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Linux and Business

iRobot's technical specifications page talks a bit about what's inside; it's running a 450 MHz AMD K6 processor, 64MB memory, and a 6GB disk. It has USB and wireless ethernet connections, a video camera, and a temperature sensor. They don't say whose distribution it is running, but the reference to "Linux 6.2" on the FAQ page gives a clue. It's running a version of Apache with SSL enabled.

An obvious concern with a system of this type is going to be security. After all, some care should be taken before placing a web-controllable, mobile device with audio and video capabilities at large on one's house. iRobot's security seems to be based mainly on SSL security and passwords; as long as you keep a handle on your password, the thing should be reasonably safe. That assumes, of course, that nobody turns up a bad Apache bug, that there are no Apache configuration mistakes on the device, and that the robot is not running any other services which could be compromised. Experience says that the software on this system is likely to need an update sooner or later; one hopes that the iRobot folks have a mechanism in place to deal with the likely trouble.

A related issue of concern: a device with a name like "iRobot" should certainly come with a statement of compliance with the Three Laws of Robotics, but none such appears on the web pages...

The IBM Asia Pacific Linux Initiative. IBM's Linux support moves into the Asia Pacific region with its Asia Pacific Linux Initiative. According to this announcement IBM will be spending more than $200 million over the next 4 years. The company already has "Solution Partnership Centres" in Tokyo, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul and Bangalore. These provide a single point of contact for Linux developers to access the systems, software and technical skills of the online IBM resources. In addition, several "Linux Competency Centers" will be funded throughout the area, setting up alliances, deploying consultants, and more. The DeveloperWorks site will appear in Japanese and Chinese versions. IBM is partnering with TurboLinux for some of this work.

RSA patent released into public domain. RSA Security Inc. has announced that the RSA public key encryption patent has been released into the public domain. The act would have been rather more generous a few years ago - this patent is, after all, set to expire in two weeks. It is still something to celebrate, however; one of the fundamental cryptographic algorithms is finally free.

M-Systems and LynuxWorks announce DiskOnChip support for BlueCat Linux. M-Systems has announced that LynuxWorks will be including DiskOnChip flash memory support in BlueCat Linux.

Press Releases:

Open Source Products.
Unless specified, license is unverified.

• AMIRIX Systems Inc. (HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA) announced the release of an open source configuration tool for embedded Linux systems. Amirix is a sponsor of the non-commercial 'Embedded Debian Project' whose goal is to create a completely open, multi-vendor embedded Linux software resource based on the Debian GNU/Linux distribution.

Commercial Products for Linux.

• 3R Soft (SAN JOSE, Calif.) unveiled MailStudio@MESSAGE, a web-based e-mail server program.

• Dialtone Internet, Inc. (FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla.) announced that all its Linux Servers and Linux Cluster Servers are being updated to deliver web content to wireless devices.

• Loki Software announced that SimCity 3000 Unlimited for Linux is now in production. The first copies will roll off the assembly lines late next week for shipment to our online store and other distributors.

Products with Linux Versions.

• Citrix Systems, Inc. (FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.) announced the introduction of Citrix Extranet, its new Virtual Private Network (VPN) software solution.

• easyDNS Technologies Inc. (TORONTO) announced support for dynamic DNS updates for domain names subscribed to their DNS service.

• Hewlett-Packard Company (PALO ALTO, Calif.) announced its family of HP e-utilica solutions, which enable service providers and carriers to instantly launch or augment pay-per-use application hosting and compute capacity services.

• LegacyJ Corp. (SAN JOSE, Calif.) announced PERCobol Enterprise Version 2.5, a COBOL compiler that bridges to Java.

• Media Excel, Inc. (AUSTIN, Texas) introduced SoftStream, a real-time software encoding solution written in C language.

• Metagon Technologies, LLC (Charlotte, NC) announced that its flagship product, DQbroker will be available for free evaluation on September 11. DQbroker is a peer-to-peer distributed processing solution.

• Merlin Software Technologies International Inc. (BURNABY, British Columbia) announced it will provide support for Sun's Solaris operating system, IBM AIX and RedHat SPARC in the upcoming release of PerfectBACKUP+ v7.0.

