See also: last week's Commerce page.

Linux and Business

Failing hardware companies inevitably attempt to recast themselves as software companies, and VA Linux is no exception. The "about VA Linux" section in the above-mentioned announcement describes the new company:

VA Linux is a provider of application software, featuring the SourceForge OnSite collaborative development system; Linux software development and consulting services; and OSDN, the Open Source Development Network.

The new company will focus in three areas:

• SourceForge OnSite, a version of the SourceForge site meant to be deployed behind corporate firewalls to support internal development processes; it can also be deployed externally for corporate open source projects. SourceForge OnSite will be VA's primary focus, and is expected to generate "the majority of its revenue."

• OSDN, including Slashdot, Freshmeat, and the public SourceForge site. According to the announcement, no changes are expected in OSDN.

• Linux software development and consulting services.

VA's departure from the Linux hardware business is truly the end of an era. The company's role in the growth of Linux has not been small; a great many Linux users out there got their start on a box from VA. And VA continues to employ numerous Linux hackers who contribute to the development of the system. And, for better or worse, much of the free software development activity now happens via SourceForge.

The course chosen by VA looks challenging, to say the least. The company has a lot of smart people, though, and might just find a way to pull it off. We wish them luck.

IPOs are in the news. MandrakeSoft decided to raise money with an IPO. "This IPO should be a very rapid process which also allow us to involve our current base of users and contributors who already understand our philosophy much better than a normal investor does. Many of these people, who are already strong Mandrake Linux supporters, have been requesting for quite some time an opportunity to purchase a part of MandrakeSoft." The "Marché Libre" of EuroNext - Pan-European market (Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam) is the chosen venue. We hope the European market is better than the US market.

Meanwhile, LynuxWorks withdrew its IPO plans, citing horrible market conditions.

Red Hat Introduces Red Hat Database. Red Hat has officially announced Red Hat Database. The Red Hat Database product is an open source database solution, based on PostgreSQL 7.1, and optimized with Red Hat Linux 7.1.

Red Hat launches consulting services. Red Hat announced a new suite of consulting services that includes Linux migration and integration services, open source Web infrastructure services and open source strategic opportunities.

European Union supports OSS projects. Three open source projects were launched in May and June 2001 via the EU's Information Society Technologies (IST) program. (Thanks to Tobias Benedikt Hoevekamp)

Open Source Development Lab Announces 2001 Enterprise Achievement Award Contest. The Open Source Development Lab (OSDL) announced a call for entries for its 2001 OSDL Enterprise Achievement Award. A cash prize of $25,000 will be granted to a developer or group that has made a significant contribution to Linux for the enterprise.

Jordan Hubbard joins Apple. According to his note posted on the FreeBSD announcement mailing list, the FreeBSD leader has taken a position with Apple to work on Darwin-based projects. "Let me assure you all that Apple does fully understand the importance of FreeBSD and they don't want me or anyone else to stop working on it. FreeBSD doesn't compete with Apple's product offerings in any way and provides an excellent source of technology for them."

French text on Zope. The first text published on Zope is now available for ordering online. The text, written in French and published by Eyrolles, is titled simply "Zope".

LPI News. The latest issue of the LPI News is out. Updates include a milestone for Lintraining, LPI in Italy and Korea and a note about preparing for the LPI exams.

You thought Unix was an operating system?. For some amusement, have a look at this page, maintained by Dennis Ritchie, which is a collection of products worldwide using the "Unix" brand name. They don't have much to do with operating systems... (Found on LinuxFR.org).

Linux Stock Index for June 21 to June 27, 2001.

LSI at closing on June 21, 2001 ... 29.29
LSI at closing on June 27, 2001 ... 29.45

The high for the week was 29.49
The low for the week was 29.23

Press Releases:

Open source products

• Nishan Systems, IBM and Intel (RALEIGH, N.C. & SAN JOSE, Calif.): IBM and Nishan Systems Support Contribution of IP Storage Naming Service Software to Open Source for Enhancing Solutions.

Proprietary Products for Linux

• 0-In Design Automation, Inc. (SAN JOSE, Calif.): 0-In Releases Support for Linux Operating System; Linux Versions of All Products Already Shipped to Customers.

