Sun's decision last month to open-source its UltraSparc chip specifications follows the release early last year of the Solaris source code as open-source. In both cases, for the UltraSparc chip as well as the Solaris operating system, Sun is encouraging developers to find new ways to use its systems.

Sun's open-source push is already yielding results. For instance, earlier this month, Blastewage.org, a Solaris open-source development firm in Cobourg, Ontario, said it had ported Solaris to IBM's Power chip.

Computerworld asked IBM for its reaction to that port. In an e-mail, Karl Freund, vice president of IBM Systems Group, called the move 'another signal that [the Power chip] has cast a long shadow over Sun's confusing array of processors. It would seem that even Sun and their remaining customers acknowledge the value of our Power innovations.'

Karen Anaya, chairwoman and CEO of Sparc International Inc. in Campbell, Calif., hailed the plan to open-source the T1. She believes the specification release will boost Linux's capability to run on UltraSparc and said it will draw third-party support. Anaya also said her group expects a T1 port to Linux. 'We're excited about it,' she said.