View source for Amiga Unix

{{Infobox OS
| name = Amiga UNIX
| logo = 
| screenshot = Amigaunix.jpg
| caption = [[Amiga]] [[Unix]] installation disks and tape
| developer = [[Commodore International|Commodore-Amiga, Inc.]]
| family = [[Unix]] ([[SVR4]])
| source_model = primarily [[closed source]]
| released = {{Start date and age|1991}}<ref name="unigramx19910204_commodore"/>
| latest_release_version = 2.1<ref name="commodore_amigaunix21"/>
| latest_release_date = 1992
| kernel_type = [[Monolithic kernel|Monolithic]]
| license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]]
| website = 
| working_state = Historic
| supported_platforms = [[Motorola 68030]]
}}
'''Amiga Unix''' (informally known as '''Amix''') is a discontinued full [[Porting|port]] of [[AT&T Corporation|AT&T]] [[Unix System V|Unix System V Release 4]] [[operating system]] developed by [[Commodore International|Commodore-Amiga, Inc.]] in 1990 for the [[Amiga]] computer family as an alternative to [[AmigaOS]], which shipped by default.

==Overview==
Bundled with the [[Amiga 3000UX]], Commodore's Unix was one of the first ports of SVR4 to the [[68k]] architecture, and this level of compliance was emphasised in marketing materials such as the company's "Born To Run UNIX SVR4" brochure.<ref name="a3000ux_unix_svr4">{{ cite book | url=https://amigaunix.com/lib/exe/fetch.php/a3000ux_born_to_run_unix_svr4.pdf | title=Commodore Amiga 3000UX Born To Run UNIX SVR4 | publisher=Commodore Business Machines, Inc. }}</ref> The Amiga 3000UX provided the [[OPEN LOOK]] graphical environment,<ref name="byte199012_unix">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1990-12/page/n171/mode/1up | title=Short Takes: A Unix graphics workstation for the rest of the world | magazine=Byte | first1=Ben | last1=Smith | date=December 1990 | access-date=25 February 2024 | pages=134, 136 | volume=15 | issue=13 }}</ref> with the machine reportedly featuring on the [[Sun Microsystems]] and [[Unix International]] stands at the 1991 Uniforum show, ostensibly as a consequence of Commodore's adoption of these exhibitors' technologies.<ref name="amigaworld199104_unix">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/amiga-world-1991-04/page/n11/mode/1up | title=Unix: The Latest Frontier | magazine=Amiga World | date=April 1991 | access-date=7 March 2024 | pages=10 }}</ref> An earlier Amiga-based graphical Unix system had reportedly featured on the AT&T booth at the Uniforum Fall '89 show.<ref name="amigaworld199004_computerdujour"/>

Exhibited at CeBIT in early 1988, the Amiga 2500UX was described as a [[Motorola 68020]]-based system that could be booted to [[UNIX System V#SVR3|Unix System V Release 3]] (SVR3) or AmigaDOS, supporting an X Window System interface, as well as a "very fast and more flexible" proprietary windowing system that was also to be offered. Graphics acceleration using the Amiga chipset was promised, along with an upgrade kit consisting of an expansion board featuring the 68020 and a memory management unit for existing users to upgrade to the Unix system. September 1988 availability was announced for the European market.<ref name="unigramx19880409_commodore">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/UnigramX1988160-211/page/n84/mode/1up | title=Commodore Sets 68020 Amiga-UX Launch for September | work=Unigram/X | date=9 April 1988 | access-date=23 July 2024 | pages=1 }}</ref> Shortly afterwards, at COMDEX Spring 1988, Commodore demonstrated its proprietary windowing system on an Amiga 2000 system running Unix, also showing off a 68030 upgrade board.<ref name="unigramx19880521_commodore">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/UnigramX1988160-211/page/n122/mode/1up | title=Commodore Shows off 68030 Board, Unix for Amiga 2000 | work=Unigram/X | date=21 May 1988 | access-date=23 July 2024 | pages=3 }}</ref>