• Caldera International Inc. (OREM, Utah): Caldera's New Server Products Scale Linux Applications From Low-end to High-end.

• IBM (SOMERS, N.Y.): New IBM Start Now Solutions Provide Rapid ROI for Small and Medium Business.

• Linux NetworX (SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH): Linux NetworX Launches ClusterWorX 2.0 Cluster Management Software.

• Teamware Group and Celestix Networks GmbH (): Teamware and Celestix to co-operate in wireless groupware server for small businesses.

• Tech Soft America (Oakland, CA): HOOPS Net Server now available for FREE Personal Use on LINUX.

• Trustix (TRONDHEIM, Norway): XSentry Firewall Version 1.6 released.

Distributions with Hardware

• Penguin Computing (SAN FRANCISCO): Penguin Computing First to Ship Red Hat Linux 7.1 Certified Systems; Company Offers Servers Tailored to Customer Needs.

• Red Hat, Inc. (RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.): Red Hat Linux 7.1 With 2.4 Kernel Available for Compaq AlphaServer Systems.

• SuSE Linux and ASL (Oakland, CALIFORNIA): ASL First To Ship PCs With Pre-installed SuSE Linux Throughout The US.

• Trustix Software (Trondheim): Trustix Software Technologies Now Available on IBM S390 Mainframes.

• Wasabi Systems (NEW YORK): Wasabi Systems Ports NetBSD Operating System to IBM PowerPC 405GP for High-Performance Internet Infrastructure Applications.

Products and Services Using Linux

• IBM (SOMERS, N.Y.): New IBM Start Now Solutions Provide Rapid ROI for Small and Medium Businesses.

• Mission Critical Linux, Inc. (LOWELL, Mass.): Mission Critical Linux, Inc. Announces High-Availability Clustering Support For IBM's DB2 Universal Database.

• Pumatech, Inc. (SAN JOSE, Calif.): Pumatech Announces Support of Sharp Corporation's New Java/Linux Platform Personal Digital Assistant --PDA--.

• Rackspace Managed Hosting (SAN ANTONIO, Texas): Managed Hosting and PHP tools bundled by Rackspace.

• Red Hat, Inc. (RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.): Red Hat Provides Embedded Linux and eCos for Hitachi Processors.

• Trustix (OSLO, Norway): Trustix Launches Managed Security Services.

Products With Linux Versions

• ActivMedia Robotics, LLC (MENLO PARK, Calif.): Revolutionary Software Lets Schools Teach Robotics.

• Alacritech, Inc. (NEW YORK): Alacritech's Innovative Server Accelerators Now Support Microsoft Windows 2000 and Redhat Linux Operating Systems.

• BindView Corporation (BOSTON): BindView Enhances and Expands its Comprehensive Security Management Solution, bv-Control for UNIX, at USENIX 2001 Annual Technical Conference.

• Blue Nomad (NEW YORK): Blue Nomad Announces the Release of 'WordSmith 2.0'.

• Burning Glass Technologies (SAN DIEGO): Burning Glass Announces Innovative Solution for Human Capital Management; Lens Software Uses Proprietary Predictive Matching Technology to Improve Recruitment Process.

• California Software Corp. (IRVINE, Calif.): California Software Expands UNIBOL36 to the Internet and B2B Market.

• CrossAccess Corporation (Santa Clara, Calif.): CROSSACCESS & IBM's WebSphere Create Unprecedented Enterprise Power.

• Funcom (OSLO, Norway): Anarchy Online Browser Composed on Opera.

• IBM (ARMONK, N.Y.): IBM Powers Small Businesses With Self Management Features in New eServer Systems.

• iMimic Networking Inc. (HOUSTON): iMimic Networking Integrates Leading Caching Software With Websense Employee Internet Management Application.

• Insightful Corporation (SEATTLE): Insightful Launches S-PLUS Analytic Server 2.0 Providing Managers With Tools to Make Better Decisions.

• Legato (MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.): Legato Systems' Solutions Roadmap for IT Automation Addresses Critical High-cost of Management, Data Recovery and Protection.

