IBM Opens Beta for AIX 6 Operating System
IBM said Thursday that it had launched an open beta for AIX 6, its in-house UNIX-based operating system. The latest version will be able to take advantage of the Power6 processor, as well as several other enhancements.
The beta program will be open to all users, with the OS packaged into CD-ROM and DVD images for burning by beta participants. More information on the program could be found on the AIX Web site.
AIX is intended to run on IBM's System p UNIX servers that use Power technology. Version 6 of the operating system includes enhancements to virtualization, security, near continuous availability, and manageability.
The OS will run on IBM systems based on Power4, PowerPC 970, Power5 and Power6 processors, the company said. AIX 6 would also be able to run Linux applications natively using a virtual SUSE Linux or Red Hat partition.
Key features in this release include a feature called workload partitions, which would reduce the number of OS images to reduce costs and be more efficient; allowing workload partitions to be relocated between servers without the need for restarts; and role based access control.
"AIX 6 is a significant technical achievement in the evolution of this world-class UNIX operating system, providing both investment protection allowing existing AIX apps to run unmodified as well as allowing those apps to take advantage of new virtualization technologies that will provide business value to our clients," System p marketing chief Scott Handy said.
The final AIX 6 code is due to be released in the fourth quarter of this year.