Jump to content

SCO Forum

From Alfawiki
SCO Forum
Company typeConference
IndustryTechnology, Computing
Founded1987
FounderThe Santa Cruz Operation (SCO)
Defunct2008
Headquarters
Santa Cruz, California (1987–2001); Las Vegas, Nevada (2002–2008)
,
United States
Area served
International
ProductsTechnical conference and exhibition focused on SCO's computing products and Unix technology

SCO Forum was an annual technical conference centered on computing, initially backed by The Santa Cruz Operation (SCO) and later supported by Caldera International and The SCO Group. The event was held yearly from the 1980s through the 2000s, generally taking place in August and spanning most of the week.[1] Between 1987 and 2001, the conference was hosted at the University of California, Santa Cruz, capitalizing on the picturesque campus to attract attendees.[2][3] From 2002 until 2008, the venue shifted to various hotels along the Las Vegas Strip. Despite changes in both location and sponsorship, the event was consistently recognized by organizers and participants as a continuous series.[4][5]

At the Santa Cruz editions, SCO used keynote presentations to articulate its vision for the industry and outline product strategies. The agenda included in-depth technical sessions alongside "birds of a feather" gatherings, where customers and partners engaged directly with SCO’s engineering teams. Attendance figures ranged broadly, making it one of the largest technology gatherings in Santa Cruz and generating significant economic benefits locally. The combination of a relaxed atmosphere with substantive content earned SCO Forum a reputation as a premier industry occasion.

Once relocated to Las Vegas, Forum became a stage for The SCO Group to communicate its stance amid the SCO–Linux disputes, while also emphasizing initiatives to rejuvenate its operating system offerings and explore new market opportunities.

Objectives

The primary goal of SCO Forum was to convey the company’s message clearly and educate users and partners regarding product features, projecting confidence in SCO’s future prospects.[6] Attendees included executives, product managers, engineers, as well as value-added resellers (VARs), channel partners, application developers, and hardware vendors.[7][2]

This conference cultivated a community that reinforced Unix’s viability as a business platform, positioning SCO’s products as both technically robust and commercially viable.[7] It earned widespread recognition as a highly successful event.[8]Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag</ref>

During a period when SCO’s Unix-on-standard-hardware business was flourishing, Forum served as a platform to argue why competitors such as Univel and SunSoft would find it difficult to compete.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content Later on, as Unix faced mounting competition from Microsoft's Windows NT and open source Linux, Forum emphasized Unix’s continued relevance and commercial potential.[9] At Forum 1999, CEO Doug Michels stated, "Despite all rumors and opinions that Unix would end, it didn't."[9]

Announcements of new partnerships and agreements were common at Forum,[3][6] while panel discussions often reviewed ongoing collaborations like Project Monterey, underscoring their strategic significance within the industry.[10][9] Company slogans such as "the Internet Way of Computing" were actively promoted.[11]Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content Conversely, unsuccessful ventures such as SCO's involvement in the Advanced Computing Environment (ACE) were promptly acknowledged.[12]

History

The inaugural conference took place in 1987 under the name SCO XENIX 386 Developer Conference. SCO aimed to create a platform where developers could collaborate and share ideas, with a university providing the venue prior to the start of its fall term.

By August 1988, InfoWorld reported on "SCO Forum '88," which had broadened its scope beyond developers to include resellers, aligning with SCO's goal of enhancing its reseller network. During this event, AT&T announced a unified Unix and Xenix operating system product.

SCO Forum '89, held from August 21 to 25, attracted media attention from InfoWorld and PC Week, showcasing third-party product launches and a partnership with Microsoft to support Microsoft Word on SCO platforms. Prominent presenters included Microsoft's Paul Maritz, Novell's Ray Noorda, and SCO founders Larry Michels and Doug Michels.

As both SCO and its conference grew, Forum evolved into the company's largest international gathering. Marketing efforts highlighted the event's value for a wide range of industry participants—executives, developers, resellers, vendors, and analysts—offering specialized session tracks tailored to each group.

Following several profitable quarters and intentions to go public, SCO Forum '92 saw attendance approximately double previous figures, with 30–50% of participants coming from outside the United States, including representatives from former Eastern Bloc nations.

In 1993, Forum adopted a more scholarly approach as the "International Open Systems Symposium," providing certificates for completed courses. CEO Lars Turndal addressed attendee concerns regarding recent leadership changes and stock market performance.

By 1994, UNIX Review recognized Forum as a premier industry trade exhibition. That year introduced technical milestones such as SCO’s backend support for PizzaNet—an online pizza ordering system—and hosted the first scheduled Internet live music broadcast by the band Deth Specula.