The Amiga 2500UX was more comprehensively described in [[COMDEX]] Fall 1988 show coverage as a 14.3&nbsp;MHz [[Motorola 68020]]-based system with 80&nbsp;MB hard drive and 150&nbsp;MB tape system, fitted with 5&nbsp;MB of RAM and featuring the [[Motorola 68851]] [[memory management unit]] and [[Motorola 68881]] [[floating-point unit]] (FPU). The "full implementation" of Unix System V was to be offered with the machine.<ref name="info198901_comdex">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/info-magazine-24/page/n39/mode/1up | title=COMDEX | magazine=Info | last1=Dunnington | first1=Benn | date=January–February 1989 | access-date=4 April 2024 | pages=38 }}</ref> A premature report had emerged of a version of Unix running on the Amiga 2000 at a separate October 1988 event,<ref name="info198901_amiexpo">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/info-magazine-24/page/n37/mode/1up | title=LA AMIEXPO | magazine=Info | last1=Brown | first1=Mark R. | date=January–February 1989 | access-date=4 April 2024 | pages=36 }}</ref> due to an X Window System implementation for AmigaDOS having been mistaken for a graphical Unix system.<ref name="info198903_booboo">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/info-magazine-25/Info_Issue_25_1989_Mar_Apr/page/n69/mode/1up | title=Big Booboo | magazine=Info | date=March–April 1989 | access-date=4 April 2024 | pages=68 }}</ref> As of early 1989, Amiga Unix or AMIX was a SVR3.1 implementation on the Amiga 2500UX, reported as featuring a "proprietary windowing system" that was "specifically designed for speed and convenience". Developers had already reportedly received beta versions of the AMIX system, and system pricing was estimated at around ${{Format price|5000}}.<ref name="amigauserinternational198901_unix">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/Amiga_User_International_1989001/page/30/mode/2up | title=The Amiga Goes Unix | magazine=Amiga User International | last1=Jacobson-Gonzalez | first1=Max | date=January 1989 | access-date=30 April 2024 | pages=30–32 }}</ref>

Commodore described the Amiga 2500UX with the same 68020-based specifications at the [[CeBIT]] show in early 1989,<ref name="byte198905_cebit">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1989-05/page/n9/mode/1up | title=A Lot of Company | magazine=Byte | date=May 1989 | access-date=18 April 2024 | last1=Langa | first1=Fred | pages=6 }}</ref> also indicating a £{{Format price|1700}} price for the upgrade kit to bring the Amiga 2000 up to the capabilities of the 2500UX.<ref name="unigramx19890325_commodore">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/UnigramX1989212-262/page/n70/mode/1up | title=Commodore Shows its Amiga 2500 UX 68020 Unix Machine | work=Unigram/X | date=25 March 1989 | access-date=23 July 2024 | pages=3 }}</ref> In a May 1989 show in Toronto, Commodore had adjusted the specification of the 2500UX, making it a 68030-based machine running SVR3.3 and the "Amix Windows multi-tasking user interface", even suggesting a price of CA${{Format price|8500}}.<ref name="unigramx19890528_commodore">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/UnigramX1989212-262/page/n127/mode/1up | title=Canada's Unix Boom Moves on Apace at Toronto Multi-User Show | work=Unigram/X | date=28 May 1989 | access-date=23 July 2024 | pages=2 }}</ref> By the end of 1989, the purpose of the 2500UX had become more apparent as a development machine, with Commodore UK suggesting that the eventual Unix product would be a 68030-based Amiga 3000 system running SVR4, available during 1990.<ref name="unigramx19891113_commodore">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/UnigramX1989212-262/page/n285/mode/1up | title=Commodore Promises V.4 Amiga for Next Year | work=Unigram/X | date=13 November 1989 | access-date=23 July 2024 | pages=2 }}</ref>

As the release of the Amiga 3000UX approached, the hardware requirements for Amiga 2000 systems running Unix were refined further, demanding an accelerator card such as the A2630, providing a 68030 CPU and 68882 FPU, bringing them into line with the A2500/30 variant of the [[Amiga 2000#Amiga 2500|Amiga 2500]]. More than 100&nbsp;MB of hard drive storage and a tape drive for installing the operating system were required.<ref name="info199012_unix">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/info-magazine-35/page/n67/mode/2up | title=UNIX On The AMIGA | magazine=Info | last1=Martin | first1=David W. | date=December 1990 | access-date=4 April 2024 | pages=68–69 }}</ref>

