“IBM has joined the Trillian project, which was put together by
Intel earlier this year in order to implement Linux on its IA-64
Merced architecture.”
“Trillian is currently being worked on by VA Linux Systems, one
of the several Linux companies Intel has put money into, IA-64
co-designer Hewlett-Packard and SGI. The addition of IBM adds heft
to Trillian, although it’s not immediately clear what Big Blue will
bring to the party. In common with WAM (World Apart from
Microsoft), IBM has been embracing Linux heartily recently, but its
motivation could be anything from putting a mark down for Merced
Linux to a full-scale transference of its efforts away from
RS/6000-AIX. Getting out of its PA Risc involvement is of course
one of HP’s reasons for being involved in IA-64.”
“According to Intel VP Sean Maloney at LinuxWorld yesterday,
Trillian is expected to have initial versions of 64-bit IA-64 Linux
in the hands of developers in the first quarter of next year. This
will put Linux on an even footing with ‘conventional’ OS developers
as far as Intel’s next generation is concerned, and will give it an
excellent chance to overtake Microsoft.”