SCO’s enduring collaboration with the Unix user group UniForum included offering trial memberships to Forum participants by 1996, with dedicated UniForum sessions featured at Forum98. Industry efforts like the 86open binary format agreement also originated during meetings associated with Forum.

Attendance peaked around in both 1997 and 1998, drawing attendees from approximately 60 countries.

Forum attendees by company type, late 1990s
Software developer 27%
Distributor 22%
SCO reseller 17%
Computer manufacturer 15%
Hardware developer 12%
Systems integrator 3%
Trainer 3%
Internet service provider 1%

Regular participants included members of the SCO Advanced Product Center (APC) network, which later expanded into APC International and eventually iXorg. Notably, Dupaco’s founder attended every Forum since its inception, developing a multimillion-dollar distribution enterprise in the Netherlands.

SCO Forum earned a reputation as a distinctive event within the industry. A columnist from Dataquest commended its venue and content, while an observer from eWeek remarked on how both the company and conference reflected a unique industry culture rooted in Santa Cruz. A ZDNet journalist characterized it as part motivational rally, part educational seminar, part sales presentation, and part networking occasion—unlike any typical trade show.

Structure

The conference was frequently hosted by the Jack Baskin School of Engineering at UC Santa Cruz, making use of various campus facilities such as classrooms, dining halls, recreational spaces, parking lots, and residential halls—mainly within Cowell College and Stevenson College. While a dean from UC Santa Cruz recognized the strain on campus resources caused by the event, they also underscored its overall positive influence on the local community.

Each morning’s keynote presentations were held in the university quarry, an outdoor amphitheater encircled by coastal redwoods, drawing crowds of up to attendees. Doug Michels pointed out that this venue offered a distinctive ambiance compared to conventional hotel ballrooms, despite often experiencing foggy and cool mornings. Attendees were provided with cushions placed on the plain wooden bleachers. In 1999, as attendance waned, keynotes were relocated to the campus East Field where temporary seating was installed; this shift helped maintain enthusiasm even when weather conditions were less favorable.

Presenters included SCO executives alongside prominent industry figures such as Andy Grove, then CEO of Intel, as well as executives from partner companies. Panel discussions addressed emerging technology trends like the "information superhighway," featuring notable contributors including author Clifford Stoll, Electronic Frontier Foundation founder John Perry Barlow, and Linux creator Linus Torvalds. Torvalds anticipated Linux’s growing role on desktop systems surpassing Unix servers, reflecting early market foresight.

Competitors also took part; for instance, in 1996, Sun Microsystems CEO Scott McNealy delivered what was later described as "an extremely entertaining speech," emphasizing mutual interests in Unix-on-Intel development efforts.

Additional guest speakers included humorists like Dilbert creator Scott Adams and writer Dave Barry, who contributed to attendee engagement through their comedic presentations.

More than 100 exhibitors from hardware and software sectors displayed their products in college venues, with leading companies such as IBM, Compaq Computer, and NEC represented. SCO hosted dedicated pavilions showcasing innovations in networking and client-server technologies. The public could access keynotes and exhibits for a nominal admission fee.

Forum attendees by job function, late 1990s
Sales/Marketing 35%
Engineering/IT admin 23%
Executive management 21%
Technical management 14%
Press/Analysts 7%

Breakout sessions provided in-depth information on SCO products tailored for both technical specialists and marketing professionals. Subjects ranged from "Tuning and Monitoring Your SCO Internet Server" to "Retail Business Opportunities." Between 1996 and 1999, an additional "Developer Fast Track" program covered advanced topics such as "DDC 8 Tutorial," "JDK 1.2 Benefits," and "Porting Applications to IPv6." Evening "birds of a feather" gatherings enabled direct dialogue with SCO product managers and engineers. The SCO Skunkware open source software collection was also actively promoted during these sessions.

The conference generated considerable economic impact for Santa Cruz and nearby communities—estimated at $3–4 million annually during the mid-to-late 1990s. The city mayor frequently proclaimed the week as "SCO Forum Week," recognizing it as the region’s largest technology industry event. Local hotels reached full capacity, with some attendees accommodated in campus housing—a practice originating from early Forum editions when many SCO developers had limited travel budgets.

Top-performing resellers were granted travel expense reimbursement to attend the Forum. Compared to typical tech conferences, the attendee profile skewed older due to established VAR businesses participating, with a notably higher proportion of women attributed to this more mature reseller demographic.

