See also: last week's Commerce page.

Linux and Business

BountyQuest Awards $40,000 for Information Challenging Patent Validity. It's an interesting business model, but will it pay the bills? BountyQuest will reward people to show evidence of a prior art that will invalidate a patent. So far four people have won a total of $40,000. BountyQuest investor Tim O'Reilly is quoted: "Patented ideas can command an entire marketplace. As consumers, it is in our best interest to use powerful tools like the Internet to ensure that only true innovation is rewarded."

O'Reilly launches ONLamp.com. O'Reilly has announced the launch of its ONLamp.com site. "LAMP" stands for the combination of Linux, Apache, MySQL, and Perl, PHP or Python; the new site will cover web site development using those tools.

Adaptec Embraces Open Source/Linux Community. Adaptec has put out a press release proclaiming its support for the Linux community. The company will be releasing more drivers and has set up a new linux.adaptec.com web site with information and the latest source.

Linux management products. A big theme at LinuxWorld this time around would appear to be system and network management products. Here are a few press releases:

• Aduva has announced "Aduva Director," a system update and management system.
• Caldera Systems has put out this press release claiming that its "Volution" system management package defeats threats like the "Ramen" worm. It does so, of course, by insuring that the security updates have been installed on all of the systems it manages.
• Computer Associates has announced "Unicenter TNG Performance Neugents" for Linux, which includes its "patented Neugents technology" to detect trouble on Linux systems.
• Hewlett-Packard will offer the "Process Resource Manager" and "Service Control Manager" management tools later this year. The company also now offers Linux support for "more than 40" HP printers.
• Mission Critical Linux announced the "LifeGuard" management service.
• Red Hat has issued a press release on how the Red Hat Network got the bind fix out so quickly. Of course, most of the other distributors got fixes out quickly as well...
• Trustix has announced the addition of several modules to its "XPloy" management utility.

On the free software front Ganymede 1.0p1, a directory management system, has been released.

Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein announces openadaptor. Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein (DrKW) is the investment banking division of Dresdner Bank AG. DrKW developed 'openadaptor(TM)', which is both a toolkit and a platform that allows system administrators to integrate applications across disparate systems, and has used the software in over 40 projects since 1998. Now DrKW is releasing the source code. openadapter is written in Java and it has been used by DrKW to deploy its global equities derivative trading system. openadpator's source code license is modelled after the MIT X license and the project, openadaptor.org, will be hosted by CollabNet. Here's CollabNet's press release on the subject.

IBM's LinuxWorld announcement. Here's IBM's big press release describing what the company is announcing at LinuxWorld. It includes investing $300 million in new Linux services, which include "Linux e-business enablement and migration services," open source consulting, and high availability cluster services. Also in the announcement is the "IBM eServer x430," a Linux-powered, 64-way server box. There's a bunch of other stuff in there as well.

Covalent gets $13 million investment, launches products. Covalent Technologies, a company which is working at making money with products and services for the apache web server, has announced the receipt of $13 million in venture investments, with Sequoia Capital leading the pack.

Covalent has also announced the launch of a new set of products, including the "Covalent Secure Server" (an SSL add-on with intrusion detection and other security features); "Covalent Commerce Server" (a credit card handling package); and "Covalent Managed Server" (an installation and monitoring product).

NuSphere contributes transactional capability to MySQL. NuSphere has announced that it has contributed a chunk of code to the MySQL project that adds transactions, row-level locking, and automatic crash recovery to the popular relational database system. This contribution fills in a major gap in MySQL functionality and should be welcome to those trying to place MySQL in corporate settings. NuSphere, of course, is trying to do exactly that...

Oracle debuts MySQL-to-Oracle data migration software. For all of you looking to move from free to proprietary software: Oracle has announced the availability of a utility that facilitates the move from MySQL to Oracle's products.

IDC predicts big growth in the Linux support market. IDC has recently published a report on the Linux support services market. You can't actually see it without paying a lot of money, of course, so most of us will have to content ourselves with IDC's press release on the topic. The claim is that the market will grow from $28 million in 2000 to $285 million in 2004 - a factor of ten.

