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. # # #