ArticlesMore than 13,000 companies across various industries still rely on the HP-UX OS to run mission-critical applications. Interestingly, 21% of them are in IT and services, 13% in computer software, and 9% in financial services.
With important features like access-control lists for file permissions and built-in logical volume management, HP-UX used to be a leader in enterprise computing. Fast forward to today, it is a legacy OS, with the underlying hardware as a continuous source of worry.
In this guide, we will discuss everything that you need to know about HP-UX. We will explore its rich history, current landscape, and future. Whether you are a long-time HP-UX user or an IT decision-maker weighing your options, this guide has something for you. Let’s discover the past, present, and future of this operating system.
HP-UX (Hewlett Packard Unix) is a proprietary Unix operating system developed by Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). It’s based on Unix System V and was first released in 1984.
It was the pioneering Unix operating system that introduced access-control lists for file access permissions. It provides an alternative to the traditional Unix permission system. Additionally, HP-UX OS was one of the early Unix systems to integrate a built-in logical volume manager.
The first version was designed to run HP 9000 series 200, 300, and 400 servers based on the Motorola 68000 series of processors and HP’s proprietary FOCUS architecture.
Later, the HP 9000 computers were supported by the PA-RISC architecture. And eventually, it transitioned into Intel’s Itanium architecture with the introduction of HP-UX 11i v1.5. This latest version is more inclined towards cluster computing, IaaS, and cloud computing. It also provides multiple layers of virtualization at the operating system level such as hardware partitioning, isolated operating system partitions on cell-based server architectures, and virtual machine capabilities designed for HP-integrity servers.
According to data from enlyft, a total of 13,088 companies use HP-UX OS, with the majority of them belonging to the Information Technology and Services industry. These companies are predominantly located in the United States.
The top three industries using HP-UX OS are information technology and services, computer software, and financial services. Here’s the industry-wise distribution:
Now, let’s see the country-wise distribution:
Spanning over the last three decades, HP-UX OS has a rich history that encompasses:
HP categorizes security elements into three different aspects. This structured approach helps in systematically addressing different aspects of security.
Data Security protects information integrity and confidentiality. It uses Encrypted Volumes and File Systems to secure stored data. Trusted Computing creates a secure environment using hardware and software. Whitelisting allows only approved applications to run. Containers isolate applications to prevent breach spread. IPsec secures IP communications.
System Security guards the OS against vulnerabilities. Software Assistant manages patches. Bastille hardens the system by disabling unnecessary services. The Auditing System logs security events. IPFilter acts as a firewall. Host IDS monitors for unauthorized access. Standard Mode Security Extensions enhance overall security.
Identity Security manages user access. RBAC restricts access based on user roles. PAM-Kerberos integrates multiple authentication technologies. AAA Server handles authentication, authorization, and accounting. The Kerberos Server provides secure network authentication.
HP-UX Release 6.x saw the introduction of Context-Dependent Files, or CDFs. These files were designed to let a server provide a variety of settings, executable files, and system architectures to diverse client machines in mixed environments. The innovation behind CDFs was their ability to adapt file delivery to the unique context of each client machine.
In practice, CDFs made it possible for the same file to present itself in different ways to different clients while adapting to their distinct requirements and setups. This feature was especially beneficial in settings where a range of workstation types, each with its own set of needs, accessed the same server. For instance, one client could receive a particular binary suitable for its architecture, while another could get a customized configuration file suited to its specific environment.
HP-UX has a constant presence in the enterprise environment. Let’s break down the strengths and weaknesses of this operating system.
No Setup Fee: HP-UX doesn’t hit you with an upfront setup cost. This is a nice touch, especially when you’re just getting started.
Try Before You Buy: HP offers a free trial. It’s always good to test-drive before committing, especially with enterprise-grade software.
Comprehensive Management: The built-in security and system management tools are robust. They cover everything from power management to health checks and deployment.
Resource Optimization: HP-UX shines in resource management. Its file system and volume management are tightly integrated with performance analysis tools.
High Availability: With HPE Serviceguard solutions baked in, HP-UX is designed for minimal downtime. This is crucial for mission-critical systems.
Flexibility for Critical Workloads: It offers a complete set of mission-critical Unix software in one package. This makes it versatile for various high-stakes applications.
Closed Source Limitations: Being closed-source, HP-UX lacks the customization options and community support you would get with open-source alternatives.
Virtualization Complexity: The various virtualization options (nPartitions, vPars, IVMs) can be overwhelming. It’s not always clear which solution best fits your needs.
Hardware Lock-In: HP-UX is tied to HP’s proprietary hardware. This limits your options and can lead to vendor dependency.