Entertainment and Social Activities

SCO Forum was widely recognized for its relaxed and enjoyable ambiance, a hallmark emphasized by founders Larry and Doug Michels. The company culture was reflected in the informal dress code and laid-back setting.[7] Participants often likened the event to a "romp in the redwoods," with the natural campus environment contributing significantly to the overall experience.[6]

The conference featured a variety of recreational activities such as golf and soccer tournaments that included international participants, fun runs, beach volleyball matches, wine tasting sessions, and picturesque train excursions leading to barbecues held within Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.[13][14][15]

Numerous social gatherings supported local catering enterprises, enriched by a vibrant Latin American community that enhanced networking opportunities. Several celebrations took place off-site, including at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and SCO even produced official Forum-branded wine bottles.[13][6]

A standout event was the Tuesday evening Barbecue and Anniversary Celebration, featuring live music performances that lasted until 11 pm, followed by a renowned social gathering. Distinguished musical guests included Tower of Power, The Kingsmen, The Surfaris, Jan and Dean, Jefferson Starship, and folk-rock legend Roger McGuinn. Local acts such as Big Bang Beat and Dick Bright's SRO also took the stage.[14][3][16][17]

Caldera Era

On August 2, 2000, after months of discussions, Santa Cruz Operation divested its Server Software and Services Divisions to Caldera Systems. This decision followed a downturn in SCO's previously robust financial results from the late 1990s into 2000. Consequently, the conference that year was renamed from SCO Forum 2000 to Forum 2000, featuring keynote addresses by Doug Michels and Caldera CEO Ransom Love.

By August 2001, following the merger into Caldera International, the company encountered difficulties stemming from the dot-com crash and an extended SCO acquisition process that strained relationships with customers and partners. For the first time, the event was explicitly branded under Caldera. CEO Ransom Love highlighted the forum’s distinctive interactive format as providing value beyond conventional trade shows.

Nonetheless, attendance at Caldera Forum 2001 fell to less than half compared to the previous year. While acknowledging these challenges, Love remained optimistic: "you have to get through the storm to get through to the beautiful day."

Facing severe financial strain exacerbated by the early 2000s recession, Caldera International canceled its large-scale global Forum conference scheduled for May 2002 in Santa Cruz, opting instead for smaller regional events.[18] In June of that year, Darl McBride succeeded Ransom Love as CEO.[19]

In July 2002, the annual conference was rebranded as Caldera GeoFORUM and relocated to the Las Vegas Strip at the MGM Grand.[20] During August’s keynote presentation, Caldera rebranded itself as The SCO Group,[21] reflecting that most revenue came from SCO Unix products rather than Linux offerings. Linux solutions had not achieved widespread adoption among resellers.[22][4] McBride’s multimedia announcement received positive feedback from SCO resellers but elicited mixed reactions from former Santa Cruz Operation staff and some industry observers.[23] New initiatives included SCObiz, an online e-commerce platform designed for SCO applications aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises.[24]

By Forum 2003, McBride had redirected SCO Group’s strategy toward legal action over alleged unauthorized use of SCO Unix intellectual property within Linux distributions, ceasing sales of its Linux product line.[25] The resulting SCO–Linux legal disputes dominated industry discourse. Major sponsors such as Intel and HP either withdrew or scaled back their support for Forum 2003 amid controversy,[26] although HP still sponsored the welcome reception.

During the August keynote session, McBride alongside legal counsel presented alleged instances of SCO Unix code incorporated into Linux.[27] Beyond legal matters, the event also showcased SCO’s product roadmaps and development strategies.[27]

SCO faced significant opposition from open source advocates, notably through Groklaw,[28] leading Businessweek to label it "The Most Hated Company In Tech".[29]

SCO Forum in 2004 placed greater emphasis on SCO Unix’s legacy and ongoing product innovation rather than litigation topics,[30] attracting approximately 550 participants.[5] McBride reiterated dedication to Unix engineering over legal battles: "95 percent of our company is focused on building strong products."[31] A new initiative called SCO Marketplace enabled developers to bid on software projects related to SCO Unix.[31]

Attendance declined further in 2005 to 374 attendees; participation was restricted to North American VARs and distributors while other regions hosted separate events.[32]

That year saw Forum move to The Mirage in Las Vegas. Founder Doug Michels returned to receive a lifetime achievement award.[33] The focus shifted toward mobile software development with Me Inc. services and EdgeClick platform initiatives.[34][35] McBride described this period as a "seminal moment" aimed at establishing leadership in mobile application software.[34] Sixteen breakout sessions covered various mobility topics. The HipCheck tool debuted as a remote server monitoring solution for Palm Treo smartphones.[35]