The Real Time Linux Foundation. An announcement has gone out regarding the creation of the Real Time Linux Foundation. Its purpose, of course, is to help promote and standardize Real Time Linux implementations. Some help will be useful - real time Linux is currently a highly fragmented area.

Freshmeat II launches. The Open Source Developer Network (otherwise known as VA Linux Systems) has announced the launch of Freshmeat II, a complete rework of the Freshmeat site.

Eazel and Red Hat form alliance. Eazel and Red Hat have announced a deal to integrate their software services. Red Hat will put Nautilus in future releases, and Eazel's services will be integrated with the Red Hat Network.

SGI's latest Linux announcements. SGI has issued an omnibus press release describing its many announcements for LinuxWorld. They include the new 1100 server, the "Internet Server for E-Commerce" (a 1U box with Linux installed), the "SGI Internet Server Environment" (a management and monitoring package), and "Kasenna Mediabase" (a distributed streaming media server package).

There are also seperate press releases for:

• SGI Internet Server Environment (ISE) software
• SGI 1100 server
• An alliance with Turbolinux
• The deployment of a 152-node cluster at the University of Buffalo Computational Research Center
• The appointment of Paul McNamara as Vice President of Open Source.

Another Cluster of Announcements. Here are some of the announcements about clustering that didn't make it onto the front page.

• Digital Creations is partnering with bayMountain to provide clustering support for the Zope.org domain.
• SteelEye Technology has released its LifeKeeper 3.1 clustering package.
• 2netFX and Linux NetworX announced a joint effort to provide streaming media to Linux clustered computer systems.
• Force Computers and Lineo, Inc. announced a partnership to develop a Linux cluster solution with High Availability features for mission-critical applications, to be called the Force Availix Platform 8-i500.

The view from MontaVista. MontaVista has created a PR pile of its own this morning. Perhaps most interesting is this retrospective on the company's first full year of operation. The company received $30 million in funding, "captured over 80 customer design wins," grew from 12 to 160 employees (without any acquisitions), and increased its revenue by a factor of ten - evidently 15% above what their plan had called for. One assumes that they are reasonably well pleased with life at the moment.

Other announcements from MontaVista include:

• An alliance with MIPS which will improve MontaVista's support of MIPS processors.
• An alliance with Alchemy Semiconductor to provide an embedded Linux development system for the Alchemy Au1000 "system on a chip" platform.
• The opening of a new office in Stockholm, Sweden.
• The availability of VisualAge Micro Edition (IBM's embedded Java environment) for Hard Hat Linux.

ADS cranks down the power on StrongARM (LinuxDevices.com). This article on LinuxDevices looks at Applied Data Systems' "true sleep mode" support for Embedded Linux on Intel's StrongARM SA-1110 processor. "The new support, which reduces the SA-1110's power drain from half a watt (full on) to less than ten milliwatts, is of major potential significance to battery operated systems and handheld devices." ADS will be demonstrating this at LinuxWorld. See also this press release from ADS and this one about the ADS Tandem product, a two-headed single board computer system, available with embedded Linux.

Coventive supplies Linux for handheld systems in China. Conventive Technologies has announced that it will deliver "a total embedded Linux software solution" for a StrongARM-based handheld system produced by Legend Computers in China. They'll be demonstrating the system at LinuxWorld.

Announcements from Dell. Naturally Dell had to get in on the action with its own sprinkling of press releases.

• "Select components" of its "OpenManage" server management system will be available for Red Hat-based servers.
• Sendmail Inc.'s e-mail hosting solution will be available on its PowerEdge 2450 server product line for the Red Hat Linux platform.
• Also Dell announced a deal with Oracle. Dell will be promoting Oracle 9i on Linux, and will establish a "Linux competency center" where customers can try out Oracle solutions on Dell systems.

Borland's PR storm.

• Here's the long-awaited Kylix announcement.
• A separate announcement states that SuSE, Red Hat, and MandrakeSoft have all had their distributions certified for Kylix.
• Yet another states that Apache server applications are supported in Kylix. And, as if that weren't enough, this announcement says that Oracle 8i and IBM DB2 applications are supported too.
• Borland has also announced that Caldera, TurboLinux, SuSE, and MandrakeSoft will all be redistributing JBuilder 4 Foundation.
• Finally, the company has licensed Sun's Java 2 Platform Micro Edition to deploy with its Linux solutions.

