IT-Director: Jiro clarifies Sun's open intentions

"...Jiro refers to the provision of a set of Java APIs for storage management such that applications can access storage resources directly, regardless of what operating system is being run. ...runs on the Java Virtual Machine [JVM], and this is how it retains its machine independence. Jiro also depends on Jini, the Sun directory initiative, for a number of services including discovery of storage resources.

"The JVM is essentially a stripped down, free operating system: through JVM extensions such as Jini and Jiro, plus application support through the Enterprise Java Bean specification, Java is starting to encroach on areas which are worth a lot of money to certain players. Such facilities, it could be argued, reduce the need for an operating system to a device-specific microkernel - maybe they don't yet, but there is every reason that they will in the future. In fact, the net result of Java-based 'open standards' is to encourage commoditisation of operating system software and hence to reduce its relevance."

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