All the Linux users and programmers will be flocking to the Slashdot.org threads,owned by Andover(ANDN)......Linux support on the rise
By Scott Berinato, PC Week
Linux will end the year much the way it started, with a spate of activity that likely will make the open-source operating system more attractive to the enterprise.
Red Hat Inc., which has been building the enterprise credibility of Linux for several years through deals such as an expanded relationship with Dell Computer Corp., is being joined by products and services from several companies that have emerged from the enormous momentum built up behind Linux this year.
For example, Mission Critical Linux LLC this week will debut a combination of software and services designed to help Fortune 1000 companies build and manage Linux systems.
Elsewhere, Coollogic Inc. last week bought On Channel Inc.'s embedded Linux technology to build Internet appliances. Separately, Hewlett-Packard Co. will target the Internet appliance market in Germany as it licenses and resells eSoft Inc.'s Linux-based appliances.
The moves, combined with several initial public offerings planned throughout the winter, indicate that Linux developers are continuing to move beyond their hobbyist roots with an eye on enterprise customers.
"I think we will see in the next year, very interesting movement in the market," said Tom Figgatt, global executive for Linux on Netfinity servers at IBM. "The gamut is almost infinite when it comes to server applications [for Linux]."
The deal between Netfinity competitor Dell and Red Hat, of Durham, N.C., could further increase demand for Linux. Dell last week said it would pre-install Red Hat Linux 6.1 on its PowerEdge servers.
Dell, of Round Rock, Texas, also announced it would provide extended service and support for its Red Hat customers. Support is almost always an enterprise prerequisite to buying into a platform.
Startup Mission Critical, of Lowell, Mass., will combine the hype surrounding Linux with the hype surrounding application hosting when it announces next week a systems management package that combines software and services.
Under the offering, called SST (Secure Service Technology), Mission Critical uses its software to securely access clients' Linux computers for system diagnosis and management. The system uses 128-bit encryption and digital certificates to maintain trust and would allow enterprise companies, especially those in the early phases of Linux deployments, to have an expert partner to help keep the servers up, officials said.
Mission Critical will offer the service itself?contracts start at $10,000?but also plans to license the technology to partners, such as systems' vendors, that could offer the service on their own.
The deal between Dallas-based Coollogic and On Channel, of Davis, Calif., would allow Coollogic to use in its Internet Ready line of Internet access appliances On Channel's OS 2000 embedded Linux, officials of both companies said.
Meanwhile, HP, of Palo Alto, Calif., which has been active in Linux in North America, said last week it will extend the company's influence to Europe.
HP in Germany will resell eSoft's line of Linux-based Internet office appliances, called Team, which provides routing, Internet access and connections for up to 200 clients on a network, said eSoft officials in Broomfield, Colo. Pricing was not available.
Getting Help With Linux
By Michael Stutz, Linux Journal
So you've heard a lot about the power of Linux and you're eager to try it out for yourself. But where do you start?
Whether you're a long-time Linux user or a total newbie who needs to obtain Linux software for that first install, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the vast amount of Linux information available. Finding the best apporoach to getting help on a particular problem is no simple task. Since Linux is an independent happening ? no company or sole entity owns what is essentially a continually growing resource, free for all humanity ? this tangle of information can be confusing. Here's an attempt to outline the most efficient means of getting help with Linux.
First, understand that no matter what your skill level, you're not alone. Help is always available ? in fact, one of the strengths of the free software movement is that you don't have to wait on a tech support line, or rely on anyone business (and local business hours) for help ? individuals and companies all over the world can provide all levels of support.
There are four basic routes to getting help with Linux; the one you choose for any particular problem will depend on what that problem is. These routes almost always overlap, and eventually you'll probably have dealt with all four in varying degrees. They are:
Books and Media
The Internet **********************************ANDN
Regional user groups
Consultants |
