Sections: Main page
Security
Kernel
Distributions
Development
Commerce Linux in the news
Announcements
Back page
All in one big page
See also: last week's Commerce page.
|
Here's some leading items:
The latest from the Gartner Group is actually a bit of a surprise
- it is a positive and relatively correct look at what open source is.
"From looking at trade press coverage, it would seem that open
source and Linux are synonymous. However, a lesser-known fact about
Linux itself is that in a typical Linux distribution of 500MB, only
about 2 percent belongs to the Linux OS. The rest is what makes Linux
useful and is made up of hundreds of OSS system utilities, tools and
applications contributed by equally numerous development teams."
(Found in
Slashdot).
Tobias Hoevekamp has written a
page about the European Union's "Framework Programme 5," an effort
which is trying to improve the competitiveness of the European software
industry. Tobias notes that (1) the program now recognizes open
source software, and (2) there is money available for projects which
advance the program's objectives. This could be a good opportunity for
companies or individuals to get funding for open source projects.
Evidently it's even possible for non-Europeans to participate. See
Tobias's page for more information.
LAND-5 Corporation has announced
the release of the source code for their
enhanced Linux RAID software under the terms and conditions of the
Mozilla Public License (MPL).
Here are some highlights of some new hardware announced this week:
Tuxtops, Inc.
announced its product launch of Linux powered laptops.
Penguin Computing has
announced the "I-Node," which appears to be a high-availability
clustered server system.
IBM's
port of Linux to the S/390 is now ready to go. Check out the web
site for information and downloads.
Amax Engineering Corp.
announced a new series of Linux based workstations, rackmounts
& servers, which will utilize the Red Hat Linux operating
system.
SGI has put out a
large Linux announcement which includes a new set of support services
(for several distributions), a new Linux-based server system, and a set
of cluster offerings.
Highlights of Embedded Systems News:
Sybase has announced its plans for
support for the Transmeta Crusoe chip, including a demonstration
at LinuxWorld and SQL Anywhere support for Mobile Linux.
Lineo's acquisition of Zentropix was announced. Zentropix has a
track record and background in supporting real-time Linux.
Monta Vista Software
announced its partnership with FSMlabs also to bolster their real-time
capabilities.
MontaVista made several other announcements including:
the release of Hard Hat Linux 1.0. In keeping with
the evident theme of the day, Hard Hat Linux is an embedded version of
the OS. It's completely open source, and thus carries no royalties.
this one with information on the demos they ran this week at
LinuxWorld.
and
this one about its Hard Hat Linux cross-development toolkit for
Motorola's PowerPC microprocessors.
On a related note: Embedded Planet announced its new
embedded Linux development platform, based on HardHat Linux from MontaVista.
Also Red Hat
announced its "Red Hat Tools for Embedded Developers". This
appears to be a repackaging of existing Cygnus tools, with a few Red
Hat staples thrown in: EL/IX, the Intuitive graphical IDE, "priority
access" to Red Hat's embedded software repository, and an unmodified
version of the same x86 2.2.12 Linux kernel that ships with Red Hat
6.1.
Support and Linux Certification showed up in this week's news:
The Linux Professional Institute announced that an incentive program is in place to reward the
first 300 people to take LPI certification exams.
Netizen, a Melbourne-based IT consultancy specialising in Open Source
software, announced that it will be offering system support contracts for
Linux, FreeBSD, and other Open Source systems for Australian clients.
Linuxcare came out with several announcements:
-
This one about a deal where it will provide support and training
materials to "Compaq Solution Alliance" members.
- Then
this one about how they are strenghtening their global support
infrastructure.
-
This announcement is about their Custom Solution Service, with
their own branded, optimized Linux solutions.
- And finally this
press release is about their advertising campaign supporting the Open
Source Revolution.
- Also Maxspeed's MaxStation is the first Linux desktop device
certified by Linuxcare, according to this
press release.
Speaking of Maxspeed, they entered into
this agreement with Wave Technologies, parent company of Sair.
Wave Tech. will provide Maxspeed with a full Linux curriculum
education package.
Compaq also announced they will be offering
call center support for SuSE on Compaq's Alpha and Intel products.
