Sun Rises on Dell

Computer seller Dell, looking to regain momentum by responding to business customer demand to offer broader, simpler technology solutions, will install the Solaris operating systems on its servers, giving a boost to longtime rival Sun Microsystem’s efforts to grow its software business, reports the New York Times.  “This is world-changing,” said Sun CEO Jonathan Schwartz. “It positions both companies better.”

Solaris was a proprietary system until a few years ago, when Sun repositioned it to run on servers other than the company’s own. In August, Sun collaborated with IBM to resell Solaris on IBM servers, but the Dell deal opens Sun to a wider business market. Dell also plans sell other Sun software, including desktop virtualization technology. (More Dell stories.)