See also: last week's Commerce page.

Linux and Business

Clusters of LinuxWorld announcements. This week San Francisco hosted IDG World Expo's LinuxWorld Conference & Expo. This large and very commercial Linux event is always accompanied by lots of press releases. New partnerships are formed, new products are announced and demonstrated at this premier event. This year was no exception. But the flood of announcements reviewed by LWN has nothing to do with the today's title. Instead it was prompted by a large number of announcements about cluster solutions. New solutions, deployed solutions, even solutions that can cluster machines running multiple platforms -- and most of the announcements were made in conjunction with LinuxWorld.

• SGI Federal and Linux NetworX have teamed up to build three Parallel Capacity Resource (PCR) Linux cluster computing systems totaling 472 Pentium 4 processors for the National Nuclear Security Administration's Accelerated Strategic Computing Initiative (ASCI) ongoing computing element. To help with this project SGI and Linux NetworX will also collaborate with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), using LLNL's Parallel Computing Environment, a 48 Pentium 4 processor Linux cluster recently ordered by LLNL from Linux NetworX and SGI Federal.

• Clustra Systems, Inc. demonstrated its new Clustra DataCenter database appliance and the new 4.1 release of the Clustra Database(TM) at LinuxWorld. The Clustra DataCenter makes it easy to assemble a cluster of off-the-shelf Linux servers into a powerful, high-end, high-availability database.

• MSC.Software Corp. and Livermore Software Technology Corporation (LSTC) are cranking out numerically intensive applications using LSTC's advanced multi-physics simulation code LS-DYNA on clusters powered by MSC.Linux.

• Mission Critical Linux, Inc. had several announcements:
  • The release of Convolo Cluster DataGuard Edition Version 2.0, a high availability cluster solution.
  • The release of Convolo Cluster NetGuard Edition Version 1.0, "the most extensible and flexible Linux cluster solution on the market".
  • A deal with Hewlett-Packard to provide Mission Critical's high availability Linux cluster solutions on HP hardware.
  • And a more generic announcement about the availability of preconfigured Linux cluster solutions, designed, tested, installed, and supported.

• SteelEye Technology Inc. announced the availability of LifeKeeper(R) for Linux 4.0, which has cluster-wide management templates, support for IBM's DB2 UDB, plug-and-play integration with Oracle and many applications.

• Turbolinux released EnFuzion 7.0, a clustering solution for Linux, Unix, and Microsoft Windows servers.

Xandros announces strategic licensing agreement with Corel. It seems that an outright sale of Corel Linux wasn't in the cards after all: the new company called Xandros has announced a "strategic licensing agreement" with Corel that allows Xandros to develop and sell the Corel Linux distribution. Xandros is also evidently employing the Corel Linux developers as well. The first release of the distribution will happen "in the coming months."

Xandros is funded by the Linux Global Partners, which is also a big investor in Ximian. So when they say "We are now working to incorporate our portfolio companies into the Xandros OS which will provide a complete desktop application for Linux" some interesting things come to mind.

HP expands open source offerings. Here's HP's press release describing its latest Linux offerings. They include the "Secure OS Software," a set of security enhancements for the Linux kernel. Also listed is the Embedded Linux Software Platform, the Embedded Software Developer's Network, and a set of management and high-availability tools.

SourceForge Portal Edition to run HP Embedded Software Developer's Network. VA Linux Systems has gotten a high-profile sale: according to this press release, the "Portal Edition" of the SourceForge software will be powering HP's new Embedded Software Developer's Network.

Product and service announcements from Ximian. Ximian helped start the LinuxWorld stampede with a couple of announcements: First is a set of new services based on Red Carpet. Pay Ximian some money and you can have priority access to the download servers. There's also "Red Carpet CorporateConnect" which is positioned as a system to help companies handle their internal software management and distribution. Mission Critical Linux will be reselling these services as well.

Also available is a pair of boxed products. The "Ximian Desktop" is a $29.95 packaging of GNOME and the usual utilities, along with 30 days of support. The "Professional" version ($49.95) throws in StarOffice and 90 days of support.