Awash in press releases. They just keep rolling in. Naturally there are plenty more in the press release section below. This is just a small sampling of a few of the more interesting ones that we've found (and reported on so far).

• AMD will be showcasing its "VirtuHammer" simulator at LinuxWorld and Linux Expo Paris.
• API Networks has announced deals with several companies to promote Linux on the Alpha processor. The partners are Scyld Computing Corporation, intraDAT international, Digital Factory USA (which makes the Kondara MNU/Linux distribution), Dolphin Interconnect and Ovrimos S.A.
• Red Hat has announced a new set of e-commerce offerings; in particular, they will now be offering Akopia's Interchange platform.
• Also announced by Red Hat is an alliance with Daiei in Japan to offer solutions there.
• Secant Technologies has a new "Linux computing farm" solution that it will be demonstrating at LinuxWorld.
• Sun Microsystems has announced the availability of Java 2 Platform Micro Edition for Linux.
• Sun has also announced the availability of its Grid Engine 5.2 for Linux.
• SuSE has signed a "worldwide support agreement" with IBM wherein SuSE will help IBM's support organization with the toughest problems.
• Trolltech, IBM, and the KDE project will be demonstrating IBM's ViaVoice speech recognition system at LinuxWorld.
• VA Linux Systems will be promoting Akamai's network services to its customers. In return, of course, Akamai will continue to buy lots of VA servers.
• VA Linux has also announced a deal with Oracle to showcase Oracle's software on VA servers.
• Zelerate has announced "AllCommerce 1.2," the latest version of its e-commerce platform.
• Zelerate has also announced a bundling deal with SuSE which will get AllCommerce put in with SuSE's professional distributions.
• Zelerate also will be deploying its software to run the ThinkGeek e-commerce site.

LPI begins Level 2 exam development process. The Linux Professional Institute has announced the availability of its "Job Analysis Survey" for its Level 2 exam. By filling out the survey, Linux administrators can help the LPI work out a set of requirements for Level 2 certification.

MandrakeSoft acquires Coursemetric, launches new sites. MandrakeSoft has announced the acquisition of Coursemetric Corp, "an ASP-software and information services company specializing in the provision of Web-based evaluation tools for education and training organizations." There is evidently a plan to deploy an open source version of Coursemetric's web-based evaluation system.

Also announced is the launch of MandrakeCampus.com, which will start with a set of (open source) Linux courseware.

Finally, the company is also launching MandrakeExpert.com, a sort of support marketplace.

Linux Stock Index for January 25 to January 31, 2001.

LSI at closing on January 25, 2001 ... 41.17
LSI at closing on January 31, 2001 ... 43.65

The high for the week was 43.91
The low for the week was 40.77

Press Releases:

Open Source Products

Proprietary Products for Linux

• 3G is a service on the Web that enables Linux users to access a full range of US stockmarket data and analysis tools via the Internet.

• Advanced Management Solutions (REDLANDS, Calif.) announced that AMS REALTIME 5.2 has earned the IBM Netfinity ServerProven certification. AMS tested AMS REALTIME with Red Hat Linux Version 6 operating system and Netfinity servers under IBM's ServerProven program.

• Argus Systems Group, Inc. (NEW YORK) announced the availability of its PitBull intrusion prevention security technology on Linux. PitBull LX for Linux is available now on Red Hat Linux 6.2. Argus also announced the availability of PitBull Secure Appliance Software for Red Hat Linux 6.2 and Solaris 7 on x86.

• Buhl-Finance (Germany) has a German tax program for Linux, t@x 2001 Linux. This site is in German.

• Century Software Embedded Technologies(SALT LAKE CITY, Utah) announced version 1.1 of its Operating Environment and Development toolkit for embedded Linux.

• Chilliware, Inc. (NEW YORK) announced the debut of xFAXtor, an affordable ($49.95 SRP) new fax software package that makes faxing from the Linux-based desktop a snap.

