Solaris SPARC and Intel Source Code Program

Solaris SPARC and Intel Source Code Program

Why is Sun announcing this program?

Sun's education customers have requested that we take a fresh look at technology licensing for teaching and research. We are starting with Solaris and overhauling the program, taking into account the feedback we have been given, and adding some new features.

Sun is interested in what it's customers do with source code and wants to share ideas for improvement with researchers worldwide. Specifically, this program encourages the sharing of source code changes and the evaluation and possible integration of these changes into future releases of Solaris.

What are the main elements of the program?

Regular updates
Sun will supply periodic updates to the source code for minor and major releases and are hopeful of including source to patches too. While the mechanisms are still being finalised, we intend to make use of a secure web server for some of these updates and direct mail offers, where the changes would be many megabytes.
Many of you are aware that Sun is at the beta stage with Solaris 2.6. Anyone taking Solaris 2.5.1 source code will be offered 2.6 as soon as available. We have not finalised the process but will have this in place when the product ships. It is our intent that source updates are offered to source licensees as soon as possible after availability. Solaris 2.6 is not announced yet and therefore we cannot comment further on timescales.
Support
Clearly it is not easy to support a worldwide audience for such a complex source code product as Solaris at a reasonable cost. However, during July, Sun will dedicate a Solaris staff member to provide support for the source code program both logistically and technically over email. She will do her best to support both Solaris on SPARC and on Intel and help encourage cooperative development of device drivers. We will not be charging for this service. Please note that we do not currently [and have no plans to] support source code through Sun Service.
Code sharing & integration in to Solaris release schedules
Customers have told us that they would appreciate being able to share source code changes with other universities, other research projects, and with Sun's Solaris engineering teams. We are building the procedures necessary to support these aims, however, this is likely to be implemented through a secure web server and/or email exchanges.
Source Code Bundle includes Intel and DDK
Yes, we have included both SPARC and Intel source code as well as a copy of the device driver developers kit for unlimited users. A Solaris 2.5.1 you will be shipped the common source tree product which is the same for Intel and SPARC along with a box containing the DDK CD and manuals. At Solaris 2.6 we will include html and answerbook documentation and better source code supporting manuals. We also plan to include differntiated source for Intel -- more about this when we annoucne 2.6.
New licensing agreement
We hope that you understand that we must protect our intellectual property rights and Solaris source code contains many key technologies that differentiate Sun from it's competitors. Never-the-less, we recognise the benefits of making this available to you, but do ask that you complete an agreement governing it's use.
For those of you that are already technology licensees, you will be pleased to know that we have made the new agreement cover all future revisions -- this could be the last Solaris source code agreement you sign. We have also made sure that there is one agreement covering all Sun business units. You may save time by downloading the agreement now.

How do I place an order?

This is a new program which has been announced internally and will be press released shortly. However, as this is a radical new program and not everyone worldwide will be as knowledgable on it's order process, so here's how it works.

Order process
When you make the call to Sun, we will need to establish your entitlement to the program. For universities, colleges, and schools it will be obvious, for others please be prepared to explain why you are to be treated as an education customer.
Next we will ask you to sign the technology licensing agreement. This can be faxed, mailed, or emailed to you. We will ask that a member of the faculty or staff sign this agreement -- preferably a departmental head. We may enter your order into our database at this stage or later, but will not ship the source code until the agreement is signed and returned to our legal department and they approve shipment to Sun's order processing group.

Provided that you order another Sun product with the source code, we will discount the source code line item to $0. The Part number is UNSOL-2.5.1-SRC, and the stand alone price is $100
Who do I call?
USA: please call Sun Telesales 1-800-786-0404
Elsewhere in the world please contact your local Sun Sales office

Software Program Manager: Graham Lovell
Email: Graham.Lovell@Sun.Com

Source Code Program Documentation Pages

Solaris Source Code

In the following table I have matched the appropriate documents to the managers that will process them. Please use the appropriate entries for your geography area.

Please note that we cannot accept applications from non-educational institutions nor from individual students. Also, downloading this agreement for signature does not necessarily indicate that Sun has approved your request to be granted a license under this program.

Geography	PostScript Agreement	Return Agreement to	Address
United States	Download Agreement	Cheryl Cheever	Sun Microsystems Computer Company, 2550 Garcia Avenue, UPAL1-455 Mountain View, CA94043-1100
Germany	Download Agreement	Joerg Schwartz	Sun Microsystems GmbH, Brandenburger Strasse 2, D- 40880 Ratingen

Last updated May 12, 1997

Software Program Manager: Graham Lovell
Email: Graham.Lovell@Sun.Com