By the end of 1990, several months after the launch of the Amiga 3000, Commodore indicated plans to launch the 3000UX at the Uniforum show in January 1991, reportedly needing to finish off its SVR4 implementation and to attract software vendors to its platform.<ref name="unigramx19901008_commodore">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/UnigramX1990263-313/page/n266/mode/1up | title=Commodore Unix V.4 Machines "Out in January" | work=Unigram/X | date=8 October 1990 | access-date=23 July 2024 | pages=3 }}</ref> Finally, at Uniforum, two Amiga 3000UX configurations were unveiled, broadly confirming earlier reports. A reported 1,000 units had already been "shipped to beta-test sites" ahead of wider availability.<ref name="unigramx19910204_commodore">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/UnigramX1991314-365/page/n36/mode/1up | title=At Last, Commodore's Unix Box Makes its Debut | work=Unigram/X | date=4 February 1991 | access-date=23 July 2024 | pages=3 }}</ref>

==Reception==

Although the Amiga 3000UX could deliver a "responsive" experience, performance in the graphical environment was nevertheless described as being "on par with a slow [[i386|386]] machine running [[SCO Open Desktop]]".<ref name="unixworld199112_a3000ux">{{cite magazine |last=Burgard |first=Mike |url=http://docs.unix-history.com/reviews/amiga3000ux.pdf |title=More than a Toy but No Bargain |magazine=[[UnixWorld]] | date=December 1991 | access-date=25 February 2024 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218030848/http://docs.unix-history.com/reviews/amiga3000ux.pdf | archive-date=18 December 2007 }}</ref> Another evaluation of version 1.1 of the operating system described the [[X Window System]] performance as being "monochrome and slow as molasses", with an improved version 2.0 of the system to be made available, providing colour support in conjunction with the A2410 graphics board.<ref name="info199106_unix">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/info_Issue_40_1991-06.info_Publications_US/page/n43/mode/1up | title=Amiga Unix: A Hands-On Look | magazine=.info | date=June 1991 | access-date=7 March 2024 | pages=44 }}</ref> This board was launched later in 1991, offering a {{nowrap|1024 x 1024}} resolution with [[8-bit color|8-bit colour depth]],<ref name="amazingcomputing199109_a2410">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/amazing-computing-magazine-1991-09/page/n18/mode/1up | title=A2410 Hi-Res Graphics Card | magazine=Amazing Computing | date=September 1991 | access-date=7 March 2024 | pages=17 }}</ref> having been first announced in late 1988 as a collaboration with the University of Lowell.<ref name="info198901_comdex"/> The card, based on the [[TMS34010]], had previously been demonstrated at the Uniforum Fall '89 show.<ref name="amigaworld199004_computerdujour">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/amiga-world-1990-04/page/n41/mode/1up | title=Computer du Jour: Amiga Unix | magazine=Amiga World | date=April 1990 | access-date=5 April 2024 | last1=Catchings | first1=Bill | last2=Van Name | first2=Mark L. | pages=40 }}</ref>

