Unix International Inc is currently reassuring people that it has figured out how to encompass the Open Software Foundation’s Distributed Computing Environment in its now officially named Atlas distributed computing superstructure, which is due for roll-out in September. It is understood to be working with four companies including Sun Microsystems Inc and Unix System Laboratories Inc and suggests that they have cracked the problems of naming and security, for instance. Promising application interoperability and portability between Atlas and the Distributed Environment, Unix International is attempting, however belatedly, to take the high ground on architectural directions. It is test-market-ing its notions with some users and says it has sparked some interest. The message it is trying to drive home with users, vendors and independent software vendors alike is that Atlas-based systems will be suitable for bids in situation where Distributed Computing Environment functionality is required or desired.