• Pixami, Inc. (SAN RAMON, CA), a B2B infrastructure company formed to provide digital imaging technology to the online photo industry, announced it will now begin offering its complete suite of online photo enhancement technologies on the Linux operating system.

• Rational Software (PHILADELPHIA, Pa.) announced Rational SiteLoad, a Web-based load testing product designed to help e-businesses avoid costly and highly visible Web site failures.

• RSA Security Inc. (BEDFORD, Mass.) introduced the latest version of its RSA BSAFE Crypto-C security software.

• Sensiva, Inc. (Mountain View, California) unveiled a line of Internet navigational software that provides a consistent interface across different applications, different platforms and different languages.

• Zero G (SAN FRANCISCO) announced the immediate availability of version 3.5 of the InstallAnywhere product line, a multi-platform software deployment system.

Java Products.

• Inprise/Borland (SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif.) announced Borland JBuilder 4, the latest version of its pure Java cross-platform development environment.

• Vertel Corporation (WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.) announced the e*ORB Java Edition, mediation software, tested on Linux.

Books & Training.

• IDG Books Worldwide (FOSTER CITY, Calif.) announced a rebirth of its Visual(TM) brand (formerly the 3-D Visual(R) series). Some Linux related titles are included in the series.

• O'Reilly (Sebastopol, CA) just released the second edition of "Java Network Programming".

Partnerships.

• Corel Corporation (MILPITAS, Calif.) announced it will partner with PCTEL, Inc. to support a Linux-compatible software modem.

• EdgeMatrix (HONG KONG) has clinched a deal with Brighton Technologies to WAP-enable mobile shares trading in China. EdgeMatrix software run on Linux.

• Embarcadero Technologies, Inc. (SAN FRANCISCO) and Red Hat, Inc. announced the immediate availability of Embarcadero's ER/Studio, Rapid SQL and DBArtisan database management solutions for Red Hat Linux.

• Loki Software Inc. (TUSTIN, Calif.) and Trolltech announced a strategic alliance to provide business and end-user programs for Linux.

• Merlin Software Technologies International Inc. (BURNABY, British Columbia) announced an agreement with Servicios Humanos Especializados en Computo, S.A. under which S.H.E.C will distribute PerfectBACKUP+ throughout Mexico.

• Minerva Networks (SANTA CLARA, CA) announced a partnership with SGI. Minerva has integrated its IP Television service management software with Linux-based SGI 1200 and SGI1450 servers.

• NeTraverse Inc. (AUSTIN, Texas) and RedFlag Software Co., Ltd. announced a strategic partnership and alliance. RedFlag will standardize the NeTraverse Win4Lin Desktop and Server products to run Windows applications on RedFlag Linux.

• RadiSys Corp. (HILLSBORO, Ore.) has signed a partnership agreement with MontaVista Software Inc. to promote the Linux operating system on RadiSys' embedded solutions.

Personnel.

• Baymountain, Inc. (RICHMOND, Va.), a provider of Linux-based ASP services announced that Barry Bryant has joined the company as Chief Operating Officer.

• Lineo, Inc. (LINDON, Utah) named Bob Waldie, formerly of Moreton Bay, as Chief Operations Officer.

• LinuxOne (Mountain View, CA) announced the resignation of Richard Kraus, CEO and President.

Linux At Work.

• SurfControl plc (LONDON) announced a contract with Concert, the AT&T/BT global communications venture, to supply Concert with the new Linux-compatible version of its Internet filtering software.

Other.

• Bluepoint Linux Software Corp. (LOS ANGELES) announced that it received two awards on " 'Yesky Cup' 2000 Computer Week Reader Survey Award Banquet" held on August 31 in Beijing, China.

• A new magazine called Genome Technology will publish its first issue this month. Included is a feature story on one of the world's largest production Linux installations at Incyte Genomics in Palo Alto.

• InfoWorld magazine (REDWOOD SHORES, Calif.) awarded Oracle8i Release 2 on Linux the highest overall Test Center rating of "excellent."

• Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (NEW YORK) announced the opening of four new offices located in New York City; Round Rock, TX; St. Louis, MO; and Phoenix, AZ. The Round Rock office will serve as the home base for TCS' Linux Research and Development activities.

• TechMetrix Research (BOSTON) announced the availability of its newest study, Open Source and Free Software Report.

Section Editor: Rebecca Sobol.

Next: Linux in the news