See also: last week's Commerce page.

Linux and business

MandrakeSoft has been busy this week continuning to weave their classic Linux success story. Having grown way beyond their roots in the Red Hat distribution, Linux-Mandrake is clearly one of the top major independent Linux distributions.

This week ASL adopted Linux-Mandrake for their Linux hardware-solutions, and last week MandrakeSoft bought Bochs and comitted it to Open Source. MandrakeSoft also announced two new Linux-Mandrake 7.0 releases: i486, and the UltraSPARC beta.

Macmillan USA also had something to say about MandrakeSoft with their announcement of Secure Server 7.0, a secure Linux web server built within the Linux-Mandrake 7.0 operating system.

The Pacoima Community Technology Center got a boost last week from Maxspeed and MandrakeSoft.

In two separate press releases MandrakeSoft and Maxspeed announced their participation in a charitable donation to the Pacoima Community Technology Center. MandrakeSoft donated both software and technical expertise. Maxspeed donated thin-client workstations, monitors and a server.

A nice balance of commercial partnering, open source nurturing and enhancing customer choice for MandrakeSoft last week.

For the story of Linux-Mandrake as told by the distribution's creator, check out Gael Duval's feature article we published two weeks ago.

MandrakeSoft's Chief Technical Officer, Jean-loup Gailly, talks about "gzip, go, and Mandrake" in this fun Slashdot interview from earlier this month.

TeamLinux blasted off this week with their corporate launch and the acquisition of Wimberley TechSys, Inc. (WTS) of Austin, Texas and Information Systems, Inc., (ISI) of Dayton, Ohio. WIS's chip design expertise makes an interesting first acquisiton for the new services firm. ISI's experience gives TeamLinux access to the health care and government markets.

The company describes itself as "a professional services organization that provides customers completely integrated solutions enabled by open source / Linux technology". TeamLinux sponsors the Linux Professional Institute (LPI) and Linux International. Their first announced business partners are TurboLinux, Mandrake, SuSe, Corel, Sun StarOffice, Compaq and HP.

The management team has impressive credentials from established firms such as IBM, NCR, AT&T, TRW, Vanstar, Andersen Consulting and Coopers & Lybran. What I didn't find, at least at first glance, is any emphasis on Open Source experience or community involvement in those credentials.

We wish TeamLinux well in service to their customers and the Open Source community.

In IPO news last week Red Herring reviewed and Rackspace.com filed.

• 14 IPOs went this past week, with an average profit for investors of 53.9%, noted this article entitled IPO week in review: 14 deals raise $2.4 billion. Caldera was one of the two best performers, but its performance was still below what was expected. "The number of deals and dollar volumes are expected to continue in their present course, but the moonshot-a-day scenario present earlier this year is fading."

• Rackspace.com Inc. announced it has filed to register $65 million of common stock for an initial public offering. Rackspace.com provides advanced Linux-based Internet hosting services for small-to medium-sized businesses. Although Rackspace.com did not reveal the number of shares or the per-share price range it would unleash upon the markets, it did say that it hopes to trade on the tech-laden Nasdaq using the ticker symbol "RACK."

IBM announced it has filed with regulators to sell about $14.37 million worth of shares in Red Hat.

Meanwhile Red Hat has reported its fourth quarter results. "Red Hat, Inc. (Nasdaq: RHAT), the leading provider of open source solutions for Internet infrastructure, reported revenue of $13.1 million for the fourth quarter ended February 29, 2000, a 39% increase over revenue of $9.4 million for the fourth quarter last year. "

Merlin Software Technologies announced the "Option Source Program, which combines the benefits of free & independently tested Open Source Linux software with compensation for programmers. The Option Source program is proprietary to Merlin and is designed to speed the development of Open Source Linux software." Merlin then holds joint copyright and intellectual property rights to the software so developed, which would then be released under a yet-to-be-specified "Merlin Option Source license".

IHS Consulting Group releases findings of a study that shows Linux is stirring strong interest from the POS (Point-of-Sale) terminal market. IHS President Greg Buzek admits that it will be an uphill battle, though. "Looking forward, Buzek added, 'If those in the open source community can avoid a potential split in Linux, if POS drivers can be written, and if vendors step up for support, Linux could make some significant impact in the market. But these are some major challenges for a product that has no clear owner.'"

