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VA Linux Systems bails out of the hardware business. Many have
wondered what would happen to the Linux hardware vendors as the competition
from the large PC companies intensified. For a long time it looked as if
some of them, at least, would be able to defy the odds and thrive. Then
the bubble burst. The long-term nature of the Linux hardware market as it
will really be became more apparent on June 27, when VA Linux Systems,
the company that personified that market, announced
that it would cease selling hardware.
Failing hardware companies inevitably attempt to recast themselves as
software companies, and VA Linux is no exception. The "about VA Linux"
section in the above-mentioned announcement describes the new company:
VA Linux is a provider of application software, featuring the
SourceForge OnSite collaborative development system; Linux software
development and consulting services; and OSDN, the Open Source
Development Network.
The new company will focus in three areas:
- SourceForge
OnSite, a version of the SourceForge site meant to be deployed
behind corporate firewalls to support internal development processes;
it can also be deployed externally for corporate open source
projects. SourceForge OnSite will be VA's primary focus, and is
expected to generate "the majority of its revenue."
- OSDN, including Slashdot, Freshmeat, and the public SourceForge site. According to
the announcement, no changes are expected in OSDN.
- Linux software development and consulting services.
There will, of course, be layoffs as part of a move this drastic: 35% of
the staff in this case. That will still leave the company with almost 300
employees, which is not exactly small. It is, in fact, quite a large staff
to support with revenues from free software and banner ads.
VA's departure from the Linux hardware business is truly the end of an era.
The company's role in the growth of Linux has not been small; a great many
Linux users out there got their start on a box from VA. And VA continues
to employ numerous Linux hackers who contribute to the development of the
system. And, for better or worse, much of the free software development
activity now happens via SourceForge.
The course chosen by VA looks challenging, to say the least. The company
has a lot of smart people, though, and might just find a way to pull it
off. We wish them luck.
IPOs are in the news. MandrakeSoft decided to raise money
with an IPO. "This IPO should be a very rapid process which
also allow us to involve our current base of users and contributors
who already understand our philosophy much better than a normal
investor does. Many of these people, who are already strong Mandrake
Linux supporters, have been requesting for quite some time an
opportunity to purchase a part of MandrakeSoft." The "Marché
Libre" of EuroNext - Pan-European market (Paris, Brussels,
Amsterdam) is the chosen venue. We hope the European market is
better than the US market.
Meanwhile, LynuxWorks
withdrew its IPO plans, citing horrible market conditions.
Red Hat Introduces Red Hat Database. Red Hat has officially announced Red Hat
Database. The Red Hat Database product is an open source
database solution, based on PostgreSQL 7.1, and optimized with Red
Hat Linux 7.1.
Red Hat launches consulting services. Red Hat announced a new suite of
consulting services that includes Linux migration and integration
services, open source Web infrastructure services and open source
strategic opportunities.
European Union supports OSS projects. Three open source projects were launched in May
and June 2001 via the EU's Information Society Technologies
(IST) program. (Thanks to Tobias Benedikt Hoevekamp)
Open Source Development Lab Announces 2001
Enterprise Achievement Award Contest. The Open Source Development Lab (OSDL) announced a call for entries for its 2001 OSDL Enterprise Achievement
Award. A cash prize of $25,000 will be granted to a developer or
group that has made a significant contribution to Linux for the
enterprise.
Jordan Hubbard joins Apple. According to his note posted on the FreeBSD announcement mailing
list, the
FreeBSD leader has taken a position with Apple to work on
Darwin-based projects. "Let me assure you all that Apple does
fully understand the importance of FreeBSD and they don't want me or
anyone else to stop working on it. FreeBSD doesn't compete with
Apple's product offerings in any way and provides an excellent
source of technology for them."
French text on Zope. The first text published on Zope is
now available for ordering online. The text, written in French and
published by Eyrolles, is titled simply "Zope".
LPI News. The latest issue of the LPI News is
out. Updates include a milestone for Lintraining, LPI in Italy and
Korea and a note about preparing for the LPI exams.
You thought Unix was an operating system?. For some amusement, have a look at this
page, maintained by Dennis Ritchie, which is a collection of products
worldwide using the "Unix" brand name. They don't have much to do with
operating systems... (Found on LinuxFR.org).
Linux Stock Index for June 21 to June 27, 2001.
LSI at closing on June 21, 2001 ... 29.29
LSI at closing on June 27, 2001 ... 29.45
The high for the week was 29.49
The low for the week was 29.23
Press Releases:
Open source products
Proprietary Products for Linux
Distributions with Hardware
Products and Services Using Linux
- IBM (SOMERS, N.Y.):
New IBM Start Now Solutions Provide Rapid ROI for Small and Medium Businesses.
- Mission Critical Linux, Inc. (LOWELL, Mass.):
Mission Critical Linux, Inc. Announces High-Availability Clustering Support For IBM's DB2 Universal Database.
- Pumatech, Inc. (SAN JOSE, Calif.):
Pumatech Announces Support of Sharp Corporation's New Java/Linux Platform Personal Digital Assistant --PDA--.
- Rackspace Managed Hosting (SAN ANTONIO, Texas):
Managed Hosting and PHP tools bundled by Rackspace.
