering the upgrade, if you
meet the qualifications. The same prices and prepaid mailer can be used to
upgrade either the operating system or the development system. Prices also
vary according to the release from which you are upgrading. A list of the
recommended prices for this upgrade follows. The upgrade will be to whatever
version of SCO UNIX System V Release 3.2 is currently shipping. An update
from Version 1 to Version 2 of SCO UNIX System V/386 Release 3.2 will also be
available at a very attractive price.
PRICES FOR UPGRADING TO SCO UNIX SYSTEM V
This table shows the prices of upgrades from the following operating systems
(unlimited user configuration) to the current version of SCO UNIX System V,
according to the class of SCO-supported customers. Somewhat lower upgrade
prices apply to 2-user systems.
Upgrade prices -----> Sugg.list SCO SoftCare SCO SoftTech SCO Developer
from:
XENIX 386 2.3 $495 425 375 350
XENIX 386 2.2 or older $550 450 400 350
XENIX 286 (any, or another $595 500 450 350
commercial UNIX system)
In addition, SCO offers an upgrade on the same basis from SCO XENIX or SCO
UNIX Systems directly to the full Open Desktop system. The prices for this
upgrade follow:
PRICES FOR UPGRADING TO SCO'S OPEN DESKTOP
This table shows the prices for upgrades from the following operating systems
to the current release of Open Desktop (workstation runtime configuration),
according to the class of SCO-supported customers.
Upgrade prices -----> SCO SoftCare SCO SoftTech SCO Developer
from:
SCO UNIX $575 450 350
SCO XENIX (any version) $625 500 400
Any other commercial 450
UNIX Operating System
The Open Desktop Server Upgrade and Development System are available
now through a special pre-release program. When these components
are ready for customer ship, comparable upgrade prices will be
established.
OBLIGATORY DISCLAIMER
All prices and policies are subject to change without notice. The prices and
conditions stated here reflect our policy in the U.S. and Canada as of today.
Because our distribution channels vary considerably in other parts of the
world, different programs exist in other countries. Please contact your local
distributor for applicable local programs. Products purchased under the
developer program may not be resold.
SEND MAIL, WE'RE LISTENING
If you have comments, questions or concerns about this policy, please send
mail to info@sco.com. If you have questions or wish more information on the
SCO Developer Program or developer prices, please email your postal mail
address to devrel@sco.com. If there are issues of general interest, SCO will
post a follow-up to this message. We appreciate your frank and helpful
discussions, and will continue to utilize this news group as one of our most
important sources of customer feedback.
Thank you.
SCO Sales, SCO Developer Relations, SCO Support, and SCO Marketing,
400 Encinal St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95061
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Domain style: info@sco.com FAX: 408-458-4227 Telephone: 408-425-7222