Sun Microsystems is releasing its Jini developer toolkit
under an Apache open source licence.
Jini, which was released in 1999, helps connected devices find
each other on a network and enables them to use Sun's Java
software.
It is designed to help users run distributed systems based on
the concept of dynamic networking. The technology offers
self-healing and self-management functions to improve system avail-
ability, enhance flexibility and potentially lower software
costs.
Sun said some companies have been using Jini to support grid
computing and clustered server set-ups. It can also be used to
support RFID systems.
The Jini Technology Starter Kit version 2.0 is being made
available under the Apache Licence 2.0 as a way to speed Jini's
development in the open source community. The move is part of Sun's
wider strategy of eventually making all its software open
source.