The Amiga 3000UX's base price of {{US$|4998}} (approximately US${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|4998|1991|r=-2}}}} today),<ref name="amigahistory_a3000ux">{{cite web | url=http://www.amigahistory.plus.com/a3000ux.html | title=Commodore Amiga 3000UX bundle | access-date=25 February 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725053956/http://www.amigahistory.plus.com/a3000ux.html | archive-date=25 July 2020 | url-status=dead }}</ref> rising to a reported ${{Format price|7713}} with graphics board (priced separately at around ${{Format price|1000}}<ref name="acguide_winter1993_a2410">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/ACs_Guide_To_The_Commodore_Amiga_Winter_93_1993_PiM_Publications_US/page/n25/mode/1up | title=A2410 High Resolution Color Graphics Card | magazine=AC's Guide | date=Winter 1993 | access-date=7 March 2024 | pages=14 }}</ref>) and colour monitor,<ref name="unixworld199112_a3000ux"/> was not especially attractive compared to other Unix workstations at the time. By the end of 1989, around a year before availability of the Amiga 3000UX, vendors such as [[Hewlett-Packard]] and Sun had already launched 68030-based models aimed at the low-end of the market. HP had started 1989 by launching its low-cost HP 9000 Model 340 workstation range with prices starting from ${{Format price|5495}}.<ref name="hpprofessional198901_hp3000m340">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/HP-Professional_Vol._03_No._01_Jan_1989/page/23/mode/1up | title=HP Announces 9000 Model 340 | magazine=HP Professional | date=January 1989 | access-date=17 April 2024 | volume=3 | issue=1 | pages=23 }}</ref> Later in the year, the [[Apollo/Domain|Apollo DN2500]], positioned as an entry-level workstation with monochrome display by HP's [[Apollo Computer|Apollo]] division, cost only ${{Format price|3990}} for a diskless model or ${{Format price|5490}} with hard disk, eliminating the distinction between workstations and [[personal computer]]s in pricing terms.<ref name="computerworld19890925_workstations">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/computerworld2339unse/page/4/mode/1up | title=PC, workstation firms prepare for price war | magazine=Computerworld | last1=Alexander | first1=Michael | date=25 September 1989 | access-date=5 March 2024 | pages=4 }}</ref> The Sun 3/80 cost ${{Format price|5990}} for a comparable entry-level product.<ref name="hpprofessional19891010_lowcost">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/HP-Professional_Vol._03_No._10_Oct_1989/page/42/mode/2up | title=Low-End Workstation Market | magazine=HP Professional | last1=Sharp | first1=Bill | date=10 October 1989 | access-date=5 March 2024 | pages=42–44, 46 }}</ref>

RISC-based competitors offering superior performance were also already available at similar price levels as competition increased, such as the [[DECstation]] 2100 (reduced to ${{Format price|5950}}), and numerous SPARC workstations were anticipated at this ${{Format price|5000}} price point during 1990.<ref name="computerworld19900507_sun">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/sim_computerworld_1990-05-07_24_19/page/n7/mode/1up | title=Sun to lower stakes with Sparc entry | magazine=Computerworld | last1=Daly | first1=James | date=7 May 1990 | access-date=14 November 2023 | pages=1, 8 }}</ref> Sun's [[SPARCstation 1]], introduced alongside the 3/80,<ref name="byte198905_sun">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1989-05/page/n123/mode/2up | title=Two Powerful Systems from Sun | magazine=Byte | last1=Baran | first1=Nick | date=May 1989 | access-date=10 March 2024 | pages=108–112 }}</ref> had cost ${{Format price|8995}} for the diskless version in 1989.<ref name="hpprofessional19891010_lowcost"/> By the end of 1991, models such as the Sun [[SPARCstation IPC]] would cost around ${{Format price|6695}} for a model similarly specified to a complete A3000UX bundle in terms of memory, disk capacity and display, yet offer considerably better performance.<ref name="unixworld199112_a3000ux"/><ref name="electronicdesign19910808_sun">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_ElectronicignV39N1519910808_88729724/page/n29/mode/1up | title=2D, 3D Workstations Set New Price Lows | magazine=Electronic Design | date=8 August 1991 | access-date=8 September 2025 | pages=28 | quote=For color system users, the company has a $9995 package built around the ELC CPU, or offers the color IPC system, rated at 13 Specmarks for $6995 (16-in color display, 8 Mbytes of RAM, 207-Mbyte disk). }}</ref> The anticipated low-cost SPARC clones, such as Tatung's CompStation, remained stubbornly above ${{Format price|5000}} for the base system, but comparably specified system packages became available during 1991 for less than ${{Format price|6000}} amid intensifying competition from Sun, itself under considerable competitive pressure,<ref name="computerworld19910722_sun">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/computerworld2529unse/page/8/mode/1up | title=Sun's latest means to prevent market eclipse | magazine=Computerworld | last1=Savage | first1=J. A. | date=22 July 1991 | access-date=8 September 2025 | pages=8 }}</ref> and [[Silicon Graphics]].<ref name="unigramx19910812_tatung">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/UnigramX1991314-365/page/n208/mode/1up | title=Tatung Cuts Prices on its SPARC-based CompStation Machines | work=Unigram/X | date=12 August 1991 | access-date=17 August 2025 | pages=5 }}</ref>