Evans Marketing Services announced the availability of a comprehensive research study of Linux developers. "The study found severe dissatisfaction amongst Linux developers with the tools currently available."

Compaq has made some of its new, super-thin, 1U rackmount Alpha servers available for testing via its TestDrive program. There are both Red Hat and SuSE systems available, with Debian "coming soon."

Slashdot headlines are now being made available on QUIOS Mobile Phones, according to this recent press release. "The QUIOS service will connect geeks on more than 150 mobile networks world-wide to their beloved Slashdot.org headlines enabling them to stay connected with the pulse of the Linux/Open Source industry 24 hours a day."

LinuxMall.com is urging the adoption of certification standards developed by the Linux Professional Institute.

Section Editor: Dennis Tenney.

Press Releases:

Open Souce Products:
• Dolphin Interconnect Solutions introduced an open sourced Linux driver for its high performance interconnect cards.

• A new company called "Indrema" has announced that it will be bringing out products based on "open source digital electronics." Their first product will be an entertainment console that runs Linux, and which has open interfaces.

• Visionyze.com (QUEBEC CITY, Canada) announced that it will develop an open source version of its Hybrid Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) technology on the Linux platform.

  Commercial Products for Linux:

• Concord Communications, Inc. (MARLBORO, Mass.) announced that SystemEDGE, part of its flagship eHealth solution suite, supports the Linux operating system.

• Corel Corporation (CAMBRIDGE, Mass.) and Bitstream Inc. announced that the Linux font server from Bitstream has been incorporated into WordPerfect Office 2000, a comprehensive office productivity suite for the Linux OS. In addition, the Linux font server from Bitstream will be included in future versions of Corel LINUX OS, which has been downloaded by over 200,000 Linux users to date.

• IDG Books Worldwide, Inc. introduced Linux in a Box For Dummies, a three-CD collection containing Caldera OpenLinux 2.3, and StarOffice for Linux 5.1, as well as two E-Books and a compact installation manual.

• Inprise has announced the availability of a beta version of InterBase 6.0. Still no source, however...

• Intrusion.com, Inc. (RICHARDSON, Texas,) announced the immediate availability of Linux support for its SecureCom 8000 family of Internet security appliances and chassis systems.

• Joydesk.com (Seattle, Wash.) announced plans to release Joydesk 2.1, a Web-based groupware suite for the Cobalt Qube and RaQ server appliances.

• Kaspersky Lab (Moscow, Russia) announced a beta-version of AntiViral Toolkit Pro for Sendmail.

• Knox Software Corp. (CARLSBAD, Calif.) announced that its Arkeia network backup software application has been selected for inclusion on the latest edition of the Red Hat Linux Application Library CD.

• LAND-5 Corporation (SAN DIEGO) introduced the RAIDpod, which allows one to add SCSI disk array RAID storage to off-the-shelf or custom servers.

• Novell, Inc. (SALT LAKE CITY) announced the upcoming availability of the Novell Internet Messaging System (NIMS) on the Solaris and Linux platforms.

• Omnis Technology Corp. (SAN CARLOS, Calif.) announced the inclusion of its flagship product, OMNIS Studio, in Caldera Systems' eDesktop release of OpenLinux.

• PentaSafe Security Technologies, Inc. (HOUSTON) announced a Linux strategy and the future release of the PentaSafe VigilEnt Security Agent for Linux. PentaSafe has also joined the Independent Software Vendor Partner Program of Red Hat.

• PlugSys International (SAN LEANDRO, CA) announced the release of Max Xbase 2.0 for Linux.

• QueryObject Systems Corporation (ROSLYN HEIGHTS, N.Y.) announced the beta program for a new release of its QueryObject Server for Linux.

• Rebel.com has announced that its NetWinder series of computers has been certified by Linuxcare Labs as being fully functional under Linux.

• Teamware Group announced the open pre-release download of Teamware Office 5.3 for Linux platform. The product is available for a 90-day evaluation period with a 50-user license.

• TheLinuxShopper.com (St. Louis, MO) is a new website offering Linux users a new place to buy Linux software.

