IBM, SCO and Sequent to merge Unix

IBM has teamed up with the Santa Cruz Operation (SCO) and Sequent to develop a 64bit Unix operating system which will run on Intel's IA-64 chip architecture.

IBM says the aim is to bring together its AIX version of Unix, SCO's UnixWare and Sequent's Dynix/PTX as a new operating system (OS) - called Monterey - which will run on Merced, the first implementation of IA-64, as well as IA-32 and IBM processors.

The alliance will face stiff competition from Windows NT, and rival Unix camps based around Sun's Solaris, HP-UX and Digital Unix, now owned by Compaq.

Intel - which has co-developed IA-64 with Hewlett-Packard (HP) and so backs 64bit HP-UX - has also backed Monterey.

John Miner, vice president and general manager of Intel's enterprise server group, said: "The combination of IBM's enterprise and software, SCO's shrink-wrap Unix expertise and channels, and Sequent's system expertise on IA, and the price-performance benefits of Intel architecture will make this a high-volume Unix leader."

Analysts, while generally conceding Windows NT will eventually give all flavours of Unix a run for their money across the enterprise, have backed IBM's AIX, Sun Solaris, HP-UX and Digital Unix (which is set for a name change) as the types which will survive.

However, according to Mark Raphael, programme director at the Meta Group, Digital Unix is most likely to fall by the way side.

The chances of that happening have been heightened by yesterday's announcement, industry watchers claim.

SCO's UnixWare had been in danger of losing out. The company had tried to forge an IA-64 partnership with HP, and had been the Unix provider for Compaq, before the Digital acquisition. But now it has been given another chance to contribute once the industry moves to IA-64.

Likewise, some analysts had criticised Sequent's decision to side with Digital, and ultimately Compaq.

But now, product marketing manager John Pattenden says Sequent - which will ditch its own Dynix/PTX Unix - has "a strategic focus that is most definitely on the AIX/UnixWare alliance".