Despite these efforts, mobility projects struggled to gain momentum. In 2007, the event was renamed SCO Tec Forum and shortened to two days with technical sessions replacing most keynote speeches.[36] Shortly thereafter, an unfavorable ruling in SCO v. Novell denied SCO ownership of Unix copyrights,[37] significantly weakening its legal standing. In September of that year, SCO filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.[38]

SCO Tec Forum 2008 experienced multiple delays before finally taking place from October 19–21 at the Luxor.[39] This marked the event’s twenty-second consecutive year,[40] with some attendees maintaining annual participation through reseller group iXorg.[41][39] Despite persistent efforts to sustain operations, financial decline continued unabated; this ultimately became the final SCO Forum.[39]

List of Forums

Compilation of Forums
Year Dates Venue Official Event Name Keynote Speaker from SCO Distinguished Guest Speakers/Panelists Featured Musical Performers
1987 UC Santa Cruz SCO XENIX 386 Developer Conference
1988 circa Aug 22 UC Santa Cruz SCO Forum '88
1989 Aug 21–25 UC Santa Cruz SCO Forum '89 Larry Michels, Doug Michels Paul Maritz, Ray Noorda
1990 Aug 20–24 UC Santa Cruz SCO Forum '90
1991 Aug 19–23 UC Santa Cruz SCO Forum91 Tower of Power
1992 Aug 17–21 UC Santa Cruz SCO Forum92 Larry Michels, Doug Michels Andy Grove
1993 Aug 14–19 UC Santa Cruz SCO Forum93 Lars Turndal
1994 Aug 21–25 UC Santa Cruz SCO Forum94 John Perry Barlow, Phillipe Kahn Deth Specula
1995 Aug 20–24 UC Santa Cruz SCO Forum95 Alok Mohan Scott Adams, Clifford Stoll, John Perry Barlow, Linus Torvalds
1996 Aug 18–23 UC Santa Cruz SCO Forum96 Alok Mohan Scott McNealy, Glenn Ricart Jefferson Starship
1997 Aug 17–22 UC Santa Cruz SCO Forum97 Alok Mohan Douglas Adams The Kingsmen, The Surfaris
1998 Aug 16–21 UC Santa Cruz SCO Forum98 Doug Michels Dave Barry, Mary T. McDowell "Roger McGuinn; Jan and Dean, The Kingsmen, The Surfaris"
1999 Aug 15–20 UC Santa Cruz SCO Forum 1999 Doug Michels Clayton M. Christensen, Frank Drake Roger McGuinn; Indigo Swing
2000 Aug 20–23 UC Santa Cruz Forum 2000 Doug Michels, Ransom Love Roger McGuinn
2001 Aug 19–22 UC Santa Cruz Caldera Forum 2001 Ransom Love — —
2002 Aug 25–27 MGM Grand Las Vegas [Caldera] GeoFORUM 2002 Darl McBride — —
2003 Aug 17–19 Las Vegas MGM SCO Forum 2003 Darl McBride — —
2004 Aug 1–4 Las Vegas MGM SCO Forum 2004 Darl McBride Rob Enderle —
2005 Aug 7–10 Las Vegas MGM SCO Forum 2005 Darl McBride — —
2006 Aug 6-9 The Mirage Las Vegas Mirage SCO Forum 2006 Darl McBride, Doug Michels
2007 Aug 5–7 Las Vegas Mirage SCO Tec Forum 2007 Darl McBride
2008 Oct 19–21 Luxor Las Vegas SCO Tec Forum 2008 Darl McBride
  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named scs-1995-b
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named landley
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named scs-1991
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lj-2002
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named cw-2004
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ddj-1994
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named zd-leibo
  8. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named interact
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named cnn-1999
  10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named cj-1999
  11. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named insert-1997
  12. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named scs-1992-a
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named scs-1997
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named proceedings-96
  15. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named uniforum-1996
  16. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named scs-1998
  17. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  18. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named scs-layoff-2002
  19. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  20. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lw-2002
  21. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  22. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named starts
  23. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  24. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  25. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  26. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named eweek-2003
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named heise-2003
  28. ↑ See for instance Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). and Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  29. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named bw-hated
  30. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named li-2004
  32. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lp-2005
  33. ↑ Template:Cite video
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named crn-2006
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named nw-2006
  36. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named sco-2007
  37. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  38. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named bankruptcy
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ixorg
  40. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named pr-2008-a
  41. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named gg-2004
Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=SCO_Forum&oldid=25146"