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Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 16:15:20 -0800 (PST)
From: Peigi Cleminshaw <peigi@suse.com>
To: press@suse.com
Subject: [press] SuSE, Mandrake, Linbox Partner for Linux Network Computing

    SuSE Linux AG, MandrakeSoft and Linbox Inc. Join Forces to Develop Linux
                               Network Computing


For immediate release


NUREMBERG, Germany, PASADENA, USA and METZ, France - 2/14/2000 - SuSE
Linux AG, MandrakeSoft and Linbox Inc. are joining forces to develop
Linux Network Computing and bring it to the broadest audience. SuSE Linux
AG, MandrakeSoft and Linbox Inc. are partnering to develop and include in
future versions of Linux distributions the key technologies of the Linbox
Network Architecture. All SuSE Linux and MandrakeSoft users will soon be
able to set up efficient diskless Network Computing solutions based on
Linux.


The Linbox Network Architecture is an open approach to Linux Network
Computing based on diskless standard computers on the desktop side, such
as the Linbox Net Station, and full featured servers, such as the Linbox
Net Server. According to Jean Pierre Laisne', CEO of Linbox Inc., "The
Linbox Network Architecture allows users to bring the power of Linux to
the desktop at minimal costs while still preserving the user's investments
in Windows or MacOS software. Diskless Linbox Net Stations can be set up
in a matter of minutes by users with no previous skills in the Linux
environment and require no maintenance."


Roland Dyroff, CEO of SuSE Linux AG adds, "We have been impressed by the
implementation of the Linbox Network Architecture in the school of Saint
Die' (France). After 6 months, it appears that 6 year old pupils can
effectively use Internet and Productivity software under Linux and, at
the same time, access legacy multimedia CD-ROMs for Windows. We have
decided to partner with Linbox and MandrakeSoft so that all Linux users
worldwide will be able to benefit from Linux Network Computing and the
Linbox Network Architecture with minimal effort."


"MandrakeSoft will actively join SuSE Linux AG and Linbox Inc. in this
standardization effort," says Jacques Le Marois, President of
MandrakeSoft. "The LNA can be implemented very easily on any standard
hardware platform without any restrictions. LNA brings to the community
the kind a freedom one would expect for Linux Network Computing."


Under the joint partnership, SuSE Linux AG, MandrakeSoft and Linbox will
form an open project which will publish the specifications of the Linbox
Network Architecture and the required software under open source
licensing. Development will be held by the Linbox R&D center in the
Lorraine region, France's pioneering region for Linux and Free Software.
All Linux users and businesses are welcome to join the LNA open project.

About SuSE Linux AG

SuSE, with a workforce of over 250 people, is one of the leading
international Linux companies. SuSE has offices in Germany, the UK, Czech
Republic, Italy and the US. SuSE Linux is used by more than 50,000
business customers world-wide due to its stability and high quality.

SuSE offers an extensive palette of qualified consulting and support
services for using Linux in a business environment, as well as commercial
Linux software and complete Linux systems. SuSE contributes considerably
to Linux development projects such as the Linux kernel, glibc,
XFree86[tm], KDE, ISDN4Linux, ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture)
and USB (Universal Serial Bus).


CONTACT: SuSE Linux AG

www.suse.de

Christian Egle, +49-(0)911-7405331

ce@suse.de

About MandrakeSoft

Born of the Internet, with offices in both USA and France, MandrakeSoft
attributes the development of its Linux version to the contributions of
thousands of developers throughout the world linked by the Internet. This
world-wide effort is constantly adopted and improved by MandrakeSoft's
own technical teams to provide one of the most complete and simple
graphical Linux operating systems available. The company has signed a
strategic partnership agreement with the US publisher MacMillan which
brings Linux-Mandrake as the best selling Linux product in the US market
according to PC Data. Linux-Mandrake is one of the most complete and easy
to use Linux operating systems available for both servers and
workstations and continues to be fully compatible with Red Hat Linux.
Linux-Mandrake received the "Best Linux Product of the Year" and the
"Best Linux-Distribution/Server" Awards at LinuxWorld Expo'99 in San
Jose, CA.


CONTACT: MandrakeSoft
www.linux-mandrake.com
Caroline Carmagnol of Alize Public Relation, 650-320-8900
caroline@alizepr.com

About Linbox Inc.

Linbox, inventor of the Linbox Network Architecture (LNA), is a leading
Linux Network Computer designer. Linbox LNA technology brings 300%
compatibility and 75% cost savings to corporate and workgroup networks.
Linbox designed products make an exclusive use of Standard Hardware
Components and an intensive use of Free Software with no export
restrictions.


CONTACT: Linbox Inc.

www.linbox.com
Jean-Pierre Laisne', +33-6 86 56 16 33

jpl@linbox.com

Legalese

Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

SuSE is a registered trademark of SuSE Linux AG.

Linux-Mandrake is a trademark of MandrakeSoft.

Linbox is a registered trademark of Linbox Inc.

Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Inc.

MacOS is registered trademark of Apple Inc.

All other trademarks and copyrights are owned by their respective
companies.


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