Announcements from MontaVista. MontaVista Software has also come out with a set of announcements for LinuxWorld. The High-availability Framework is a new failover system for compact PCI systems. The company also has announced support for the Intel XScale architecture in Hard Hat Linux. Finally, MontaVista has a "graphics strategy" seemingly designed to please everybody: you can get either "Hard Hat Graphics," based on Tiny X and GTK+, or you can have Trolltech's Qt/Embedded.

Red Hat, Compaq, and Pioneer-Standard to sell preloaded E-commerce systems. Red Hat has announced a deal with Compaq and Pioneer-Standard to sell systems loaded with Red Hat's E-Commerce Suite; offerings vary from single systems through five-server clusters.

SuSE Linux Database Server. SuSE is getting into the database business. This announcement describes the new "SuSE Linux Database Server" product, which is a version of the SuSE Linux distribution bundled with IBM's DB2.

Largo, Florida chooses Bynari groupware. Here's a press release from Bynari Inc. on how the city of Largo, Florida has deployed Bynari's messaging system. "The Insight solution enables Largo's city government to run messaging and collaboration on a Linux-based thin client network in a Windows-free environment. The move saves taxpayers millions of dollars in hardware, software, support, and upgrade costs."

Linux Stock Index for August 23 to August 29, 2001.

LSI at closing on August 23, 2001 ... 26.46
LSI at closing on August 29, 2001 ... 26.42

The high for the week was 27.28
The low for the week was 26.42

Press Releases:

Open source products

• Integrated Computer Solutions, Inc. (SAN JOSE, CA): Embedded Open Motif Released under The Open Group Public License..

• Sistina Software (MINNEAPOLIS): Sistina Releases Linux Logical Volume Manager Version 1.0 under GNU General Public License.

Distributions and bundled products

• Empower Technologies Inc. (REDMOND, WA): Empower Technologies Inc. Creates Operating System Choice for Palm Users and Palm-Compatible Manufacturers.

• LynuxWorks, Inc. & SoftConnex Technologies (SAN JOSE, Calif. & FREMONT, Calif.): LynuxWorks' Embedded Operating Systems and SoftConnex' USBLink Host Solution Enable Development of Bandwidth-Intensive Embedded Applications.

Proprietary Products for Linux

• Argus Systems Group, Inc. (San Francisco, LinuxWorld): Argus Systems Group Offers Special Pricing for PitBull LX at LinuxWorld 2001 and Through September.

• Bitstream Inc. (CAMBRIDGE, Mass.): Bitstream Develops Ground-Breaking Font Subsystem for Linux.

• Borland Software Corporation (SAN FRANCISCO): Borland Announces Web Services Strategy for Linux; Web Services Offering Aims to Advance Linux as e-Business Server.

• Bullant, Inc. (SAN FRANCISCO): Bullant Announces Linux Bullant Builder 2.1 Pre-Release.

• CodeWeavers, Inc. (SAN FRANCISCO, LinuxWorld): CodeWeavers Releases CrossOver Plugin, Enabling Display of Popular Windows(R) Browser Plugins, MS Office Files in Linux(R).

• Compaq Computer Corporation (SAN FRANCISCO): Compaq announced Linux and Tru64 UNIX Portability Kit..

• Halcyon Software, Inc. (SAN JOSE, Calif.): Halcyon Announces Active Server Pages Support for Linux for the IBM eServer zSeries.

• HancomLinux (SAN FRANCISCO, LinuxWorld): HancomLinux Invades the United States; Korean Linux Experts Bring Office Suite, Linux Distribution to the United States.

• IBM (): Software Evaluation Kit for Linux CD.

• Intel Corp. (SANTA CLARA, Calif.): Intel Launches New Compilers for Linux - C++ and Fortran.

• Legato Systems, Inc. (MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.): Legato Extends Cooperative Agreement With Sun With Release of Solstice Backup 6.1.

• Panda Software (Los Angeles, CA): Panda Software Invites Linux Users to Participate in Antivirus Beta.

• Sendmail, Inc. (EMERYVILLE, Calif.): Sendmail, Inc. Presents the Industry's Largest Email Server for Linux on IBM eServer z900.

• SoftKnot Corporation (FREMONT, Calif.): SoftKnot Releases iFS and iShell for Linux; Industry's First Out-of-the-Box Solution for Applications and Data Access Over the Web.