Commodore's product marketing manager indicated that the machine was intended to compete with machines from [[NeXT]] and Apple's A/UX, conceding, "We really don't see ourselves as being competitive with Sun."<ref name="computerpaper199104_a3000ux">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/issuu_dougalder_1991-04_tcp_bc-ocr/page/n18/mode/1up | title=Commodore Launches Unix Machine | magazine=The Computer Paper | volume=4 | issue=4 | date=April 1991 | access-date=7 March 2024 | pages=19, 21 }}</ref> Advertising for the system focused on Apple and NeXT as competitors, emphasising its adoption of System V, OPEN LOOK and X Window System technologies.<ref name="a3000ux_svr4_advert">{{ cite book | url=https://www.amigaunix.com/lib/exe/fetch.php/amiga-3000unix_clean.png | title=Born to Run UNIX SVR4 | publisher=Commodore Business Machines, Inc. }}</ref>  However, within a year of its launch, the Amiga 3000UX's [[Motorola 68030|68030]] was already considered "one whole generation behind" the 68040-based [[NeXTstation]],<ref name="unixworld199112_a3000ux"/> priced from ${{Format price|4995}} with greyscale display, ${{Format price|7995}} with colour display.<ref name="byte199011_next">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/eu_BYTE-1990-11_OCR/page/n264/mode/1up | title=Fast New Systems from NeXT | magazine=Byte | last1=Baran | first1=Nick | last2=Linderholm | first2=Owen | date=November 1990 | access-date=25 February 2024 | pages=165–168 }}</ref> Later entry-level workstations from established vendors upheld their aggressive pricing while increasing the performance gap. For example, the Personal DECstation 5000 Model 20 provided a newer CPU and was priced from only ${{Format price|3995}} for a diskless configuration, with the faster Model 25 being available in a colour display configuration with hard disk for ${{Format price|8495}}.<ref name="unixreview199210_decstation">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/sim_unix-review_1992-10_10_10/page/n52/mode/1up | title=Tested Mettle | magazine=Unix Review | date=October 1992 | access-date=24 April 2022 | last1=Wilson | first1=David | pages=49–50, 52, 54, 57–58 }}</ref>

Differences in the nature of Commodore's channels between the US and European markets also prevented Commodore from exploiting opportunities to sell Amiga Unix systems. Attempts had been made to target "untapped professional markets" and position the Amiga as a more serious multimedia-capable machine, also satisfying the "corporate checklist" by offering Unix and networking capabilities.<ref name="computerworld19900730_amiga">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/computerworld2431unse/page/19/mode/1up | title=Amiga: It's not just for games anymore | magazine=Computerworld | last1=Barney | first1=Douglas | date=30 July 1990 | access-date=3 June 2024 | pages=19 }}</ref> In the US market, specialist dealers played an important role in the sales effort and were considered more able to support sophisticated products based on Unix. However, European sales of the Amiga range were largely driven by high street retailers targeting a computer gaming demographic, and a shift in emphasis requiring the introduction of a capable sales and support infrastructure was perceived as being more costly than the potential earnings generated through Unix product sales. Moreover, an increasingly competitive European Unix market led to doubts that such sales would materialise, putting the European availability of Amiga Unix into question.<ref name="amigacomputing199004_unix">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/amiga-computing-issue-24-may-1990-volume-2-number-12/Amiga%20Computing%20Issue%2023%20April%201990%20(Volume%202%20Number%2011)/page/15/mode/1up | title=No Unix for Europe | magazine=Amiga Computing | date=April 1990 | access-date=3 June 2024 | pages=15 }}</ref>

