Technology Evaluation: IBM Jumps on the Linux Bandwagon with Both Feet, Sort Of

"IBM is refocusing its corporate-wide Internet software efforts around Linux, a move it hopes will legitimize the open-source movement for large corporations while reviving its own flagging enterprise server business. In the process, IBM has dismantled the four-year-old Internet Division and has established a new Linux group under the Enterprise Server Division. The new group will be headed by former Internet division executive Irving Wladawsky-Berger, who will report to Sam Palmisano, senior vice president and group executive of ESD."

"In an interview Monday, Palmisano said that the open standards of Linux represent the same opportunity the Internet did. "We've been thinking about this for a while," he said. "Linux is an evolving, high-growth [market] and we wanted to get there quickly in the early adoption phase."

"IBM will "Linux-enable" all of its hardware platforms as well as port applications and middleware to Linux. In addition, it will work closely with the open-source community to develop and promote standards and make certain of its technologies available as open source. Palmisano said he believes large corporate customers will consolidate their operating systems around Windows NT, Unix and a proprietary system like MVS. "Our vision is that we can create a flexible environment in Unix," he said."

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