SAP AG Demonstrates Linux Support for SAP R/3 at CeBIT 99
Together With Partners, SAP Details Plans to Meet Market Demand for Enterprise Business Solutions on Linux-Based Platforms
HANOVER, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 18, 1999-- Today at CeBIT 99, SAP AG (NYSE ADR:SAP), the world's leading provider of enterprise business software solutions, offered customers live demonstrations of the SAP(TM) R/3® solution running on the Linux operating system and detailed SAP and partner efforts that will help ensure customer success on Linux as a stable and reliable operating platform.
For example, SAP R/3 on Linux represents a way for companies with existing UNIX expertise to leverage popular, high-value Intel-based systems.
Major hardware partners supporting the SAP initiative to deliver SAP R/3 on Linux systems include Compaq Computer Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co., IBM Corp. and Siemens AG. SAP plans to begin first customer shipment of SAP R/3 on Linux in the third quarter of this year.
''In view of the market interest for Linux, its stable technological foundation and our commitment to platform independence, it was incumbent upon SAP to step up to delivering SAP R/3 on Linux,'' said Karl-Heinz Hess, executive vice president of systems technology development and extended executive board member, SAP AG. ''Our customers that select Linux will enjoy a level of support and reliability equal to our currently supported platforms from both SAP and its partners.''
To help ensure customer success, SAP, leading hardware vendors, service organizations and database suppliers are working together to provide SAP R/3 solutions on Linux-based systems. These companies are bringing together their development resources, service, support, testing and integration programs in support of this effort.
''To meet the growing market demand for Linux systems in the enterprise, Compaq is working closely with SAP to assist companies that have selected SAP R/3 on Linux,'' said Ed Wolyniec, vice president of business application solutions at Compaq. ''We are pleased to be working with SAP to offer scalable and reliable Compaq server solutions to our joint customers.''
Other than the change in operating systems, customers will find that SAP R/3 on Linux amounts to business as usual. SAP hardware partners will provide support for hardware and operating systems in the same way they do now. Full support will be available under Linux release versions specified by SAP, ensuring stability from release to release. Initially, the Red Hat Linux distribution will be supported for R/3 on Intel-based systems. Customers will also be able to order preinstalled and preconfigured Ready-to-Run R/3 systems on Linux.
''Now users of SAP R/3 can look to IBM for software, server and technical support in the Linux environment,'' said John Callies, service president, marketing, Netfinity brand, IBM. ''IBM Netfinity servers and the award-winning DB2 Universal Database can deliver the power, scalability, control and service to help companies confidently implement open, industry-standard networked systems with SAP R/3.''
''Siemens welcomes the announcement of SAP R/3 on Linux and is fully committed to supporting this solution. Linux is a stable, reliable and performant operating system that has gained a quality to be ready for running mission-critical business applications, such as SAP R/3,'' said Robert Hoog, president, computer systems division, information and communications products group, Siemens AG. ''SAP R/3 on Linux on our PRIMERGY server line extends Siemens' comprehensive and scalable offerings for SAP R/3. Siemens will offer support for this solution to customers and partners.''
Linux Stability
''For companies that already have UNIX skills, the entrance of the major hardware and software vendors into the Linux server marketplace has to be good news,'' said Dr. Wolfgang Martin, vice president for Europe, META Group. ''As these new Linux-based solutions roll out, Linux can expect to see considerable growth driving not only Internet servers but front- and back-office applications as well.''
The demand for Linux systems has been driven by the marketplace, typically from sites that have deployed Linux systems. ''Our experience with the Linux operating system has been very positive,'' said Thomas Nitzsche, senior technical consultant of Deutsche Telekom Computer Service Management. ''We find it to be stable and reliable while allowing us to leverage our in-house knowledge of UNIX operating system environments. Consequently, we would be very interested in evaluating SAP R/3 on Linux as it becomes available.''
Customers with UNIX experience are particularly interested in SAP R/3 on Linux. ''Linux appears to be an interesting way to offer our corporate customers SAP R/3 on Intel hardware while leveraging our in-house UNIX know-how,'' said Ralph Muller, IT manager at Krupp Hoesch Informationsverarbeitung GmbH.
The Amber Group, a Menlo Park, Calif., consulting firm, also sees Linux as an attractive option. ''We believe Linux has considerable potential as a server platform in enterprise IT environments, offering a good combination of reliability and value,'' said Michael Delaney, CIO of The Amber Group. ''We applaud the decision by SAP to offer Linux as a supported option for its customer base. We are ready to start using R/3 on Linux.'' |