In an attempt to respond to the competitive situation, Commodore released version 2.1 of Amiga Unix in early 1992, reducing the price of an Amiga 3000UX system bundle featuring 9&nbsp;MB of RAM, 200&nbsp;MB hard drive, A2410 high-resolution graphics card, Ethernet card, and colour monitor (or SCSI tape drive) for a limited period to ${{Format price|4998}}, compared to a combined retail price of ${{Format price|8495}}.<ref name="commodore_amigaunix21">{{ cite press release | url=https://groups.google.com/g/comp.unix.amiga/c/hHosIbrAIKM/m/PCk6opAsYIoJ | title=Commodore (R) Puts Power of UNIX Within More Amiga Users' Reach | publisher=Commodore Business Machines, Inc. | date=12 February 1992 | access-date=18 April 2024 }}</ref> By this time, HP had already introduced 68040-based workstations at the low end of the market, such as the HP Apollo 9000 Model 425e, available from ${{Format price|5490}} for an 8&nbsp;MB, diskless model with 19-inch greyscale monitor.<ref name="byte199110_hp9000">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/eu_BYTE-1991-10_OCR/page/n306/mode/1up | title=Hewlett-Packard's 425e Shows Off the Power of the 68040 | magazine=Byte | last1=Yager | first1=Tom | date=October 1991 | access-date=29 April 2024 | pages=239–240, 242 }}</ref> In early 1992, it was reported that Commodore had appointed solution provider Applied Systems Group as the sole UK reseller of Amiga Unix. Commodore maintained claims of the platform outperforming "traditional vendors in its price bracket", also claiming to have converted numerous existing users of "Sun 4, 486 and 68000-based workstations" to the platform.<ref name="amigacomputing199202_unix">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AmigaComputingIssue045Feb92/page/n9/mode/1up | title=Unix reseller appointed | magazine=Amiga Computing | date=February 1992 | access-date=30 April 2024 | pages=10 }}</ref>

Unlike [[Apple Computer|Apple]]'s [[A/UX]] compatibility layer for [[System 7]] applications, Amiga Unix contains no compatibility layer for [[AmigaOS]] applications. Prior to the system's release, Commodore had merely indicated that the company had been "discussing" such application support.<ref name="amigaworld199004_computerdujour"/> Commodore's UK marketing manager stated that user interface guidelines would be introduced to ensure consistency between traditional Amiga and Amiga Unix applications, with Amiga Unix offering a "friendly Mac-like environment".<ref name="amigacomputing198911_earl">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AmigaComputingIssue018Nov89/page/n72/mode/1up | title=Jeff Earl: Commodore's man in the hot seat | magazine=Amiga Computing | date=November 1989 | access-date=30 April 2024 | pages=23 | quote=These guidelines will encompass Amiga Unix, so that the high flying executive can switch between an Amiga under AmigaDos. Amiga running Unix or the company mainframe running Unix, without having to be aware of which machine or operating system is doing the work.}}</ref>  With few native applications available to take advantage of the Amiga's significant multimedia capabilities, it failed to find a niche in the competitive Unix [[workstation]] market of the early 1990s beyond certain targeted deployments. For instance, computer science students at [[Virginia Tech]] were obliged to purchase the Amiga 3000UX to pursue their studies,<ref name="amazingcomputing199010_unix">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/amazing-computing-magazine-1990-10/page/n5/mode/1up | title=Unix Super Beta Site | magazine=Amazing Computing | date=October 1990 | access-date=7 March 2024 | pages=4 }}</ref> with students offered a base model providing 4&nbsp;MB of RAM, a 100&nbsp;MB hard disk, and colour monitor for around ${{Format price|4000}}.<ref name="amigaworld199104_virginiatech">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/amiga-world-1991-04/page/n12/mode/1up | title=Amiga Unix Ticking at Tech | magazine=Amiga World | date=April 1991 | access-date=7 March 2024 | pages=11 }}</ref>

Unlike typical commercial Unix distributions of the time, Amiga Unix included the [[source code]] to the vendor-specific enhancements and platform-dependent [[device driver]]s (essentially any part that wasn't owned by AT&T), allowing interested users to study or enhance those parts of the system.  However this source code was subject to the same license terms as the binary part of the system{{snd}} it was not [[free software]].  Amiga Unix also incorporated and depended upon many [[open source]] components, such as the [[GNU C Compiler]] and [[X Window System]], and included their source code.

