Once Seen As Open-Source Victim, Sun Micro Becomes A Big Advocate; Opens Its Sparc Chip; Company says why stop at software; let's also open source hardware.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)(Q & A)

Byline: KEN SPENCER BROWN

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Sun Microsystems is taking the old maxim to heart when it comes to open source.

The company was once seen as hostile to Linux and other open-source software, which typically runs on cheaper server systems than what Sun sells. But Sun has embraced the concept to broaden its appeal.

Last year, Sun revealed the underlying source code to its Solaris operating system for the first time. That means anyone can copy, tweak and reuse the software for free -- a key tenet of the open-source approach.

Now it's doing something similar for its Sparc microprocessors. By publishing the inner workings of its high-end chips for anyone to use, it hopes to woo suppliers and software makers to the platform. That could give Sun an edge over its chief rivals, IBM, Hewlett-Packard and Dell.

Jonathan Schwartz, Sun's chief operating officer, recently spoke to IBD about plans to use open source to revive the company's growth.