Web Site announcements were hot this week:
Ecrix Corporation and the Linux Fund
announced the launch of
OpenTape.org, a new nonprofit web site supporting the open source
software movement.
O'Reilly Network announced the launch of two new sites, including a new technical
portal, http://www.oreillynet.com and
a new LinuxDev center, http://oreilly.linux.com.
Ebiz Enterprises, owners of the TheLinuxStore.com, has
announced the launch of
LinuxWired.net.
Andover.Net
announced that it is branching out into the corporate services
world with offerings like "on-line technical documentation, on-line
expert support, application updates and project consulting."
These services are to be based around the Freshmeat site.
A sample of this is shown in
this announcement about a new developer site, server51.freshmeat.net. It
appears to be a competitor to SourceForge, with the additional
twist that it offers the option of sharing advertising revenue with
the hosted projects.
Andover has also
announced the acquisition of QuestionExchange.
Fred N. van Kempen sent us a note saying that he has sold the linux.net domain. No
word yet on who bought it - an announcement is planned at LinuxWorld -
but Fred says: "It's *definitely not* Microsoft, and they're
planning some cool & useful things for the site."
And oh yeah,
eLinux.com put out this
launch announcement. Welcome to another "single source for
Linux harware [sic], software, news, discussion groups, services,
support and information."
eLinux also
announced a broad agreement with Linuxcare.
Press Releases:
Open Souce Products:
-
OpenAvenue announced the beta launch of OpenAvenue.com, an
open-source hosting site, and OAsis (OpenAvenue Source Infrastructure
System), its global collaborative infrastructure.
-
Sun Microsystems Inc. made three announcements: it is releasing
the source code for a key component of the Network File System (NFS)
protocol under the new Sun Industry Standards Source License; it will
double the level of funding it began last year for a University of
Michigan project to develop a Linux implementation of NFS version 4;
and, finally, it will release its rights to the NFS trademark.
Tape Drives:
Between this week's Linuxworld in New York and the Linux Expo Paris,
the press releases are now coming out hot and heavy. Here's a
selection of them announcing linux certification for various
tape drives. Our conclusion? Most tape drives can be used with
Linux ... but you already knew that, right?
Commercial Products for Linux:
-
3ware Inc. announced Escalade, a family of storage controllers
that use advanced RAID techniques, specifically designed for Internet
servers running on the Linux operating environment.
- A Linux version of Anarchy Online, a "Massive Multi-player Online Role Playing Game
(MMORPG)", was announced.
-
Applix, Inc. announced that they have established a pre-release
program to provide early access to the next version of their office
suite for Linux.
-
Artificial Life, Inc. announced support for the Linux platform
across Artificial Life's complete eCRM (Internet based customer
relationship management) product line and other upcoming products.
-
ConSyGen announced the debut of its new E-Commerce division with
its first E-Commerce service offering, PrecisionCommerce. This
software works well in Linux environments and features custom
XML-based plugins.
-
CyberSource Corporation announced the CyberSource Commerce
Component for Linux, support for leading Linux platforms, as well as
integration with Cobalt Network's new INTERSHOP Commerce RaQ. The
company also introduced a CyberSource Development Kit (CDK) for Linux.
-
Dialtone Internet announced that it will begin offering set up of Linux
Dedicated Systems in 30 minutes or less. Simultaneously, Dialtone Internet
is also
announcing that it has implemented $0 setup fees across all of its
servers, including Cobalt RaQ 3's webserver appliances.
-
Dot Hill Systems Corp. announced that its SANnet storage solution,
a Fibre Channel RAID system, now supports the University of
Minnesota's Linux-based Global File System (GFS) device locks (dlocks)
within its RAID controller firmware.
-
eSoft Inc. announced the availability of its redphish software on
Compaq's Alpha platform.
- Evans & Sutherland announced the E&S Lightning 1200LXa, one of
the first fully hardware-accelerated 3D solutions for the desktop
Linux market.
- IndyBox Systems announced its entrance into the embedded devices
market.
-
iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions announced the immediate availability
of iPlanet Messaging Server and iPlanet Web Server, Enterprise Edition
software, with support for Red Hat Linux.
-
Kx Systems announced that it is releasing Kdb for Linux. Kdb is a
relational database management system extended for time series.