• Enhanced Software Technologies, Inc.(New York, NY) announced that it is sneak previewing its newest data protection product for Linux-centric networks, BRU-Pro, at LinuxWorld Conference and Expo.

• Kx Systems (Miami, Florida) announced that it has built a multi-billion tick database application based on the Kdb relational database.

• LinuxWizardry Systems, Inc. unveiled its new Easy Config Wizard at LinuxWorld.

• M-Systems Flash Disk Pioneers Ltd. (FREMONT, Calif.) participated in LinuxWorld along with Lineo and Lynuxworks. M-Systems' DiskOnChip is the data storage device in Embedded Linux Journal's development kit that will be awarded to finalists of their "Hack Embedded Linux for Fun and Prizes" contest. M-Systems also recently released a new TrueFFS driver for DiskOnChip that includes support for Linux kernel 2.4.X.

• Magic Software Enterprises (IRVINE, CA) released Magic eContact Version 2. Magic eContact is an integrated desktop application that provides contact center agents the professional tools needed to manage customer interactions.

• Metro Link (Ft. Lauderdale) is now shipping Metro Motif Complete! for Intel's new ItaniumT processor.

• NeTraverse Inc. (AUSTIN, Texas) released a 25-seat multi-user Beta of Win4Lin software.

• ViLLAGEEDOCS (TUSTIN, Calif.) announced a program for HP OpenMail users to outsource their email-to-fax requirements. HP Openmail users can now take advantage of the Internet document delivery services provided by ViLLAGEEDOCS.

Products and Services Using Linux

• BigStorage Inc. (New York) announced the rollout of K2 NAS, a network attached storage device, at LinuxWorld.

• ImageStream Internet Solutions (Plymouth, Indiana) announced that it will release its next-generation Linux-based router product, the Carrier Pro. The Carrier Pro is a carrier class router with PowerPC processors, dual CompactPCI buses, hot-swap WAN cards, H.110 telephony bus, redundant power supplies, and rear panel cabling. Carrier Pro was chosen as a "Best of Show - Hardware" finalist at LinuxWorld Expo.

Servers & Hardware

• Captus Networks (NEW ORLEANS) announced the CaptIO-G, a high-throughput implementation of its CaptIO integrated network security solution for the service provider and e-business markets. The CaptIO-G uses a hardened Linux kernel for its operating system, the CaptOS.

• Celestix Networks, Inc. (FREMONT, Calif.) announced its new fully integrated Network Server Appliance Aries, a wireless LAN solution with a Linux-based micro server, which supports the IEEE 802.11b wireless standard.

• CERTUS Technology (SAN DIEGO, CA) announced the release of the Split U 1200GX(SU1200GX), a powerful, compact and scalable architecture (CSA), which contains two servers in a 1U rackmount chassis with built-in remote system monitoring. Linux installed on request.

• Compaq Computer Corporation (HOUSTON) announced enhancements to some of its Intelligent Manageability tools. The SmartStart Scripting Toolkit v1.1 now includes rapid deployment support for Compaq ProLiant Servers running Linux and adds support for Norton Symantec Ghost.

• e-smith, inc. (BOSTON) announced that its flagship software product, the Linux-based e-smith Server and Gateway, has won a 2001 Crossroads A-List Award.

• NEC Computers Inc. (SACRAMENTO, Calif.) announced its enterprise server platform, including the Express5800/180Rb-7 server, the EMC CLARiiON FC4500 storage area network (SAN) array, a disk expansion unit (DEU), and several rack and power options. And Red Hat 7 factory installed.

• OnCore Systems Corporation (HALF MOON BAY, CA.) began shipping full support of IBM's PowerPC 405 embedded processor, Revision D, the latest release of this high-power embedded processor line. A full version of Linux that is fully preemptable is available.

• Rave Computer Association, Inc. (Sterling Heights, Michigan) announced a product improvement to its Rave systems-2UAXi-C rackmount server. Comes with Linux or Solaris installed. Rave also announced its Rave Systems RackMount-1UAXe.