Cost Considerations: While there’s no setup fee, the total cost of ownership can be high. You’re looking at expensive hardware and potential consulting fees.
| Aspect | HP-UX | AIX | Solaris |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developer | Hewlett Packard Enterprise | IBM | Sun Microsystems |
| Hardware | HP 9000 and Integrity Itanium systems | IBM Power Systems | Various, including SPARC and x86 |
| Source Model | Closed-source | Closed-source | Closed-source |
| File Systems | VxFS, HFS, CDFS, EVFS, NFS, CIFS | JFS, JFS2, ISO 9660, UDF, NFS, SMBFS, GPFS | ZFS, UFS, NFS, HSFS, PCFS |
| Security | Robust server security and system management tools | Advanced security features with Tivoli extensions | Advanced permission model and security features |
| High Availability | Integrated HPE Serviceguard solutions | High availability features with PowerHA | Dynamic reconfiguration and high availability features |
| Virtualization | nPartitions, vPars, Integrity Virtual Machines (IVMs) | PowerVM, WPARs | Solaris Zones, LDOMs |
| Customization | Limited due to closed-source nature | Limited due to closed-source nature | Limited due to closed-source nature |
| Ease of Use | Performance tuning using kctune | Extremely easy-to-use management tools | More command-line based may be less user-friendly |
Like any other OS, HP-UX comes with a wide array of characteristics ranging from its proprietary nature to regulatory compliances. Let’s look at them all.
1. Proprietary UNIX Implementation: HP-UX is Hewlett Packard’s proprietary version of the UNIX operating system. It was specifically designed based on UNIX System V Release 4.
2. Server-Oriented Design: HP-UX is designed as a pure server operating system. It comes with high availability and flexible memory. The focus is to keep things running smoothly and securely.
3. Advanced Security Features: It was the first UNIX system to implement access control lists (ACLs) for file permissions. Further, the 11i v2 release also introduced kernel-based intrusion detection, security partitioning, and role-based access control.
4. Virtualization Support: By supporting operating system-level virtualization through hardware partitions, it lets you run multiple virtual machines in one physical server.
5. Logical Volume Management: HP-UX was one of the first UNIX systems to include an inbuilt logical volume manager which simplifies disk management and improves storage flexibility.
6. Enterprise Tools: The operating system comes with a suite of tools to keep track of costs, workload, logging, and visualization. This makes it a good fit for enterprise uses.
7. Clustered File System: HP-UX offers a shared drive for its clustered file system (CFS). This helps multiple servers to access the same data.
8. File Systems and Storage: HP-UX OS supports multiple file systems, including VxFS, HFS, CDFS, EVFS, NFS, and CIFS. It can handle file sizes up to 2 terabytes and address up to 256 gigabytes of RAM.
9. Software Development: It supports various programming languages and development tools, including Java, C/C++, Fortran 90, COBOL, and Perl, making it versatile for software development.
10. Graphical User Interface: HP-UX offers graphical user interfaces such as VUE (Visual User Environment) and CDE (Common Desktop Environment), providing users with a more intuitive interaction with the system.
11. Compliance: HP-UX has received various security certifications, including EAL4-CAPP and TCSEC-2. Thus, it meets stringent security standards required by enterprises.
HP has outlined a roadmap for HP-UX that extends to 2022, with the possibility of stretching it to 2025. Randy Meyer, VP and GM of Mission Critical Systems at HP’s Enterprise Server Business, emphasizes the company’s dedication to its existing customer base. He added “We’ve got a huge customer base we’ve got to address.”
But the main problem lies here: the hardware supporting HP-UX applications is becoming obsolete. They are prone to downtime and can cost enterprises both financially and production-wise. Also, maintaining vintage hardware is challenging due to the decline in the number of people who have the expertise. Moreover, scarcity of spare parts makes the situation even worse.
Enterprises that still run HP-UX business applications on the aging hardware – it’s time to act. The underlying hardware poses severe risks to the business, prompting an urgent need for modernization.
Finding a modernization technique that is cost-effective, time-efficient and offers seamless business continuity is crucial. Also, the desire to take advantage of the modern cloud is tempting. This is where legacy modernization techniques like hardware emulation come into the picture.
Charon-PAR emulator by Stromasys is a popular choice for extending the life of legacy HP-UX applications. It lets you run your HP-UX workloads on modern hardware infrastructure, either on-premises (x86-based hardware) or on clouds like Azure, AWS, and others. Meaning, it preserves your existing applications and business processes without any modifications.
This migration process typically involves a lift and shift approach where the legacy OS is re-hosted from the legacy hardware to the software emulator. This is often done using a backup-restore or dump-restore method where the backup files are transferred over secure connections.
Enterprises can fetch a wealth of benefits from this modernization process, like:
HP-UX has a rich legacy spanning over three decades. Understanding HP-UX, its history, features and current landscape is crucial for IT decision-makers in organizations that rely on this OS. Its robustness, security, and scalability make it popular among enterprise environments.
While HP-UX continues to power a lot of mission-critical applications, the aging hardware adds a lot of challenges and prompts businesses to consider modernization. Whether to maintain existing systems, modernize through emulation, or gradually transition to new platforms – the path forward requires careful consideration of both legacy needs and future trends.
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