- Macmillan has
announced its "Linux for Windows" product - seemingly a
UMSDOS-based version of the Mandrake distribution which can run under
Windows.
-
Oracle Corp. announced the immediate availability of Oracle's
dot-com Suite for Linux.
-
PolyServe, Inc. announced support for the RaQ 3 server appliance
from Cobalt Networks, Inc.
-
Progressive Systems, Inc. announced that Progressive's Phoenix
Adaptive Firewall appliance based on the Cobalt RaQ2 was network
security audited and certified "LinuxReady" by Linuxcare Labs.
-
Secant Technologies, Inc. announced the availability of its
complete line of application server and object-to-RDBMS integration
products on Linux.
- Take-Two Interactive Software has
announced the release of "100 Great Linux Games, Volume I."
-
Tech Soft America announced a program to promote the development
of advanced 3D desktop and web-based applications for the Linux
platform. The "Free 3D for Linux" program is designed to promote the
development of advanced 3D applications on Linux, and the royalty-free
proliferation of non-commercial applications. Commercial applications
based on the HOOPS framework, as well as applications ported and
distributed on platforms other than Linux will be subject to HOOPS'
standard license and royalty terms.
-
Tech Soft America, a global reseller of the Parasolid Kernel
Modeler, announced the demonstration of the new Linux port at Linux
World Expo.
-
TUCOWS.com Inc. announced the "Feed the Penguin" campaign to make
Linux more accessible and understandable to end users worldwide.
-
Xi Graphics Inc. announced a new Web-based product line of
graphics hardware drivers for Linux. The 3D Linux drivers are OpenGL
1.1.1 compliant, support libGLU and libGL, and are available for
download from Xi Graphics' Web site (www.xig.com) starting at $29
each. A limited number of drivers are currently available, but more
are being added weekly.
-
zap business communication systems announced support for Linux on
Cobalt Network's RaQ 3.
Products Using Linux:
-
Automation Control Products announced the introduction of an
office-grade Linux-based thin client computer, known as the "ThinTerm
TC- 100".
-
BASCOM Global Internet Services, Inc., developers of Linux-based
thin server productivity solutions for small business, announced the
IQ2 Family of Connectivity Solutions which use Caldera's OpenLinux OS.
-
ImaginOn, Inc. announced its ImOn.comTV Internet television
"station in a box" product line will include two additional turnkey
packages that incorporate Intel Pentium III and Xeon microprocessors
running Linux.
-
Sun Microsystems, Inc. announced that TradeMark Computer Products
has selected Sun to supply SPARC based platforms for building their
Linux solutions.
Java Products:
-
Fiorano Software, Inc. announced its interoperability with Linux
servers for the deployment of high-speed distributed applications.
-
Sun Microsystems Inc. claims more than 100,000 copies of its free
Forte for Java, Community Edition beta, have been downloaded by
developers using Java technology in the first 90 days of availability.
Products with Linux Versions:
-
Actiontec Electronics, Inc. announced that consumers who purchase
any of Actiontec's Call Waiting Modems through Actiontec's on-line
store have the additional option of purchasing a Caller ID Box for
only $19.95.
-
BiTMICRO NETWORKS, Inc. introduced the E-Disk SNX25, a high
capacity 2.5" solid state SCSI flash disk.
-
Chili!Soft Inc. announced Chili!Soft ASP for Linux, a solution
that enables developers using Microsoft FrontPage to build and deploy
database-driven Web applications on Linux servers.
-
Computone Corporation announced IntelliPort Plus ISA 4 RJ, a
multiport board.
- Corel
announced that the first beta version of Word Perfect Office 2000
has gone to the beta test sites.
- CSV Technologies Inc. announced EZHTML v1.3, a completely
searchable Hyper Text Mark up Language (HTML).
-
DesignConNovas Software, Inc. announced Debussy 4.4 now has Linux
support.
-
Eltrax Systems, Inc. announced that it will expand its current
Customer Care Group offerings to include a full suite of support
services for the Linux operating systems. The Eltrax Customer Care
Group services for Linux will include 24 by 7 technical support,
installation, training and programming support.
-
Hewlett-Packard Company announced the HP SureStore DAT40x6 DDS-4
automated tape backup system, featuring HP's One-Button Disaster
Recovery.
