Sun Microsystems has evolved from a company based on a closed-source proprietary operating system to one based on an open source operating system with a burgeoning community. These operating systems are one-in-the-same – Solaris. OpenSolaris is the non-commercial, open source distribution of Solaris. (Of course Sun still has its commercial Solaris for those wanting support.)

In the olden-days (in the 1990s), there used to be the Sun User Group (SUG). At one point I was even on the board of directors of SUG. But for various reasons, especially Sun’s lack of interest in having a user group, SUG fell apart.

Fast forward to the current century and Sun is encouraging user groups to form around the OpenSolaris banner. I’m a big fan of Solaris (in all flavors) and my company sells and supports Sun systems, so we’re doing our part and starting up the North East (U.S.) OpenSolaris User Group. Fortunately those initials give the new group the cool moniker NEOSUG.

The inaugural meeting of NEOSUG is Jan 31st, 2007 at Sun’s campus in Burlington Mass. All are welcome. This meeting will feature talks by Simon Phipps, Dave Miner, and myself. The purpose of this meeting is to give an overview of OpenSolaris, and then to have a discussion about what the attends want from NEOSUG (and what they can contribute). Everything is open for debate – how often to meet, where, what to cover, leadership, who to invite to talk, and so on.

So if you’re interested in OpenSolaris and if you are in the area, please make it a point to join us. There will be pizza and beverages (provided by Sun for this first meeting), and I have it on good authority that trinkets will be distributed.

Laura Ramsey is coordinating the meeting. Here blog and NEOSUG meeting details are here. You can register here.

For more information have a look at the NEOSUG web page. Hope to see you there!

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