From: press@linbox.com To: lwn@lwn.net Subject: "My CD-ROM is my computer": Linbox and DemoLinux reinvent the Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 12:08:08 +0100 (CET) "My CD-ROM is my computer": Linbox and DemoLinux reinvent the Network Computer with Linux Linbox SA Paris, France - 28th November 2000 - For immediate release The objective of DemoLinux is to bring Linux to a broad public and to win new users by considerably simplifying installation. The term "installation" is actually inappropriate in this case, because Linux is not installed. This avoids the problems that may arise when a new system is placed on a computer already configured with another OS. There is no need to create a new disk partition or disrupt the existing configuration. The user simply switches the computer on and inserts the CD-ROM. Jean-Pierre Laisné, CEO of Linbox, stressed this point: "We were all really impressed, not just by the technology but also by the ergonomics of DemoLinux. This CD-ROM is a pocket computer that turns a conventional client workstation into a thin client fully adapted to the user's requirements. This technology creates an innovative, easily transportable and unbreakable product that will revolutionize network computing." When the computer boots up with the DemoLinux CD-ROM, the system is installed on the RAM only. This is because the Linux kernel features LFS, or Live File Systems. This technique, which is seldom applied, uses a compressed file system to expand the 650 Mb limit of the CD-ROM to more than 1 Gb of useable data. Based on the Debian Potato distribution (version 2.2), DemoLinux 2.0 features the office environments Gnome and KDE, StarOffice by Sun Microsystems and several hundred applications. As a result DemoLinux is a high-performance office automation environment. Adopting the same approach as DemoLinux, Linbox is adapting Network Computing for the IT industry. To do this, it has developed a turnkey LNA solution for business, which is based on a bootable CD-ROM that, in five minutes, automatically installs a server-centric network architecture. As Jean-Pierre Laisné explains: "Linbox is pursuing mass customization by developing professional models in the form of self-booting CD-ROMs, adaptable to each user. The CD-ROM is a widely used, popular medium that makes up for the low bandwidth to which users are accustomed today, pending future improvements." He adds: "We're just following one of the major trends that has emerged in industry over the past few decades, aiming to bring down IT ownership costs." The Linbox network architecture, baptized LNA, adopts an open approach to networking, for easy large-scale deployment of professional solutions. Based on thin technologies with its NetStations and NetServers, LNA is a standard architecture that takes networking into the post-PC era through its ability to adapt to existing systems without modifications. Users are free to concentrate on the specific development of their solutions since Linbox takes care of IT complexities by centralizing the application on its local servers (Linbox Netservers). A final word goes to Roberto Di Cosmo: "We share Linbox's pragmatic vision of the way the industry is likely to go in terms of architecture. By working with Linbox engineers, we will be able to improve and produce a full range of solutions based on the DémoLinux project, from client workstations to firewalls" . About Linbox SA Linbox is developing and marketing a range of ready-to-install network solutions for vertical markets, working closely with SuSE Linux AG and MandrakeSoft SA. The Linbox offering is based on solutions that are easy to install and use, with low maintenance costs. Based on Linbox Network Architecture (LNA), the systems use thin-client and thin-server architectures. In April 2000, the company raised E2.5 million from Europatweb (the Arnault Group's Internet incubator) and La Financière de Brienne (a venture capital company backed by the French Ministry of Defense). Linbox has offices and research centres in France. Press Contact: Marie Ferrarini Tel : +33 (O)3 87 75 55 21 E-mail: mferrarini@linbox.com Web: www.linbox.com About DemoLinux DemoLinux is an organization set up to promote Linux and Free Software. It produces CD-ROMs that enable users to run Linux without installing it, thanks to a technology that is independent of Linux distributions. This technology is also used to create special versions of CD-ROMs for operators, organizations and companies. The DemoLinux project involves three people, all based at Paris VII University: Vincent Balat, Roberto Di Cosmo and Jean-Vincent Loddo. Version 1.0 of DemoLinux has received the support of the INRIA, the AFUL (French-speaking association of Linux and free software users) and MandrakeSoft. Widely circulated at LinuxDemoDay in September 1999, used by MandrakeSoft in its Golden Pack for its Linux-Mandrake 6.1 demo CD-ROM, DemoLinux is winning over new users every day to the cause of Free Software. Web: www.demolinux.org Legalese Linbox is a registered trademark of Linbox Inc. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Linux-Mandrake is a trademark of MandrakeSoft. All other trademarks and copyrights are owned by their respective companies.