UNIX System Labs launches UNIX System Release 4.2 (SVR4.2)

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – JUNE 16, 1992 -- UNIX System Laboratories, Inc., today announced a new streamlined and vastly simplified version of the UNIX* operating system that puts all the power of advanced 32-bit business and personal computing under graphical "point and click" control.

"This is an easy-to-use UNIX system, ideally suited for commercial users running distributed, mission-critical applications," said Roel Pieper, president and CEO of UNIX System Laboratories, Inc.

"It's extremely flexible, reliable and secure and lets users run the same applications across machines ranging from laptops to servers to mainframes.

"This is serious power for everyone, whether they're downsizing from mainframes or upsizing from performance-limited DOS or Windows systems."

The product, UNIX System V Release 4.2 (SVR4.2), is expected to be widely used as a PC LAN server and as a low-end database and application server, areas where the UNIX system already excels because of its proven multitasking, multiuser and networking power, the company said.

The new system's ease of use, icon-based administration, security, high performance and small memory and hard disk requirements also make this UNIX system unmatched as a client and as a single-user desktop system in a business environment.

In a minimum configuration, the new UNIX system requires only 4 megabytes of memory and a 60 megabyte hard disk to run on a 16 MHz Intel 386SX portable or desktop computer.

As a typical client running several applications, SVR4.2 requires 6 megabytes of RAM and an 80-to-120 megabyte hard disk. These requirements make UNIX SVR4.2 a very hardware efficient and cost-effective desktop and low-end server solution.

SVR4.2 runs the more than 6,000 documented UNIX system applications that already have been ported to SVR4, as well as applications previously written for UNIX System V, SunOS, SCO UNIX System V, and the Berkeley Software Distribution derivative.

SVR4.2 will also comply with the Application Environment Specification issued by the Open Software Foundation. With the addition of emulation utilities available from several UNIX software vendors, the new UNIX system will also run DOS and Windows applications.

UNIX SVR4.2 supports client/server and peer-to-peer architectures simultaneously, making it a very strong foundation for distributed database applications.

"We are delighted to see this technology come to market," said Peter Cunningham, president and CEO of UNIX International. "SVR4.2 will bring the power of the UNIX system to people's desktops. Now users can gain access through their desktop platforms to the networked resources of their enterprise."

UNIX System V Release 4.2 will be licensed in source code form by USL to computer industry hardware and software vendors worldwide. Those vendors will provide commercial "binary" versions for their customers.

First implementations will be for Intel386/Intel486, SPARC and MIPS-based platforms. Others are expected for the RS6000, DEC Alpha and Hewlett-Packard Precision Architecture platforms in 1993.

"By using UNIX SVR4.2 as the foundation of our UnixWare* family of products, Univel will be bringing the most powerful UNIX operating system available today to the end user," said Joel Appelbaum, Univel president and CEO.

"Our plan to market UnixWare through Novell's high-volume distribution channel ensures that our customers will benefit from the SVR4.2 technology."

SVR4.2 source code can be licensed now by industry vendors from USL offices worldwide. Source code for Intel386/Intel486 processors will ship in July. Source code for SPARC and MIPS ports of UNIX SVR4.2 will be available to vendors by the end of the year.

UNIX System Laboratories, Inc., headquartered in Summit, N.J., is the source of UNIX System V and other Open Systems software technology, including the TUXEDO* Enterprise Transaction Processing System, Open Networking Platform OSI software, and the C++ Language System.

USL's customers include virtually all of the computer vendors in the worldwide Open Systems marketplace.