• Zeus Technology, Ltd. (CAMBRIDGE, England) announced that benchmark tests performed by the IBM Linux Technology Center (Austin, TX) demonstrated that Zeus Web Server performance can be boosted by more than 85% running the Linux 2.4 kernel as compared to Linux 2.2.x.

Products with Linux Versions

• Active Navigation (SAN FRANCISCO) announced the immediate availability of Portal Maximizer 2, a new content management and search solution.

• Brooktrout Technology, Inc. (NEEDHAM, Mass.) announced that its RealComm 100 was honored with a Product of the Year Award from Communications Solutions Magazine.

• Chilliware, Inc. (NEW YORK) introduced Mambo, a new Samba Administration Tool.

• Computer Associates International, Inc. (ISLANDIA, N.Y.) announced the general availability of Unicenter TNG Asset Management Option (AMO) 3.1, an asset management solution that automates the inventory and management of enterprise IT assets. This version includes extended support of Linux devices.

• Heroix Software (NEW YORK) announced that it is exhibiting RoboMon software at LinuxWorld.

• IBM (Somers, NY) announced WebSphere Personalization software for Linux.

• Integrated Research Ltd (SYDNEY, Australia) announced new auto-healing technology as part of its flagship product family, PROGNOSIS.

• LegacyJ, Corp. (SAN JOSE, Calif.) announced PERCobol Enterprise Version 2.6.

• NetIQ Corporation (SAN JOSE, Calif.) announced that Chariot 4.0, a network testing tool, now supports Intel's Itanium Processor. There is beta version available for Turbolinux.

• Oracle Corp. (REDWOOD SHORES, Calif.) claims that nearly one half of the 370,000 Oracle9i Application Server downloads were for the Linux version.

• Piranha, Inc. (FREEHOLD, N.J.) announced the development of an image archiving and search software solution that will utilize Piranha's compression science. The new database product will include search and retrieval software with a Java based interface. Pirana also announced the release of Piranha NetTM 1.2, the latest version of the company's software architecture for creating and viewing graphic-intensive image files on the Internet.

• ScheduleOnline (SAN DIEGO) debuted ScheduleOnline Gold, the next generation of its scheduling, resource planning, and collaboration Web site. This is a subscription based service.

• Seapine Software, Inc. (MASON, Ohio) is adding Extensible Markup Language (XML) support to its forthcoming TestTrack Pro 3.1 for Windows, Linux, and Solaris release.

• Steltor announced the immediate availability of its CorporateTime solution for Linux.

• TimesTen Performance Software (MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.) announced the immediate availability of TimesTen 4.1, the flagship product in its real-time data management software family.

• TransEDA (LOS GATOS, Calif.) announced the release of the VN-Check 2.0 Configurable HDL Checker.

• VERITAS Software Corporation (MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.) announced that VERITAS NetBackup now provides data protection for Linux environments.

Java Products

• Servertec (Kearny, NJ.) announced the availability of a new release of Servertec Internet Server, an Application/Web Server written entirely in Java.

Books and Training

• Eldritch Endeavours, Inc. (Amherst, Massachusetts), a new Linux training company, announced that it is open for business and is accepting registration for classes beginning immediately.

• LinuxCertified.com (Cupertino, California) is holding a weekend Linux Bootcamp February 10 - 11, 2001. The cost is $1600, which includes all class materials including a laptop for each attendee. You also get a laptop with Linux for Beginners February 17 - 18, 2001.

• O'Reilly & Associates (Sebastopol, CA) announced XML in a Nutshell by Elliotte Rusty Harold and W. Scott Means.

Partnerships

• American Megatrends Inc. (ATLANTA) announced it is shipping MegaRAID Elite 1600 and Express 500 Ultra160 SCSI RAID controllers to Penguin Computing Inc. for use in a number of its Internet server products.

• Applied Data Systems (New York, NY) announced its strategic partnership with Century Software Embedded Technologies. Together, they will produce Century's embedded Linux toolkit running on ADS' line of OEM Intel StrongARM-based systems.

• Covalent Technologies, Inc. and Tripwire Inc. (NEW YORK) announced a strategic technology alliance that will deliver enhanced data and network integrity solutions tailored for the Apache Web Server.

