ZDNet: UnitedLinux: Standardizing Linux

"In 1954 two lesser American auto manufacturers combined forces in the hope of creating one competitive company. The merger of Nash and Hudson to form American Motors may have extended the longevity of the combined entity, but it didn't fundamentally change the competitive landscape.

"UnitedLinux, the high-tech version of American Motors, has at least one thing going for it: It's an attempt to begin addressing an old problem with Linux--the inconsistencies between distributions. Without this technical goal, the joint project of Turbolinux and Caldera International in the United States, Conectiva in Brazil, and SuSE in Germany, would barely be of interest.

"It's important to bear in mind that UnitedLinux is purely an enterprise play. While the new UnitedLinux distribution will be their in-common product targeted at you folks, the four companies will continue to maintain their own product lines for other markets. Since the Linux enterprise marketplace is dominated by Red Hat, you really have to wonder how big a ripple this will make in the pond..."

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Related Stories:

• eWeek: United They Stand; United They Fall(Jun 13, 2002)
• Linux and Main: Analysis: The Battle Lines are Drawn(Jun 10, 2002)
• The Register: UnitedLinux Agrees to Differ(Jun 06, 2002)
• SuSE Denies UnitedLinux Per-Seat License Model; Announces Developer's Version(Jun 03, 2002)
• NewsForge: Commentary: Where UnitedLinux Got It Wrong(Jun 03, 2002)
• New UnitedLinux Emphasizes Enterprise, Cooperation(May 30, 2002)
• Update: LinuxPlanet: When Four Become One: UnitedLinux(May 30, 2002)