• TransEDA (PARIS, France and LOS GATOS, Calif) announced that Verification Navigator, its integrated design verification environment, will support Red Hat Linux for Intel-based workstations.

• Verisity Ltd. (MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.) announced that its testbench automation tool, Specman Elite, will support the Linux operating system.

• X and Mail (PARIS) announced the availability of XWAPmail, a software solution empowering Telecommunication Operators, ISPs and Wireless Service Providers to provide their client with full access and management of their e-mail accounts (POP3 and IMAP4) through WAP handheld communication devices such as cell-phones and wireless PDAs. Available in Sun Solaris and Linux versions and supports LDAP directories, CGI and FastCGI scripts.

  Training

• Paragon Solutions, Inc. (CHICAGO) announced the availability of Web-based training courses, Learning Linux Essentials and Networking Linux. Designed for adoption by Linux vendors, resellers, and trainers, these courses were developed in conjunction with O'Reilly & Associates.

  Products Using Linux:

• Extended Systems announced a feature release of the ExtendNet 4000 Internet appliance, which uses Red Hat Linux.

• M-Systems Flash Disk Pioneers Ltd. (FREMONT, Calif) announced that 3iLinux has selected DiskOnChip for its Universal Internet Box.

  Java Products:

• O'Reilly & Associates (Sebastopol, CA) announced a new edition of 'Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB)' for the enterprise software developer.

  Products with Linux Versions:

• AMD (SUNNYVALE, Calif.) released an upgraded version of its PCnet software suite, featuring two new device drivers supporting Microsoft Windows 2000 and Linux operating systems.

• Asante Technologies, Inc. (SAN JOSE, Calif.) announced the GigaNIX, a copper Gigabit Ethernet adapter.

• CircleBox (MARBLEHEAD, Mass.) released the next generation in file-swapping software named GNARLY!.

• Corel Corporation (NOVATO, Ca. & OTTAWA) announced it has entered into a non-exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with IMSI which entitles Corel to license the source code for two productivity applications: FLOW!, a flow chart and diagraming package, and TurboProject, a project management program.

• Covalent Technologies, Inc. (SAN FRANCISCO) announced that it will begin exporting its 128-bit Raven SSL strong encryption software product outside the US and Canada.

• Gadzoox Networks, Inc. (SALT LAKE CITY) announced that its Capellix 3000 modular SAN switch has been awarded certification for Novell Directory Services (NDS).

• Image Power, Inc. (VANCOUVER) announced it has been selected by the ISO committee as the source of the C reference code for JPEG 2000.

• Intel Corporation (AMERICAN FORK, Utah) released Intel LANDesk Management Suite 6.4.

• MasterCard International (PURCHASE, N.Y.) introduced Smart Data OnLine, a web-based tool that assists businesses in organizing, consolidating, analyzing and managing financial data through the Internet.

• MATRAnet, Inc. (REDWOOD SHORES, Calif.) announced the release of M>WebTouch 3.0, its e-business customer relationship management solution.

• CSI-MAXIMUS (MCLEAN, Va.) announced fleet management systems that run on the Oracle database as part of its suite of fleet enterprise applications (FEAi).

• MGE UPS SYSTEMS (COSTA MESA, Calif.) introduced its Pulsar Esprit Power Cluster, the newest development in high availability power protection.

• Novas Software, Inc. (PARIS and SAN JOSE, Calif) announced that it is upgrading its Debussy Knowledge-Based Debugging system to support fully integrated debugging of designs containing both Verilog and VHDL.

• Omnis Technology Inc. (SAN CARLOS, CA) announced the release of OMNIS Studio v2.4, the newest version its Rapid Application Development (RAD) tool, OMNIS Studio.

• OSM (SEATTLE) announced the release of COSuser, the latest addition to COSMOS, its range of IT operations management products for UNIX, Linux and NT.

• Quantum Corporation's DLT & Storage Systems Group announced that Tandberg Data ASA is expanding its DLT branded tape drives, tape automation, and tape information storage products to include Quantum's new Super DLTtape technology.

• RADVision, Inc. (MAHWAH, N.J.) announced Version 2.6 of its H.323 Protocol toolkit, optimized for demanding carrier grade applications and embedded systems.