• Coventive Technologies and AXIS Corporation (SAN JOSE, Calif.) previewed a new Linux-based home TV-and-Web appliance at LinuxWorld Expo.

• Halcyon Software (SAN JOSE, Calif.) announced that it has signed an agreement to bundle its Instant ASP (iASP), with the Turbolinux Linux distribution. iASP is a Java implementation of the Microsoft Active Server Page (ASP) framework.

• Hifn (LOS GATOS, Calif.) announced a partnership agreement with Lineo, Inc. As part of the agreement, Hifn security processors will accelerate the security functions in Lineo's SecureEdge VPN Router Platform.

• Integrated Computer Solutions, Inc.(LinuxWorld, New York City, NY) announced a partnership with Sitraka Software that provides a powerful solution for developers working on mission critical Motif applications.

• LinuxWizardry Systems, Inc. (BOCA RATON, Fla.) announced that it has signed an agreement with PC Connection, Inc. PC Connection will be offering LinuxWizardry's Magic Passage line of products.

• Metro Link and BSDi (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) announced that every eBSD operating system sold will include Metro-X for host development and a demo of Micro-X, scalable embedded X server.

• NuSphere Corporation (BEDFORD, Mass.) announced its partnership with OpenAir.com. OpenAir, a suite of Web-native Professional Services Automation tools, will incorporate NuSphere MySQL as the preferred solution for its recently launched data back-up service.

Investments and Acquisitions

• Aduva, Inc. (PALO ALTO, Calif.), which offers a Linux update service, announced it had received $7.8 million in venture financing from The Capital Group, Cap Ventures and Evergreen Management, Ltd. and others.

• Cradle Technologies, Inc. (FREMONT, Calif.) announced strategic investments from CIBC Capital Partners, Charter Ventures, Mingly Ventures, Ltd, Red Hat, Inc., Signal Lake Ventures II LLP, and Smart Technology Ventures. The current round of $20 million brings the total invested in Cradle to date to $34 million. Additionally, Cradle disclosed that it is working with Red Hat to launch an Open Source Initiative for Real Time Embedded Processing based on Cradle's "stream processing" silicon platform.

Financial Results

• Borland Software Corporation (SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif.) reported revenues of $50.3 million, up from $45.5 million in the same period one year ago.

Personnel

• Applied Data Systems (Columbia, Maryland) announced the appointment of Gregory Haerr, to the company's Board of Directors.

• Penguin Computing (SAN FRANCISCO) announced that Scott Weinbrandt has joined the company as vice president of marketing.

• Red Hat, Inc. (RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.) announced the appointment of F. Selby Wellman to the Red Hat Board of Directors.

• Red Hat, Inc. (RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.) announced the appointment of CTO Michael Tiemann to the board of the Open Source Initiative (OSI).

• TeamLinux (DAYTON, OHIO) recruited former NCR attorney Paul M. Samson to serve as a senior consultant and as its chief counsel.

Linux At Work

• The ArsDigita Corporation (CAMBRIDGE, Mass.) announced that Boston public radio station WGBH has recently re-launched their Web site, http://www.wgbh.org, powered by the open source ArsDigita Community System (ACS) e-business platform.

• Jabber.com, Inc. (DENVER) announced that the Jabber open source project has been selected as one of two projects for early scalability testing in the Open Source Development Lab.

Other

• Lineo, Inc. (INDIAN WELLS, Calif.) won the top two awards at the Upside Showcase conference this week. Lineo was the recipient of the People's Choice award and the winner of the Demo Til You're Dropped award given by conference organizers for the company's demonstration of the Embedixä SDK 1.2 software development tool.

• Motorola (TEMPE, Ariz.) announced its HA Linux was recognized as one of the "TOP Software Products" for 2000 by the Electronics Industry Yearbook, a Cahners publication.

• Nominum, Inc. (Redwood City, California) announced plans to unveil a largely free secondary DNS hosting service Secondary.com, at LinuxWorld.

Section Editor: Rebecca Sobol.

Next: Linux in the news