-
Hewlett-Packard Company announced that it is releasing its first
Enhancement Pack for OpenMail 6.
-
iChargeit, Inc. announced it is now manufacturing a line of
Dual-Boot Linux/Windows PC Computer Systems for $499. The computers
are marketed though their web site, www.shoppingplanet.com, as
well as through their Bay Micro reseller network.
- Inprise made
several announcements at Linuxworld, including:
- a new Linux community on the Inprise/Borland Web site
- a new on-line Linux Market Research survey for 2000
- a new Linux track at the company's annual developers' conference
- a Linux version of
Borland C++Builder 5.
- a Linux version of its Inprise Application Server 4.0
- and
VisiBroker 4.0.
- JDH Technologies announced Web-4M v2.7, a "Net-Meeting" with
advanced security.
-
LizardTech Inc. announced that it has begun shipping its MrSID
Image Server 2.2, an image-serving toolkit for Web servers.
-
Natural MicroSystems announced broad support for the Linux
operating system.
-
Object Design, Inc. announced that its ObjectStore object
data-management system will soon be available on Linux.
-
Rackspace.com announced the company's Instant SetUp service offering,
allowing customers with an immediate need for Internet servers to be
up-and-running in one hour by selecting from a choice of six server
configurations available online through www.rackspace.com.
-
RadiSys Corp. upgraded its EPC-204 CompactPCI CPU card with the
EPC-304.
-
RightNow Technologies announced RightNow Web 3.1, a major upgrade
to the its product suite.
-
SBE, Inc. announced that it has added support for the Linux
operating system to its wanXL family of communication controllers.
-
Showstar Online.com, Inc. announced a strategic decision to
develop its existing Internet products and many of the Company's new
innovations on the Linux operating system.
-
Sigma Designs, Inc. announced that it will add Linux support to
its new REALmagic NetStream 2000 card and EM8400 progressive
MPEG-2/DVD decoder chip.
- Stalker Software, Inc. announced the Super-Symmetric Dynamic
Cluster version of CommuniGate Pro.
-
Sun Microsystems, Inc. announced broad support by the Linux
community for StarOffice.
-
TeleKnowledge, Inc. announced Total-e v2.0, a customer care and
billing solution.
-
TurboLinux announced the release of its new enFuzion clustering
technology that transforms a company's existing network of Linux, Unix
and Microsoft Windows servers and workstations into a supercomputer.
-
Versant Corporation announced support for it's Java Interface on
Linux platforms. In addition, Versant's ODBMS 5.2.2 has been enhanced
to support Red Hat Linux servers.
-
Vertigo Software Corp. announced plans to adapt the Vertigo Unix
based 3D code to the Linux platform. Beta testing is scheduled to
begin in the Fall of 2000.
-
VirtualSellers.com Inc. announced that it has launched a Web site
to introduce its Web development software, TAME, to developers and
other Web professionals.
Partnerships, Investments and Acquisitions:
-
AbsoluteValue Software, Inc. has collaborated with Intersil to
develop Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) driver software that
enables Linux operating systems to communicate with Intersil's
PRISM-based WLAN cards.
- Akamai and IBM have
announced an alliance that, among other things, involves Akamai
deploying a bunch of Linux-installed Netfinity servers as part of its
global web server infrastructure.
- Alpha Processor Inc. has
announced the addition of five new strategic partners: Dirig
Software, Inc., Linuxcare, Inc., MandrakeSoft, Inc., PolyServe,
Inc. and Stalker Software, Inc.
-
Alpha Processor, Inc. and Red Hat, Inc. announced a technical
partnership to create a center for the development of Linux clustering
technology.
-
AXENT Technologies, Inc. announced a partnership with Cobalt
Networks, Inc. with the intent to develop a Linux firewall and VPN
appliance.
- Caldera and Sun
announced a joint agreement for the commercial distribution of
Java 2 SDK, Standard Edition in OpenLinux 2.3+ and future versions.
-
Computer Technology Associates, Inc. announced a strategic
alliance with QVPL. The alliance will enable CTA to apply QVPL's
extensive skill base in Linux development and Oracle implementations
to CTA's 120 day-to-solution, Oracle-based "iSolutions" offering.