• Legato Systems, Inc. (MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.): Legato Introduces QuikStartz Solution Packages for IT Enterprises.

• Legato Systems, Inc. (MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.): New Release of Legato NetWorker Extends Manageability, Performance and Availability for Storage Networks.

• Legato Systems, Inc. (MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.): Legato Announces GEMS Console, A Web-Enabled Solution for Managing NetWorker Servers.

• Opera Software (NEW YORK, New York): Opera Composer released.

• Patrick Townsend & Associates (OLYMPIA, Wash.): Patrick Townsend & Associates Announce Support for IBM WebSphere MQ; Alliance B2B eCommerce Products Leverage WebSphere MQ to Provide Cross-Platform, Back Office eCommerce Services.

• Real Intent Inc. (SANTA CLARA, Calif.): Real Intent Joins the Cadence Connections Program; Collaboration Extends Formal Verification Products to Cadence Simulation Users.

• SafeWeb (OAKLAND, Calif.): Safeweb Unveils Triangle Boy 1.0 -- Software That Defeats Blocking and Filtering of Web Sites.

• Sensiva, Inc. (Palo Alto, California): Sensiva, Inc. Launches New Gesture Recognition Technology.

• TeamWiz Software Inc. (Toronto, Canada): TeamWiz to Market Teamware Office in North America.

• Telelogic (MT. ARLINGTON, N.J.): Telelogic Announces ChangeSynergy 4.0 for End-to-End Automated Change Lifecycle Management; Complete Visibility of the Change Request Lifecycle Process for Enterprise Teams Now a Reality.

• Wincor Nixdorf (AUSTIN, Texas): Wincor Nixdorf Announces The BEETLE/OnePOS Integrated Point-of-Sale System; Combines Industry-Standard BEETLE and Third-Party Components in an All-in-One Design.

Books & Training

• Sistina Software (MINNEAPOLIS): Sistina Opens Storage Clustering Software Training Center in Minneapolis.

Partnerships

• Lineo, Inc. (LINDON, Utah): Lineo and Applied Data Systems Team To Provide Embedix Development Platform on Graphics Client Plus System.

• Mission Critical Linux, Inc. (LOWELL, Mass.): PowerQuest Corporation and Mission Critical Linux, Inc. Announce Joint Development Effort.

• MontaVista Software Inc. (TOKYO & SUNNYVALE, Calif.): Toshiba Picks MontaVista's Hard Hat Linux for Printer, Set Top Box, and Digital TV Embedded Solutions; Companies Establish Technical and Marketing Alliance.

• Tricord Systems, Inc. (Minneapolis): PC Mall Joins Tricord Advantage Partner Program. As part of the agreement, Tricord products also will be sold through eLinux, PC Mall's Linux-centric Solutions Integrator group.

• TUXIA & BOE (TAIPEI, Taiwan & HONG KONG): TUXIA Teams With Beijing Orient Electronics to Enter Emerging Internet Appliance Market in Greater China.

• TUXIA(R) and Insyde (BLOOMFIELD, N.J.): TUXIA Blazes a New Trail in Taiwan, by Forming a Strategic Alliance With Insyde Software Corp..

Personnel & New Offices

• 1mage Software, Inc. (ENGLEWOOD, Colo.): 1mage Software Names Dale Dillard Vice President, Products and Services; Newly-Created Position to Focus on Developing New Technologies and Services for our Customers.

• Finite State Machine Labs (Socorro NM, Tokyo Japan): Yodaiken Named Technical Advisor to EMBLIX.

• Great Bridge (NORFOLK, Va.): Great Bridge Finishes Powerhouse First Year as One of FORTUNE Magazine's '25 Coolest Global Companies'.

• Quintalinux Limited (HONG KONG): Quintalinux Appoints Dr. Chris Chao as Advisor for Intelligent Building Solutions Development.

• TUXIA (BLOOMFIELD, N.J.): Internet Appliance Pioneer Joins TUXIA U.S.A..

Financial Results

• Corel Corporation (OTTAWA): Corel Corporation Announces Second Quarter Results: Company Continues To Post Profits.

Section Editor: Rebecca Sobol.

Next: Linux in the news