• Timpanogas Research Group, Inc. (OREM, Utah) announced the M-Squared Clustered Storage System (M2CS) for NetWare 5, Linux and Windows 2000, and the M-Squared Distributed File System (M2FS) for NetWare 5, Linux and Windows 2000.

• Ubiquity Software Corporation (SAN JOSE, Calif.) announced a major software addition to its Helmsman Application Services Platform.

• Viador Inc. (SAN MATEO, Calif.) announced it has made the Viador E-Portal Suite available on the Linux operating system.

• WebManage Technologies (CHELMSFORD, Mass.) announced i-Scaler, an Internet Traffic Management solution with Web-based Class of Service (WebCoS) and intelligent load balancing.

• Xybridge Technologies (RICHARDSON, Texas) announced its advanced Universal Services Suite (USS), a comprehensive family of carrier-class software-based switching solutions.

  Partnerships, Investments and Acquisitions:

• Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (REDWOOD CITY, Calif.) announced its OPSEC Appliance Initiative, which enables partners to deliver turnkey Internet security appliances based on Check Point's Secure Virtual Network (SVN) architecture. The new program is centered around Linux-based appliances.

• Cobalt Networks has announced a deal to acquire Chili!Soft, a vendor of active server pages (ASP) software for Linux. The deal is for 1.15 million shares of Cobalt stock.

• Computer Horizons Corp. (MOUNTAIN LAKES, N.J) announced that it has signed an agreement with Red Hat, Inc. as a Certified Enterprise Channel Partner.

• e-smith, inc. (Ottawa, ON.), a developer and provider of open source, Linux-based server products for small to medium enterprises, announced the formation of an exclusive Technology Partnership Agreement with Ivynetwork Co. Ltd. of Yokohama, Japan. Under the Technology Partnership Agreement, e-smith and Ivynetwork will work together to develop, market and sell e-smith products for the Japanese marketplace.

• EBIZ, Inc. has announced that TheLinuxStore.com will join in the upcoming Corel Linux Roadshow 2000, the North American tour featuring WordPerfect Office 2000 for Linux and Corel LINUX OS.

• eSoft Inc. (BROOMFIELD, Colo.) announced a licensing and distribution agreement with Hewlett-Packard's (HP) Complementary Products division in Latin America. HP will license and distribute eSoft's redphish Linux Internet appliance software in Latin American. This agreement expands HP's recent initiatives with eSoft including a similar agreement with the HP Complementary Products Division in Germany.

• Forlink Software Corporation Inc. (BEIJING and GENEVA) announced that it has signed a "Red Hat ISV Partner Agreement" and a "Red Hat Linux Application CD (LACD) Agreement" with Red Hat Inc.

• SuSE and Siemens (BAD HOMBURG, Germany) announced a partnership in the drive to serve Enterprise Linux customers.

• Inprise/Borland (SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif.) is looking for third party support for its Kylix project. Some participants include Linux distributors MandrakeSoft, TurboLinux, Corel, Caldera and SuSE. Originally announced in September 1999, Project Kylix will be a high performance Linux rapid application development environment that will support Delphi, C and C++.

• Intel Corporation (SANTA CLARA/SAN JOSE, Calif) announced that the company has made a minority equity investment in Lynx Real-Time Systems, Inc., developer of Linux-based embedded real-time operating systems (RTOS).

• ISDCorp, makers of another embedded Linux distribution, Royal Linux, have announced a cooperative agreement with MIPS Technologies to provide Royal Linux to MIPS32 and other MIPS architecture processors.
• LinuxMall.com (DENVER) announced an agreement with EarthWeb's Dice.com that will allow customized Linux job searches directly from the site by simply placing Linux in the job search string.

• LinuxWizardry Systems, Inc. (VANCOUVER, British Columbia) announced that a private placement for $5,000,000 is being completed for the development and production of its Linux based low-cost router.

• MERANT (ROCKVILLE, Md.) unveiled several initiatives aimed at bringing the power of MERANT Egility e-business solutions to the IBM development community. That includes support for Linux on IBM platforms.

