Open Systems Technology Associates (OSTA)

OSTA - Corporate Profile

OSTA is a technology and management consulting firm specializing in Open Systems, Client/Server, and Internet/Intranet Computing. The firm provides consulting services in technology, products, and standards areas such as the UNIX system, Windows NT, networking, distributed computing, systems/network management, and systems architecture. We have been involved in the UNIX/Open Systems industry since its beginnings at Bell Telephone Laboratories in the early 1970's, and helped to initiate the move to Open Systems in the computer industry. This broad experience gives us a unique perspective on the Open Systems industry and allows us to provide a broad range of consulting services to our clients: hardware vendors, ISVs, and end users.

OSTA Services

OSTA offers a combination of management and technology consulting services to its clients, including:

• UNIX/Open Systems strategic planning
• Analysis of trends and issues associated with:
  • Open Systems technology
  • Client/Server computing
  • Internet/Intranet computing
• Systems architecture planning, analysis, and review
• IT standards planning, analysis, and evaluation
• Product planning, analysis, and evaluation
• Competitive assessment
• Open Systems/UNIX education
• Seminars/briefings for management and technical staff on:
  • Client/Server computing and middleware
  • Internet/Intranet computing
  • Technology trends
• Project planning and auditing
• Expert witness

Some Recent Projects

Some recent projects performed by OSTA include:

• Competitive assessment of Microsoft Windows NT vs. Novell NetWare
• Comparative analysis of systems management tools
• Usability and integration analysis of Microsoft BackOffice
• Selection of embedded real-time operating system
• Assessment of large end user's IT directions
• Software architecture for network-based telecommunications product
• Interoperability analysis of a new Open Systems computing environment
• Expert witness using forensic software analysis techniques.

More details on these and other recent projects by OSTA can be found in OSTA Projects .

OSTA Benefits

OSTA provides a unique combination of management and technical skills in key Open Systems technology areas that will enable a client to obtain timely results, without hiring additional full-time staff to fill a temporary need. We are able to provide an independent opinion and expert advice in key technology, product and standards areas that impact the implementation of a high-technology solution.

OSTA Background

OSTA was founded in January 1992 by Dr. Heinz Lycklama , who acquired considerable development expertise in UNIX systems software at Bell Telephone Laboratories, and has managed numerous UNIX development projects as a Vice President of INTERACTIVE Systems Corporation, the first commercial UNIX company (founded in 1977). While at Bell Telephone Laboratories, Mr. Lycklama was the key architect and developer of a number of operating systems based on the UNIX system. He is a pioneer in developing the UNIX/Open Systems market. Highlights of his career include:

At Bell Telephone Laboratories (9 years):

• Developed first microprocessor UNIX system (on DEC LSI-11)
• Developed first real-time UNIX system (MERT)
• Developed first distributed processing UNIX system (SPS)

At INTERACTIVE Systems Corporation (14 years):

• Built first UNIX system emulation package for VAX/VMS
• Managed several UNIX system development projects: VM/IX, PC/IX and AIX for IBM, as well as a number of other UNIX ports for OEM's
• Developed business opportunities in Japan
• Developed strategy for penetration of US government market
• Provided strategic technology direction for INTERACTIVE Products, and Services and Technologies lines of businesses
• Elected member of UNIX International (UI) Steering Committee, 1989-1992
• Was INTERACTIVE's Open Software Foundation (OSF) representative
• Was INTERACTIVE's X/Open ISV Council representative

As an Open Systems industry pioneer:

• Founded UniForum Standards Committee in 1981
• Founded UniForum Technical Committee in 1985
• Was founding Co-chair of IEEE P1003 (POSIX) Committee in 1985
• Was founding member of IEEE P1003.0 Guide Committee in 1988
• Received UniForum Annual Industry Award in 1987
• Received AT&T UNIX Standards Champion Award in 1993
• Was elected to UniForum Board of Directors, 1987-1993, 1997-
• Was founding Chairman of Editorial Board of UTA
• Participated in many X/Open XTRA conferences
• Is frequent speaker at UNIX/Open Systems conferences
• Gives seminars, worldwide, on Open Systems industry/technology trends
• Serves on various Open Systems/UNIX Conference Program Committees.

Useful information on Open Systems can be found in:

• UniForum . The Association of Open Systems Professionals.
• USENIX . The original UNIX User's Group.
• The Open Group . The premier Open Systems Group.

Other interesting places to look:

• Gerda's Nutrition Home Page . Don't Risk Your Family's Health!
• Ralph's National Track Meet Results . Look under NAIA Track Nationals.
• Creation Outreach . Creationist and Christian Weblinks.

Heinz Lycklama - heinz@osta.com
Last modified:  April 23, 2003