Like many other proprietary Unix variants with small market shares, Amiga Unix vanished into the mists of computer history when its vendor, Commodore, went out of business. Today, [[Unix-like]] operating systems such as [[Minix]],<ref name="amigashopper199301_minix">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AmigaShopperIssue21Jan93/page/n85/mode/2up | title=You Little Minix! | magazine=Amiga Shopper | last1=Marshall | first1=Angus | date=January 1993 | access-date=30 April 2024 | pages=86–87 }}</ref> [[NetBSD]],<ref name="amigaformat199609_netbsd">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AmigaFormatMagazine_201902/Amiga_Format_Issue_088_1996_09_Future_Publishing_GB/page/n27/mode/2up| title=Unix for Free | magazine=Amiga Format | last1=Goodwin | first1=Simon N. | date=September 1996 | access-date=2 May 2024 | pages=28–30 }}</ref> and [[Linux]] are available for the Amiga platform.

==Speculation==

Unsubstantiated rumours of the adoption of the Amiga 3000UX as a product by Sun Microsystems have been presented in various online venues,<ref name="bbah">{{ cite web | url=http://www.bigbookofamigahardware.com/bboah/product.aspx?id=26 | title=A3000UX - Commodore | website=Big Book of Amiga Hardware | access-date=19 April 2024 | quote=Shortly after release, Sun Microsystems, a major UNIX vendor was interested in rebadging the A3000UX for supplying as an entry level UNIX workstation. Unfortunately in true Commodore style, the deal fell through. }}</ref> despite Sun already fielding a comprehensive workstation range and pursuing a technological direction that was leading the company away from Motorola's 68000 family and towards Sun's favoured SPARC architecture, describing demand for 68000 family systems as "very, very low".<ref name="computerworld19900402_motorola">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/computerworld2414unse/mode/1up | title=Motorola '030 sales in jeopardy | magazine=Computerworld | last1=Daly | first1=James | last2=Pastore | first2=Richard | date=2 April 1990 | access-date=2 May 2024 | pages=1,118 }}</ref> One instance of coverage of such rumours that appeared in contemporary print media characterised such rumours as "an amusing tidbit" with the author presciently regarding the rumoured development as unlikely.<ref name="amazingcomputer199011_roomers">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/amazing-computing-magazine-1990-11/page/n60/mode/1up | title=Roomers | magazine=Amazing Computing | last1=Bandito | first1=The | date=November 1990 | access-date=30 April 2024 | pages=59–62 }}</ref>{{rp | pages=60 | quote=Another amusing tidbit that The Bandito has garnered: a hot tip that Commodore and Sun are going to announce an agreeement whereby Commodore would "takeover" the low end of Sun's workstation line — replacing the 68xxx models in Sun's line with Amigas running Unix. In other words, the low-end Sun workstation would really be an Amiga 3000. The Bandito doesn't think it's likely, but stranger things have happened in this business.}}

Other rumours supposedly persisted towards the beginning of 1990 that Hewlett-Packard had been "negotiating to buy Commodore", only to pull out, eliciting later claims of HP workstations with "suspiciously Amiga-like specifications".<ref name="info199103_rumormill">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/info-magazine-37/Info_Issue_37_1991_Mar/page/n17/mode/1up | title=The Rumor Mill | magazine=Info | date=March 1991 | access-date=19 April 2024 | pages=18 }}</ref> Such commentary was evidently oblivious to HP's existing extensive workstation ranges, including Motorola-based systems, and its 1989 acquisition of Apollo Computer in pursuit of workstation market share and application support. Indeed, this acquisition led to a degree of duplication in HP's Motorola-based product ranges in need of careful resolution, but brought with it numerous Apollo developers and customers. Such considerations and benefits would have been largely absent in any hypothetical Commodore acquisition.<ref name="hpprofessional198906_industrywatch">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/HP-Professional_Vol._03_No._06_Jun_1989/page/10/mode/1up | title=Now That HP And Apollo Are No. 1... | magazine=HP Professional | last1=King | first1=Peggy | date=June 1989 | access-date=19 April 2024 | pages=10, 12, 80–82, 84 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Atari TT030]], Unix workstation from Atari

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://amigaunix.de/downloads/LearningAmigaUnix.pdf Manual: Commodore, Amiga Unix, System V Release 4, Learning Amiga Unix (11/1990)]
* [http://amigaunix.com/ The Very Unofficial Commodore Amiga Unix (AMIX) Wiki]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9j5MYexwTQ Video of AMIX running under FS-UAE]

{{Unix-like}}

[[Category:Amiga]]
[[Category:Discontinued operating systems]]
[[Category:UNIX System V]]