The Open Group (TOG) has released the Unix 98 set of standards and IBM Corp, Sun Microsystems Inc and NCR Corp are first out of the gate with compliant products. Yesterday’s move is part of TOG’s so-called IT DialTone effort, which encompasses Unix, the Network Computer Profile and various internet technologies to a make set of guidelines for companies procuring and implementing internet services for their IT infrastructure. IT DialTone is part of the group’s shift towards concentrating more on user’s needs rather than its traditional vendor focus. New items with Unix 98 include standardized threads, real-time capabilities, large file system APIs, Y2K and 64-bit compliance. The Unix 98 server spec adds Java, TCP/IP, SNMP, HTTP, DNS, terminal and files services, mail services client booting, time services and directory services. Curiously everyone at TOG was either not in or traveling on the day it released its first set of new Unix standards for three years, so we were unable to talk to them. IBM’s AIX 4.3.1’s. Sun’s Solaris 2.7 running on NCR’s World Mark and S series systems as well as the x86 version have all been registered as Unix 98-compliant. As part of the shift more towards users, TOG is rumored to be considering the sale or closure of two of its research units, as we reported earlier this month (CI No 3,406).
