Sun not setting on Solaris for Intel

Sun Microsystems is planning broader backing for a version of its Solaris operating system geared for Intel processors.

The move will restore support for a software about which Sun had give lukewarm signals at best earlier this year.

In January Sun seemed set to kill off Solaris for Intel, but its fans remained vocal, insisting that Sun support Solaris 9 more widely, as it has done with Solaris 8 and earlier versions. Now Sun has agreed to that demand - for a price.

By charging money for the product and its support, Sun said it will ensure it's a money-making prospect for the company.

Solaris 9 for Intel and AMD processors will no longer be free like Solaris 8. The software will cost $99 for single-processor desktop systems and an as-yet undetermined higher price for multiprocessor servers, said Graham Lovell, director of marketing for operating systems and availability for Sun.

The new version will arrive by January, with a $20 "early access" version that people can download to test.

Telephone and e-mail support and product updates will cost $75 per month for desktop systems and $1,275 a year for lower-end servers, Lovell said. Service is optional, he added.

Stephen Shankland and Robert Lemos write for News.com