• Tarantella, Inc. (SANTA CRUZ, Calif.): Tarantella Enterprise 3 Starter for Linux Receives IBM ServerProven Certification, New Product to Debut at LinuxWorld.

Hardware and bundled products

• AMD (SUNNYVALE, Calif.): AMD's Multiprocessor Platform Receives Linux Software Certifications.

• Celestix Networks, Inc. (FREMONT, Calif.): Celestix Delivers Aries Groupware Server Appliance for SMBs With VirtualTek's Joydesk.

• FOCUS Enhancements, Inc. (CAMPBELL, Calif.): TUXIA to Display Media/Entertainment Gateway At Linux World Expo Based On Technology From Focus Enhancements, Intel and Sigma Designs.

• Penguin Computing (SAN FRANCISCO): Penguin Computing Announces 1U Dual AMD Server; New system is the first Linux server of its kind.

• Red Hat, Inc. (RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. & SANTA CLARA, Calif.): Red Hat Creates Advanced Tool Chain for SandCraft MIPS Microprocessors; Designs 64-Bit MIPS Core Processor Toolkit Through Partnership with SandCraft.

Products and Services Using Linux

• AdminForce Remote LLC (Boulder, Colorado): AdminForce Remote LLC and CrafTech Inc. Reach Agreement.

• Century Software, Inc. (SAN FRANCISCO, LinuxWorld): Century Software Delivers Fully Integrated PDA Solution.

• Check Point Software Technologies (REDWOOD CITY, Calif.): Check Point Software VPN-1 Delivers Over Half a Gigabit Throughput At $4000 Price Point.

• Egenera, Inc. (MARLBORO, Mass.): Egenera, Inc. to Debut BladeFrame at NetWorld+Interop 2001 Atlanta.

• Lineo, Inc. (SALT LAKE CITY): Lineo Embedix GPL Compliance Toolset to Ship.

• OEone Corporation (SAN FRANCISCO): OEone to Power Internet Devices Featuring National Semiconductor's Geode Technology.

• OEone Corporation (SAN FRANCISCO, LinuxWorld): OEone Previews Penzilla, a new Open Source Platform to Power Internet Devices.

• Radlan Inc. (SAN FRANCISCO, LinuxWorld): Radlan Now Supports Embedded Linux RTOS Alternative; Full Simulation-Based Development Environment Available by Year's End.

• RidgeRun, Inc. (SAN FRANCISCO, LinuxWorld): RidgeRun Shows Streaming Video and Networking for Embedded Multimedia.

• Stream Machine and BPL Telecom (MILPITAS, Calif. & San Jose, Calif.): Stream Machine Chooses BPL Telecom's Software Development Team for Digital Video Recording Projects.

Products With Linux Versions

• Advanced Visual Systems (WALTHAM, Mass.): Toolmaster Portable Graphics Library from AVS Gains Linux RedHat Support, Windows Enhancements.

• Ampro Computers, Inc. (SAN JOSE, Calif.): Ampro Delivers MIPS32 Module to Speed and Simplify Embedded Design.

• Applied Data Systems (INTEL DEVELOPER FORUM, SAN JOSE, Calif.): Applied Data Systems Participates in Intel(r) PCA Developer Network.

• Appligent, Inc. (): Free APStripFiles Utility.

• BEA Systems Inc. (SAN JOSE, Calif.): BEA And Gauss Interprise Announce Strategic Relationship to Offer Its IBM Customers An Upgrade to Gauss VIP Enterprise Software Built on BEA.

• Boulder Instruments (Longmont, Colorado): New Product Announcement: StreamStor PCI-816XF.

• Dataram Corporation (PRINCETON, N.J.): Dataram First to Offer Memory Upgrades for IBM xSeries 380 Itanium-based Server.

• FireLogic, Inc. (ARLINGTON, VA and LIVERMORE, CA): FireLogic announces HealthEngage Software.

• Gordano Ltd. (NEW YORK): Gordano Ltd.: Secure and Flexible WebMail for Unix now available for Linux and Sun Solaris.

• Keyspan (Richmond, CA): New Keyspan products: USB Serial and PDA Adapters for Linux, Mac, and Windows.