- LinuxIT
announced that it will be marketing Corel Linux in the UK.
-
Cybernet Systems Corporation announced an agreement with LinuxIT
to distribute NetMAX and FreeBSD software products in the United
Kingdom.
-
EBIZ Enterprises, Inc. announced that TheLinuxStore.com will offer
it's full line of Linux products on iDEAL's business-to-person online
auction, DealDeal.com.
-
Enlighten Software Solutions, Inc. signed an agreement to become a
Red Hat ISV Partner. The company also announced the immediate
availability of EnlightenDSM Free for Red Hat.
-
eSoft Inc. announced a distribution agreement and product
development partnership with TriGem InfoComm Corporation, a leading
Korean distributor and Internet product developer.
- Internet.com
announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire
Linuxnewbie.org. The transaction is expected to be completed in the
second quarter of 2000.
-
Lutris Technologies, a provider of Open Source Java/XML
application server software, announced the successful completion of
its Series B round of financing.
-
Medicore, Inc. announced that it is forming a new division with
the intended purpose of incubating and investing in new technology,
including Internet technology companies. Medicore has loaned $1.5
million to The Linux Fund, Inc., and may provide it with an additional
$500,000 loan.
-
Merlin Software Technologies Inc. announced an agreement with Koch
Distribution, a leading UK and Ireland software distributor, to sell
Merlin's PerfectBACKUP+ Linux backup and crash recovery software.
-
Mission Critical Linux LLC and SGI announced that the companies
will enter into an alliance agreement to launch enterprise-class Linux
solutions on a global scale.
-
OpenAvenue, Inc. announced that the company has acquired
CodeCatalog and Cyclic.com from SourceGear Corporation.
-
Rebel.com Inc. announced that it has completed a private round of
financing raising proceeds totaling CAN $9 million.
-
Red Hat, Inc. debuted Wide Open News, another Linux news site, and
announced a content partnership with TheStreet.com.
-
Sair Linux, Inc. a subsidiary of Wave Technologies International,
Inc., announced an agreement with Compaq Computer Corporation to
provide corporate training to Compaq Solution Alliance.
-
TurboLinux announced a new channel program to support TurbLoinux
Authorized Reseller partners in North America.
-
Wave Technologies International, Inc. announced it has entered
into a licensing agreement with Sparling Capital Corporation to
provide its comprehensive Linux training courseware.
Financial Results:
- Andover.Net has
reported that it lost $15.7 million on $2.1 million in
revenue for the previous quarter.
-
OMNIS Technology Corp. announced financial results for its third
fiscal quarter and nine months ended Dec. 31, 1999. Jim Dorst,
COO/CFO, commented, "We are the only profitable rapid application
software tool provider in the Linux open-source marketplace."
-
PC-Tel announced record results in both revenues and net income
for 1999. Listed among its successful products is a soft modem
solution for Linux.
Other:
- Atipa
announced that Marc Torres, former director of SuSE's
U.S. operation, has accepted the position of Chief Technology Officer.
- Business Leader magazine will be awarding its
Entrepreneur of the Year award to Bob Young of Red Hat Software at
this Saturday's
16th Conference on Entrepreneurship, where he will be one of the
keynote speakers.
-
eHOLA.com announced a dedicated Linux division of commercial class
web integration products, support, and services targeted at the Latin
American business community.
-
friendlyway futurelab will present its Linux/Java strategy to the
general public at CeBIT 2000.
- Metro Link announced that Jon "maddog" Hall has accepted a
position on Metro Link's Board of Directors.
- A subsidiary of
M&A West, Inc. put out this
announcement. It seems they are forming a company specifically to
look at Linux investments.
-
Neoware Systems, Inc. announced that it is now trading on the
Nasdaq Small Cap market, and it also demonstrated new Linux-based
software products at LinuxWorld Expo.
-
OpenSales announced Bonnie Crater has been named president and CEO
of OpenSales, Inc.
- Red Hat, Inc.
announced that it has expanded its Kernel Development Group,
continuing to fuel the rapid advancement of the Linux OS for
solutions ranging from powerful Internet servers to the
next-generation Internet appliances and devices.
Section Editor: Rebecca Sobol.
|
February 3, 2000
|