OpenSolaris board threatens to disband

The OpenSolaris Governing Board (OGB) has called on Oracle to focus its attentions towards them, else the group may no longer exist.

During a meeting of the advisory board for the open source UNIX operating system, members expressed concerns about how Oracle has treated them since it took over Sun Microsystems back in January and, as a result, wants to take action.

It has proposed an ultimatum whereby Oracle must present the group with a liaison by 16 August, who will be able to discuss the future of OpenSoalris with "authority." Otherwise the group will disband and pass the responsibility of the community back to Oracle.

Peter Tribble, a member of the OGB, posted on his blog: "Unless you've been living under a rock for a while, it should be clear that the OpenSolaris Community isn't in the healthiest state."

"Oracle, as the new owners and sponsors of the project, have been spectacularly uncommunicative. The Governing Board have been left completely powerless, reduced to the role of spectators as Oracle withdraws behind its own barriers and what's left of the external community starts to engage in infighting."

He supports the move by the OGB, claiming: "We're already on life support, if there are no signs of life then life support will be turned off."

However, not all members of the group feel the same way.

Ben Rockwood, a fellow member and co-author of the group's constitution, claimed the OGB was threatening to "shoot itself in the head."

On his blog, Rockwood wrote: "What exactly do we have to gain or Oracle to loose? All Oracle does is runs out the clock, the entire OGB resigns, and then the one little bit of control the community has is gone."

"What motive, other than a benevolent act to garner press attention, does Oracle have to comply? We've just made their job easier."

He added: "The request for a liaison is a good one... I support it. But damnit, put the gun down. We don't need to act like irrational children having a tantrum. Ultimatums rarely workout the way you hope."

IT PRO contacted Oracle for comment but the company declined to make a statement.