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Sun Java System Web Server as open source

Summary

In January 2009, with the Open Web Server, Sun released a free version of its Java System Web Server 7.0 under a BSD licence. It was meant to scale well, handle thousands of simultaneous connections and work together with Glassfish, Tomcat or Geronimo. Compared with the commercial version, however, the administration interface, SNMP, WebDAV and JSP were missing.

Ideas

  • A free version was meant to promote the spread of a commercial product.
  • The free edition was deliberately cut down in features.
  • The server worked together with widely used Java application servers.

Insights

  • Open core models with a cut-down free version struggle against complete free competition.
  • Opening up a product late can rarely turn its market position around.

Facts

  • The Open Web Server was licensed under a BSD licence.
  • The release had been announced in summer 2008.

References

Critique

  • The report does not compare the server with Apache, which dominated at the time.

Remarks

  • Oracle took over Sun in 2010; after that the Open Web Server no longer played a role.

Recommendations

  • With open core products, check which functions are only in the commercial version.
  • Rely on free software with an active, vendor-independent community.

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