• Merlin Software Technologies (ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla.) announced that Caldera Systems Inc. has chosen Merlin's PefectBACKUP+ backup and crash recovery software to bundle with Caldera's newly announced OpenLinux eDesktop version of Linux.

• NETmachines, Inc. (SAN JOSE, Calif.) announced that Linuxcare Inc. will be the key provider of NETmachines' RedRak technical service and support for all NETmachines customers throughout North America.

• Progressive Systems, Inc. (COLUMBUS, OH) and KDD Network Systems Co., Ltd. announced that the Progressive family of Linux-based firewall and VPN solutions will be made available to the Japanese business market through a newly formed partnership between the companies.

• RapidStream (SAN JOSE, Calif.) announced it has joined Check Point's OPSEC Certified Appliance Partner Program in order to integrate Check Point's Secure Virtual Network (SVN) architecture with RapidStream's multi-function security appliances. The resulting Linux-based appliance will offer customers high-performance security solutions.

• Red Hat, Inc. (RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.) introduced the Enterprise Channel Partner Program for the largest resellers and network and systems integrators that service some of the world's most established and successful enterprise companies.

• SSE Telecom, Inc. (FREMONT, Calif) and Mentat Inc. announced a partnership in which Mentat will work with SSET to develop and market Internet TCP/IP protocol acceleration technology for the satellite communications market based on Mentat's proven SkyX Gateway solutions. The resultant product will be available in a Linux version.

• The University of Western Ontario has announced a partnership with Compaq to establish the "Compaq-Western Centre for Computational Research." As part of the deal, they will be installing a 70-node, Alpha-based Beowulf cluster. (Thanks to the London Linux Resource Guide).

• YARC Systems Corporation (CAMARILLO, Calif.) reported ongoing progress in discussions with the management and major investor groups of Printware Inc. "YARC is seeking a business combination that makes optimal use of the symbiosis possible between YARC's LINUX Internet Server technologies and Printware's CTP platemaking technologies in order to define a revolutionary e-commerce business model for the printing industry."

  Linux at Work

• Allaire Corporation (CAMBRIDGE, Mass.) announced that Infonautics, Inc. successfully relaunched the Sports Sleuth website and its NCAA Basketball office pool contest using Allaire ColdFusion for Linux.

• NetLedger, Inc. (SAN MATEO, Calif.) announced the launch of a new, consolidated Data Center. The new Data Center establishes NetLedger as the largest Linux installation of Oracle worldwide.
  Rainbow Technologies Inc. announced that the company's CryptoSwift EN 1000 e-commerce accelerator has been deployed in the NetLedger data center.

• Pervasive Software Inc. (AUSTIN, Texas) announced that its Tango 2000 Web application development software for Linux is the power behind ASPstreet.com, a leading network of ASPs (Application Service Providers) and related strategic partners.

• Red Hat has put out this press release claiming that eToys runs over 500 systems with Red Hat Linux.

• VA Linux Systems has announced that Evoke has installed "hundreds" of its 2U rackmount server systems.

  Personnel

• Lineo, Inc. (LINDON, Utah) announced three new executives. Kim D. Clark, most recently from Novell, was named Vice President of Engineering. Allan Smart was promoted within Lineo to Vice President of the new Professional Services division. Paul Cameron comes from CyberSafe and ELF Technologies to be the Director of Engineering at Lineo's new development center in Seattle, Washington.

• TurboLinux, Inc. (SAN FRANCISCO) appointed Robert Bowe to chief financial officer.

  Other:

• Bluepoint Linux Software Corp. (LOS ANGELES) announced that it has engaged BDO International as Independent Auditors. BDO has commenced auditing the books and records of Bluepoint Linux in accordance with its requirements to file Form 8-K/A with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

• Chairman and founder of Chili!Soft, Inc. (NEW YORK), Charles Crystle, plans pilantropic ventures following Cobalt's acquisition of Chili!Soft.

• Compaq Computer Corp (SHANGHAI) opened a $5.0 million centre in Shanghai to provide businesses in greater China with consulting and other services for electronic commerce. Compaq and China's RedFlag Software Co Ltd launched a certification and support programme for software vendors using the Chinese version of the Linux operating system.

Section Editor: Rebecca Sobol.

Next: Linux in the news