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.
|
MandrakeSoft up, Red Hat ... up too?.
Here in the land of fuzzy math, we've noticed that both
MandrakeSoft and Red Hat grew their respective market shares this week,
albeit in different parts of the planet.
According to a BCN Market View survey of 316 outlets for computer retail
sales companies in Japan,
Red
Hat Linux 7
sales represented 40% of all Linux sales in that country.
The BCN survey is conducted yearly, but Red Hat Linux 7 has only been
available in Japan since October. Does this mean, at this rate, that
Red Hat would have nearly total market penetration after a
full year of sales? Or is this representative of only a spike in sales
for a specific product and that, over the year, that spike would level
out and more realistic figures would show some other distribution
(TurboLinux, perhaps) as the market leader in Japan?
In the US, according to a press release from
MandrakeSoft,
Linux-Mandrake has edged ahead of Red Hat in retail sales from January
through September 2000:
- Linux-Mandrake 28.8%
- Red Hat (RHAT) 28.7%
- Corel (CORL) 14.4%
- SuSe 9%
- Turbo Linux 6%
- Caldera (CALD) 5.8%
- Others 6.3%
The figures listed are attributed to PC Data, though it's not
specified how the numbers were acquired.
While numbers like this are great for businesses, they do little for the
consumer. Any set of numbers can be cooked to look just right, especially
if taken out of context or applied without sufficient supporting
information. Despite this apparent lack of meaning, these numbers do show
us the one thing we really care about - no one distribution is in control
of the Linux market place.
Sun releases Solaris 8 source.
Sun Microsystems
has released the source code for
Solaris 8
for download. The license, of course, is
not free software, and Sun will not let you near the source until you
have faxed in a signed agreement. It is available free of charge,
though, for those who agree to the terms.
It would be well to keep in mind the possible troubles that could arise
from access to the Solaris source, since it can not be integrated into
Linux. See The Solaris Trap
for LWN's thoughts on that issue back in 1999.
Announcement of Eazel/Dell partnership.
Here is the
press release confirming the deal between Dell and Eazel. As
expected, Dell will be shipping Eazel's environment on its desktop and
notebook systems. Dell will also be including Eazel's software update
("Software Catalog") and "Online Storage" services. There is also an
(undisclosed) equity investment in Eazel from Dell Ventures.
SuSE Linux Announces Strategic Partnership With SGI.
SGI
and SuSE
have announced a strategic partnership. As part of the
agreement, SGI has taken an equity investment in SuSE.
Lutris, Motorola in development deal for Java phones (ZDNet).
ZDnet is reporting that
Lutis
and Motorola will sign a deal on Monday
relating to Java-based phones.
"The deal will integrate Lutris' Enhydra application server,
which is open source, with Motorola's iDEN handsets,
expected to be the first phones compliant with Sun
Microsystems Inc.'s Java 2 Micro Edition."
Telia goes for Linux on the S/390.
According to Reuters, Telia, the Swedish telecom and Internet service
provider, is replacing
70 Sun Microsystems servers with one IBM mainframe computer running Linux.
Mountain View Data launches Intermezzo file system.
Mountain View Data, the company started by Peter Braam and Turbolinux
founders Cliff and Iris Miller, has announced
the availability of the beta 1.0 release of the InterMezzo high
availability
filesystem.
VA Linux launches 'SourceForge OnSite'.
VA Linux Systems has come
up with a way of making money off SourceForge. Essentially, for an
ongoing fee, the company will deploy a small SourceForge-like system at a
customer's site, to be used for internal collaborative development. It's
essentially a software development environment appliance. Agilent
Technologies is an initial customer.
Terra Soft Ships Portable PowerPC Linux Cluster.
Terra Soft has announced the availability of the "iDitarod," a portable, PowerPC-based cluster
system. At 150 pounds, it's not quite in the laptop class, but a
dedicated group of people could indeed move it around. We also have
a picture of this cluster; it is a cute
package.
CodeWeavers Launches Developer Web Site For Wine
Project.
CodeWeavers, a Windows-to-Linux software company, has
introduced
a new web
site for Wine developers. This site is a development site providing
tools, information, and other resources for programmers
involved with the commercial-quality version of Wine.
VMware Announces Preferred Hardware Partner Program.
VMWare announced its
Preferred
Hardware Partner Program this week.
