InfoWorld: Linux looming

“With industry heavyweights putting some muscle behind Linux on
mainframes, those touting a Unix server-based future could face a
storm on the horizon.”

“To the Unix community, it is now merely the rumble of distant
thunder on an otherwise sunny day, but rising corporate interest in
Linux-based mainframes could have them reaching for an umbrella in
the next year or two.”

“Driving this heightened interest in mainframe Linux are the
spiraling costs associated with buying and managing the mushrooming
number of departmental Unix-and Windows NT-based servers. During
the past few years, these systems took over the running of key
Web-based applications now central to corporate users’ competitive
strategies.”

“In the past three months, top-tier Linux distributors including
Red Hat, TurboLinux, and SuSE have pledged or deepened commitments
to work with IBM and deliver native versions of Linux that exploit
Big Blue’s mainframes. IBM will underscore that relationship by
bundling Linux versions of key middleware products, such as
WebSphere, MQSeries, and CICS, with the new versions of the
operating system.”

“What is also inspiring corporate interest is this month’s
release of the long-awaited Version 2.4.0 of the Linux kernel,
which features several critical high-end server capabilities,
including support for IBM’s S/390 and z900 mainframes. IBM Chairman
Lou Gerstner also announced in December that IBM will invest $1
billion in Linux during 2001, a good portion of which will go
toward the development, marketing, and servicing of Linux on
mainframes and supercomputer-class clusters.”

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