See also: last week's Commerce page.

Linux and Business

New IDC Survey on Linux spending. Here's a new pronouncement from IDC; it seems their latest survey shows continued growth for Linux, up to 9% of total information technology spending in 2002. "Many of the hurdles to Linux adoption are being addressed by platform vendors, and we expect that competition among operating systems as well as among Linux vendors will increase dramatically. Only a few vendors have significant mindshare in the Linux market, indicating major untapped opportunities for hardware and software vendors alike."

The widespread economic woes may be creating hard times for many Linux companies, especially those who are exploring unproven revenue generating tactics. However, these same hard times may actually increase adoption of Linux and open-source software due to the freedom from licensing and upgrade fees, not to mention Linux's proven high reliability and lack of viruses.

Intel Itanium and Linux used in TeraGrid. Intel announced that its Itanium family of processors will be used to build a distributed scientific computing system expected to be the largest of its kind in the world. The computing system, dubbed the "TeraGrid," is part of a $53 million award by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to four facilities. The goal of the project is to build a Distributed Terascale Facility (DTF) that will be used to solve complex scientific problems such as genetic modeling, research on alternative energy sources, and atmospheric simulation. The system will consist of clustered IBM servers at distributed sites, all running the Linux operating system. The TeraGrid will be connected by a Qwest high-speed optical network.

Linux for Chemistry project update. A new packaging of chemistry related software for Linux is now available from the Random Factory.

Just published: Perl for the Web. New Riders has just published Perl for the Web by Chris Radcliff. Happily, the entire book is available on the web as well; no license is specified for the online version.

ATI to ship FIRE GL 8800 cards with Linux drivers. ATI's FIRE GL 8800, a new mid-range 3D worstation video card, is expected to ship in October.

Linux Stock Index for August 09 to August 15, 2001.

LSI at closing on August 09, 2001 ... 27.85
LSI at closing on August 15, 2001 ... 27.36

The high for the week was 28.08
The low for the week was 27.36

Press Releases:

Open source products

• KDE (NEW YORK): Free KDE Desktop Ready for Enterprise Deployment; KDE Ships Leading Desktop with Advanced Web Browser and Development Environment for Linux and Other UNIXes.

• Metro Link (Fort Lauderdale, FL): Metro Link Ports Micro-X to SONY PlayStation 2.

• Red Hat, Inc. (RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.): Red Hat Further Expands Open Source Portfolio With Introduction of Red Hat E-Commerce Suite.

Proprietary Products for Linux

• DataLinks (Slough, England): GUARDIAN V5.0 Security Suite available for LINUX on IBM Mainframe O/S 390.

• IBM (SanFrancisco, CA): IBM Helps Developers Create New Linux Applications, First development kit to include Web Services support for Linux.

• MSC.Software Corporation (SANTA ANA, Calif.): MSC.Software Becoming the De Facto Standard for Biomedical Device Industry.

Hardware and bundled products

• STMicroelectronics (AUGSBURG, Germany): TUXIA's Embedded Linux Software Suite Ported onto STMicroelectronics' STPC System-on-Chip Microprocessors.

• Systran Corporation (DAYTON, Ohio): Systran Corporation Rolls Out Extensive Software Support for FibreXtreme Serial FPDP Products.

Products and Services Using Linux

• Turbolinux, Inc. (SAN FRANCISCO & MOUNT ARLINGTON, N.J.): Turbolinux Creates Custom Distribution for The Credit Index's S/390 System; Based on Kernel 2.4.5, Distribution Offers Portability, Savings, and, Ease-of-Use.

Products With Linux Versions

• Advanced Visual Systems (WALTHAM, Mass.): AVS to Add CAVELib Advanced Device Support to AVS/Express Multipipe Edition.

• Argus Systems Group (SAVOY, Ill.): Argus' Pitbull LX Wins CNET's Editor's Choice Award; Application-Level Security Solution Praised as 'Current Top Dog' to Keep Intruders Out of Internet Servers.

• GEAR Software (JUPITER, Fla.): UNIX DVD Recording Solution With New GUI Announced by GEAR Software; New Unix DVD Recording Software Supports 4.7G Media and DVD Hardware.

• Green Hills Software (SANTA BARBARA, Calif.): Green Hills' MULTI 2000 Integrated Development Environment Reduces Development Time of Embedded OSEK-Compliant Automotive Designs Based on ARM and NEC V85x Processors.

• Plesk, Inc. (CHANTILLY, Va.): Plesk, Inc., Releases Plesk Server Administrator Version 2.0 for New Level of Automated Web Server Management.

• Serena Software (BURLINGAME, Calif.): New Serena ChangeMan DS 5.4 Delivers Extended Platform and Database Support.

• Softimage Co. (LOS ANGELES): Softimage Announces v4.0 of Industry-Leading Software SOFTIMAGE|3D; New Version Includes Advanced Tools For Game Authoring.

• Softimage Co. (LOS ANGELES): Softimage Announces SOFTIMAGE|XSI 2.0 At Siggraph 2001.

• Tivoli Systems Inc. (SAN FRANCISCO): Tivoli Delivers Software to Secure Access to the Extended Enterprise.

Java Products

• ExoLab Group (SAN MATEO, Calif.): OpenORB Enterprise Suite 1.2 From The ExoLab Group Provides Performance, Scalability, Interoperability for Distributed Applications.

• Servetec (Kearny, NJ): Servertec Announces Release of Servertec Persistent Object Store.

• VMGEAR (SAN JOSE, Calif.): VMGEAR Announces Public Beta Program for New Java Performance Tools; Beta Testers Sought for New Products, Optimizeit Thread Debugger and Optimizeit Code Coverage.

Books & Training

• John Wiley & Sons (FAIRFAX, Va.): New Book on XUL Published.

• O'Reilly (Sebastopol, CA): New O'Reilly Book Offers Straightforward Info on Server Load Balancing.

Partnerships

• IBM (SAN FRANCISCO): Developers Choose IBM: Conference Strengthens Ties To ISV Community; New Products, Programs, Alliances Demonstrate IBM's Business Partner Leadership.

• Quintalinux (HONG KONG): Quintalinux and Huadi Memorandum Establishes Framework for Marketing and Technological Cooperation between Major Asian Linux Software Firms.

• TUXIA (AUGSBURG, Germany): Tvia Joins TUXIA Strategic Partner Program.

Investments and Acquisitions

• Accelent Systems (AKRON, Ohio): Accelent Systems Closes $9.7 Million in Series B.

Personnel & New Offices

• Dirig Software (NASHUA, N.H.): Dirig Expands Sales Reach With Midwestern Sales Office Based in Chicago; Office Opening Fueled by Increasing Demand for Midwestern Customers and Partners.

• LinuxMagic (Surrey, BC): LinuxMagic announced that Theresa Sturwold has been appointed as its Chief Executive Officer.

• Merlin Software Technologies International, Inc. (BURNABY, British Columbia): Merlin Appoints Jerome Conlon to Board of Directors; Former Nike and Starbucks Executive Joins Developer of Technology Solutions.

• Merlin Software Technologies International, Inc. (BURNABY, British Columbia): Merlin Appoints Dr. Curt Alexander to Board of Directors; Corporate and Branding Strategist Brings World-Class Vision to Merlin.

Linux At Work

• Linux NeworX (Salt Lake City, UT): GX Technology Strengthens Oil and Gas Exploration Efforts with Linux NetworX Cluster System.

Other

• Handmark (REDWOOD CITY, Calif. & KANSAS CITY, Mo.): Handmark Ships WordSmith PRO Software Bundle To Retail.

Section Editor: Forrest Cook.

Next: Linux in the news