• Magic Software Enterprises (Irvine, CA): Linux Software Provider Magic Software Enterprises to Introduce Powerful New CRM Product at the DCI CRM Expo.

• MainConcept (AACHEN, Germany & BEACHWOOD, Ohio): Free Video Clips Available for Downloading From MainConcept Website.

• Microquest (Lee Center, NY): Fw: Product Announcement: Thinkpad 600 Series DVD/CDRW.

• RadiSys Corp. (HILLSBORO, Ore.): RadiSys Introduces Enhanced Microcode Solution for the IXP1200 Network Processor.

• Verisity Ltd. (MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.): Verisity Announces SureCov 3.0; Latest Release Provides a Significant Boost in Performance.

• Verplex (MILPITAS, Calif.): Verplex Doubles Formal Verification Speed. Conformal Logic Equivalence Checker is available and supports Hewlett Packard, Sun Microsystems and Linux operating systems platforms. It is priced at $105,000 U.S.

• Xybernaut Corporation (FAIRFAX, Va.): Xybernaut Delivers First Implementation of Transferable Core --TC-- Technology.

Java Products

• Alpha Software Express, LLC (SAN RAFAEL, Calif.): Alpha Software Express, LLC Launches Its Flagship Java Software Product for General Design Work and Management of CAD/CAM/CAE Documents.

• Applied Data Systems (San Francisco, LinuxWorld): ADS demonstrates three Java Virtual Machine (JVM) packages running on ADS' StrongARM based system..

• Espial (OTTAWA): Espial Delivers First Scalable Java Browser.

Books & Training

• Learning Tree International (RESTON, Va.): Learning Tree Releases Hands-on Course: Advanced Perl Programming.

• LinuxCertified.com (Cupertino, California): Linux Network Services Bootcamp W/free Linux laptop!.

• No Starch Press and Loki Software (San Francisco, CA): Programming Linux Games, August 2001.

Partnerships

• Aduva (PALO ALTO, Calif.): Aduva Joins Hewlett-Packard Servicecontrol Manager Partner Program to Deliver Comprehensive Linux Administration Tools.

• Covalent Technologies, Inc. (SAN FRANCISCO): Covalent Technologies to Deliver Optimized Apache Solutions on Compaq ProLiant Servers.

• Cryptographic Appliances (ROSEVILLE, Calif.): Cryptographic Appliances Teams with IBM to Develop Linux Port for Secure Hardware.

• Dot Hill Systems Corp. & Sistina Software (SAN FRANCISCO, LinuxWorld): Dot Hill and Sistina Software Team Up to Improve Computing Performance for Linux Users.

• Integrated Research Ltd (SAN FRANCISCO, LinuxWorld): Integrated Research joins Hewlett-Packard's Servicecontrol Manager Partner Program to Provide System Management for Linux and HP-UX Environments.

• Legato (MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.): Legato Works With IBM For Information Protection And To Maximize Gains In Fast Growing Linux Market.

• Turbolinux(R), Inc. (SAN FRANCISCO): Turbolinux Establishes Joint Venture with Samsung SDS.

• TUXIA & Rise Technology (TAIWAN): TUXIA and RISE Form Strategic Alliance to Deliver Best-Performing Embedded Linux Solution for IA Market.

Personnel & New Offices

• REDSonic, Inc. (SANTA ANA, Calif. and SINGAPORE): REDSonic opens new Singapore office.

Linux At Work

• Calian Ltd. (KANATA, Ontario): Calian's Systems Engineering Division Wins Multi-Million Dollar Contract With Thrane & Thrane.

• Compagnie Generale de Geophysique (AUSTIN, Texas): Compagnie Generale de Geophysique ''CGG'' Chooses Dell to Power Houston Data Center.

• IBM (ARMONK, N.Y.): IBM Deploys Linux For Financial Industry.

Other

• Pioneer-Standard Electronics, Inc. (): Let's talk Linux....Experts to Keep on File.

• Rackspace Managed Hosting (SAN ANTONIO): Rackspace Managed Hosting Offers Experts to Discuss Issues Affecting Open Source Servers Today.

Section Editor: Rebecca Sobol.

Next: Linux in the news