Founding partners in the program include Compaq, Dell, IBM and VA Linux.
VMWare also announced its
Professional
Services Organization (PSO), which
includes customer support, education and consulting services.
Letter from the Chairman and the CEO of EBIZ.
EBIZ has released a
letter to its shareholders telling them about how things are going to
be better in the future. It covers the LinuxMall and Jones Business
Systems acquisitions, investments from Caldera, and more. "With the
recent purchase of SCO UNIX by Caldera Systems Inc., a major Linux
software company, many of those UNIX VARs see Linux as the natural
migration path for their business. The EBIZ acquisition of JBSi turns
that migration path into a superhighway and will dramatically increase
the number of VARs providing Linux solutions."
China Netcom Makes Long Term Commitment to Adopt
Bluepoint Linux.
Bluepoint Linux Software Corp. announced the signing of an
agreement
with China Netcom, one of the
largest telecommunications companies in China. China Netcom is owned
by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the State Administration of Radio,
Film & TV, the China Ministry of Railroad, and the Shanghai City
Government. According to the agreement, China Netcom will use
Bluepoint Linux Operating System on its servers nationwide.
Sun Microsystems Announces Early Access To Java Technologies for XML.
Sun Microsystems announced the
early
access
availability of two Java technology API's
for the Extensible Markup Language (XML): the Java API for XML
Messaging (JAXM) and the Java API for XML Parsing (JAXP). Both APIs are
downloadable free of charge through Sun's Java Developer Connection
Connection at
http://java.sun.com/jdc/.
Wing IDE For Python.
Archaeopteryx Software, Inc. announced the release of version 1.0 of its
integrated development environment, Wing IDE, for
Python. The proprietary package includes a graphical debugger, code
browser, source code editor, and a project manager.
Multicast Technologies Releases Multicast Player.
Multicast Technologies, Inc., has released the
MCT
Player, a multicast MP3 player. The MCT Player
is available for Linux as a free download from the company's
audio station.
Press Releases:
Open Source Products
Unless specified, license is unverified.
- IBM (ARMONK, N.Y.)
and its subsidiary Tivoli
announced a new technology initiative, code-named Storage Tank(TM),
designed as a universal storage
system capable of sharing data across any storage hardware, platform
or operating system. Tivoli plans to provide an open source Linux version
of the Storage Tank client technology.
- Imperial
Software Technology (PALO ALTO, Calif.) announced the launch of a
new Web site, http://www.motifdeveloper.com,
a free resource for programmers building graphical applications using
the Motif(R) toolkit on the X Window System.
-
OpenNMS.org
released version
0.4.0, the first public release of its network
open source management softare.
Features include a graphical "Drag and Drop" administration interface,
event Management,
TCP/IP-based discovery and monitoring, and a
graphical rule builder.
- Turbolinux, Inc. (SAN FRANCISCO)
announced the release of UNICON 3.0 to the Open Source community.
Commercial Products for Linux
- 3Com Corporation (SANTA CLARA, Calif.)
announced the 3Com(R) EtherLink Server 10/100 PCI dual port network
interface card. Linux 32 and 64 bit drivers are available.
- AbriaSoft
(FREMONT, CA) announced
its release of Abria SQL Standard 2.1 for Redhat Linux and Microsoft Windows
platforms. The product integrates a secure 'SSL' flavor of Apache, the
world's leading web server with MySQL, the most popular open source
database.
- Dell (NEW YORK)
announced the PowerEdge 1550, which comes with the option of factory
installed with Red Hat 7.
- Interphase Corporation (DALLAS)
announced the
availability of its 2 Gigabit Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter (HBA)
with advanced clustering capabilities, which includes Linux driver support.
- Micromuse Inc. (SAN FRANCISCO)
announced the availability of its
Netcool/Internet Service Monitors (Netcool/ISMs) version 2.0
software suite for the RedHat Linux(R) operating system platforms.
Products and Services Using Linux
- BakBone Software (TOKYO)
announced that its NetVault software supports Miracle(TM) Linux.
- Maxspeed
(PALO ALTO, CA) announced the latest generation
of its MaxStation ultra-thin client, the PGX 2000.
- NetMAX, (ANN ARBOR, Mich.)
a division of Cybernet Systems, announced the
general availability of the NetMAX VPN Server Suite.