- Red Hat, Inc. (RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.):
Red Hat Provides Embedded Linux and eCos for Hitachi Processors.
- Trustix (OSLO, Norway):
Trustix Launches Managed Security Services.
Products With Linux Versions
- ActivMedia Robotics, LLC (MENLO PARK, Calif.):
Revolutionary Software Lets Schools Teach Robotics.
- Alacritech, Inc. (NEW YORK):
Alacritech's Innovative Server Accelerators Now Support Microsoft Windows 2000 and Redhat Linux Operating Systems.
- BindView Corporation (BOSTON):
BindView Enhances and Expands its Comprehensive Security Management Solution, bv-Control for UNIX, at USENIX 2001 Annual Technical Conference.
- Blue Nomad (NEW YORK):
Blue Nomad Announces the Release of 'WordSmith 2.0'.
- Burning Glass Technologies (SAN DIEGO):
Burning Glass Announces Innovative Solution for Human Capital Management; Lens Software Uses Proprietary Predictive Matching Technology to Improve Recruitment Process.
- California Software Corp. (IRVINE, Calif.):
California Software Expands UNIBOL36 to the Internet and B2B Market.
- CrossAccess Corporation (Santa Clara, Calif.):
CROSSACCESS & IBM's WebSphere Create Unprecedented Enterprise Power.
- Funcom (OSLO, Norway):
Anarchy Online Browser Composed on Opera.
- IBM (ARMONK, N.Y.):
IBM Powers Small Businesses With Self Management Features in New eServer Systems.
- iMimic Networking Inc. (HOUSTON):
iMimic Networking Integrates Leading Caching Software With Websense Employee Internet Management Application.
- Insightful Corporation (SEATTLE):
Insightful Launches S-PLUS Analytic Server 2.0 Providing Managers With Tools to Make Better Decisions.
- Legato (MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.):
Legato Systems' Solutions Roadmap for IT Automation Addresses Critical High-cost of Management, Data Recovery and Protection.
- Legato Systems, Inc. (MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.):
Legato Introduces QuikStartz Solution Packages for IT Enterprises.
- Legato Systems, Inc. (MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.):
New Release of Legato NetWorker Extends Manageability, Performance and Availability for Storage Networks.
- Legato Systems, Inc. (MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.):
Legato Announces GEMS Console, A Web-Enabled Solution for Managing NetWorker Servers.
- Opera Software (NEW YORK, New York):
Opera Composer released.
- Patrick Townsend & Associates (OLYMPIA, Wash.):
Patrick Townsend & Associates Announce Support for IBM WebSphere MQ; Alliance B2B eCommerce Products Leverage WebSphere MQ to Provide Cross-Platform, Back Office eCommerce Services.
- Real Intent Inc. (SANTA CLARA, Calif.):
Real Intent Joins the Cadence Connections Program; Collaboration Extends Formal Verification Products to Cadence Simulation Users.
- SafeWeb (OAKLAND, Calif.):
Safeweb Unveils Triangle Boy 1.0 -- Software That Defeats Blocking and Filtering of Web Sites.
- Sensiva, Inc. (Palo Alto, California):
Sensiva, Inc. Launches New Gesture Recognition Technology.
- TeamWiz Software Inc. (Toronto, Canada):
TeamWiz to Market Teamware Office in North America.
- Telelogic (MT. ARLINGTON, N.J.):
Telelogic Announces ChangeSynergy 4.0 for End-to-End Automated Change Lifecycle Management; Complete Visibility of the Change Request Lifecycle Process for Enterprise Teams Now a Reality.
- Wincor Nixdorf (AUSTIN, Texas):
Wincor Nixdorf Announces The BEETLE/OnePOS Integrated Point-of-Sale System; Combines Industry-Standard BEETLE and Third-Party Components in an All-in-One Design.
Books & Training
Partnerships
- Lineo, Inc. (LINDON, Utah):
Lineo and Applied Data Systems Team To Provide Embedix Development Platform on Graphics Client Plus System.
- Mission Critical Linux, Inc. (LOWELL, Mass.):
PowerQuest Corporation and Mission Critical Linux, Inc. Announce Joint Development Effort.
- MontaVista Software Inc. (TOKYO & SUNNYVALE, Calif.):
Toshiba Picks MontaVista's Hard Hat Linux for Printer, Set Top Box, and Digital TV Embedded Solutions; Companies Establish Technical and Marketing Alliance.
- Tricord Systems, Inc. (Minneapolis):
PC Mall Joins Tricord Advantage Partner Program.
As part of the agreement,
Tricord products also will be sold through eLinux, PC Mall's
Linux-centric Solutions Integrator group.
- TUXIA & BOE (TAIPEI, Taiwan & HONG KONG):
TUXIA Teams With Beijing Orient Electronics to Enter Emerging Internet Appliance Market in Greater China.
- TUXIA(R) and Insyde (BLOOMFIELD, N.J.):
TUXIA Blazes a New Trail in Taiwan, by Forming a Strategic Alliance With Insyde Software Corp..
Personnel & New Offices
Financial Results
Section Editor: Rebecca Sobol.
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June 28, 2001
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