- Strategic Concepts, Inc. (BENTONVILLE, Ark.)
released its advanced vehicle monitoring system interface.
This new interface allows Strategy5 users to download state line
crossing odometer readings, driver and vehicle performance statistics
and vehicle fault codes from tracking system providers including
MOTIENT and QUALCOMM.
- Turbolinux, Inc. (SAN FRANCISCO)
announced that Mega Co., Ltd., an independent
Internet service provider (ISP) based in Tokyo, has adopted Turbolinux
Cluster Server for its clustered server system featuring total
disk storage capacity of 1.5 terabytes and serving more than 100,000
corporate customers.
The new clustered server system was designed and implemented by
Hitachi Engineering Co., Ltd., a Turbolinux partner in clustering
technology.
Products with Linux Versions
- eVault, Inc. (WALNUT CREEK, Calif.)
announced the release of
VytalVault 3.1, the newest version of its Internet-based server backup
solution. Support for Red Hat 6.2 is provided in this release.
- InstallShield Software Corp. (SCHAUMBURG, Ill.)
announced the availability of three new InstallShield(R) Multi-Platform
Edition products: InstallShield Express(TM) -- Multi-Platform Edition,
InstallShield Professional(TM) -- Multi-Platform Edition, and
InstallShield
Enterprise(TM) -- Multi-Platform Edition. Versions are available for Red
Hat, Caldera OpenLinux, SuSE Linux, TurboLinux.
- JetForm(R) Corporation (OTTAWA)
introduced JetForm Output Pak(TM) for SAP(TM) R/3(TM) 5.3. Support
for Linux has been added to this version.
- Kinecta Corporation (WASHINGTON)
announced plans to deliver its free content distribution tool, Kinecta
Syndicator Lite.
Kinecta Syndicator Lite, based on the ICE (Information and Content
Exchange) standard, allows for automating ongoing business-to-business content
delivery instead of relying on e-mail or FTP.
- Novadigm, Inc. (EMERYVILLE, Calif.)
announced the release and availability of Internet-based
Radia(R) Inventory Manager. Versions are available for Red Hat and Debian
Linux distributions.
- Omegon Ltd. (LEBANON, N.J.)
announced the addition of new web server and
dial-up tests to its flagship product, the NetAlly(R) solution. The tests
are currently available for NetAlly Traffic Agents running on a Linux platform.
- Progress Software Corporation (BEDFORD, Mass.)
announced it has begun shipping Progress SonicMQ(TM) Version 3.0,
the next generation of its E-Business Messaging Server
for scalable and secure transport of business-critical data over the Internet.
- VMware, Inc. (PALO ALTO, Calif.)
announced two new software products: VMware GSX Server and VMware
ESX
Server. VMware will ship a version of the GSX Server that runs on servers
with Linux operating systems in January 2001. ESX Server does not require
a host operating system.
Java Products
-
The
Apache Software Foundation
has released a beta version of Batik, the Scalable Vector Graphics
toolkit for Java.
- ParaSoft (MONROVIA, Calif.)
announced the
release of Jtest for Linux, a unit testing tool for Java.
Books and Training
- Red Hat, Inc. (RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. & SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.)
announced the availability of a complete e-learning curriculum
for the Red Hat Certified Engineer certification (RHCE). The
curriculum was built according to Red Hat specifications in
partnership with DigitalThink.
- Wave Technologies (ST. LOUIS)
announced that the Japanese translation of its Linux Career
Pack has been completed as part of a master distribution agreement with
Information Quarry Systems (IQS), a custom software solution provider in
Tokyo. In addition, translation of SAIR's instructor-led training and
testing curricula is also nearing completion. Under terms of the
agreement, IQS will
deliver the vendor-neutral programs to a worldwide network of
Japanese-speaking IT professionals.
Partnerships
- Ariel Corp. (CRANBURY, N.J.)
announced that it has signed a reseller agreement
with RLM Group, a provider of build-to-order white box
systems, computer components and peripherals.
- MontaVista Software, Inc. (SUNNYVALE, Calif.)
developer of the Hard Hat(TM) Linux operating system
for embedded applications, announced the start of
subscriptions and professional services for Hard Hat Linux in Korea.
These subscriptions and services are being offered through Adelinux, Inc.
- Lineo, Inc. (LINDON, Utah)
announced they will form a strategic partnership and will sign
a global distribution agreement. Under terms of the agreement, Lineo will be
a preferred embedded Linux vendor for Espial TotalIA.
- PartnerAxis (OREM, Utah)
, a wholly
owned subsidiary of EBIZ Enterprises Inc.,
announced its partnership with NeTraverse.
In the newly created alliance, PartnerAxis will consult with
NeTraverse on its recently released Win4Lin 2.0 Desktop solution to
build awareness in the Linux channel.
- V-ONE Corporation (GERMANTOWN, Md.)
announced a distribution agreement with Tech Data
Corporation, a provider of IT products and logistic management services.
- Xybernaut Corporation (FAIRFAX, Va., and RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil)
announced the first of twelve foreign
educational seminars on wearable computing.
Investments and Acquisitions
-
BSDi
announced that the company has received
an investment totaling $4 million from several Japanese strategic
partners, including GLQ Entrepia Inc., the venture capital arm of Nissho
Iwai
American Corporation.
Financial Results, Stock News
-
Caldera
Systems, Inc.
finacial results
for the year are in.
The reported revenue of $1.2 million for the
three months ended October 31, 2000, a 34% increase over
the comparable three months of the previous fiscal year. For
the year ended October 31, 2000, revenue was $4.3 million compared to
$3.1
million for the previous year, an increase of 40%.
- Eon
Communications Corp.
lost 9 cents a share the quarter ended
Oct. 31, compared with net revenue of 4 cents a share in the same quarter
of 1999. eOn also announced on Wednesday the addition of E-mail queuing
capabilities
to its Linux-based communications systems for remote customer contact
agents.
- LinuxWizardry Systems, Inc. (VANCOUVER, British Columbia)
announced that the Board of Directors has approved a share dividend of its
wholly owned subsidiary, LinuxWizardry, Inc.
- Quintalinux Limited (KOWLOON BAY, Hong Kong)
reported receiving favorable comments about the company's outlook from
Stockprowler at www.stockprowler.com.
-
SSH
Communications has filed for a listing
on the Helsinki Exchanges in preparation for their IPO.
Personnel
- Caldera Systems, Inc. (OREM, Utah)
named Edgie E. Donakey to the position of
vice president and chief of staff.
- DevelopOnline Corp. (TEMPE, Ariz.)
announced the appointments of additional executives.
Joining the staff as chief technology officer (CTO) is David
Mandala, who most recently was senior engineering director of
Linuxcare.
- Red Hat, Inc. (RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.)
named Dr. James Neiser chief marketing officer.
- VMware, Inc. (PALO ALTO, Calif.)
announced that three new executives have joined the company in key
management positions. Mike Everett is the company's new Chief Financial
Officer, Bill Rudiak assumes the newly created position of Vice President,
Professional Services, and Susan Thomas is the new Vice President of
Marketing.
Linux At Work
- Dirig Software (NASHUA, N.H.)
announced that Cass Information Systems,
Inc. has selected the Dirig Linux SMART Plug-in (SPI) for OpenView
Express to manage their Linux systems used in the
company's infrastructure. Dirig also announced the official
certification by Hewlett Packard of the Dirig developed Linux SPI.
- NetNation Communications, Inc. (VANCOUVER, B.C.)
a web hosting, domain name registrar (DNR) and application service provider
(ASP), and Stormix Technologies Inc. have been chosen by Tribal DDB
Canada, a member of DDB Worldwide for its Intranet for internal and
client communications.
Other
-
BSDi
announced the release of
BSD/OS 4.2.
- Lineo, Inc. (LINDON, Utah)
announced the shipment of the Lineo Embedix software development kit
(SDK) for Windows(R), the software that allows Windows developers to develop
embedded Linux solutions in their familiar Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 2000
hosted environments.
- Linuxcare, Inc. (SAN FRANCISCO)
added the following 10 companies to its customer base:
Adaptec, Digital Island, Ecrix Corporation, Ivenue.com, Maxtor, SGI,
Espial, 3ware, VERITAS Software and WSE/Honeywell.
- LinuxWizardry Systems, Inc. (BOCA RATON, Fla.)
announced that the company reached
six million people during their activities at the Comdex Computer Expo
in Las Vegas, NV during the week of November 13, 2000.
Section Editor: Michael J. Hammel.
|
December 7, 2000
|