“While some Linux companies are reevaluating their
priorities, Big Blue is continuing to pull out all the stops for
Linux across a variety of platforms.”
“On Monday, a variety of IBM divisions made a slew of Linux
announcements. Among them: the company made public some details of
its long-anticipated plan to bring Linux to its AS/400 server, the
last of the IBM hardware platforms to obtain full-fledged Linux
support. IBM (NYSE: IBM) also announced strategies for preloading
Linux on Thinkpad systems; delivering a Linux small business bundle
to business partners and Linux distributors; and rolling out a new
e-business-oriented Linux certification program.”
“Over the past year, IBM’s push to support Linux has grown
exponentially. But IBM’s latest batch of announcements come at an
interesting time – right on the heels of some less-than-good news
for a number of Linux distribution, application and service
companies.”
“It also has taken steps to match for Linux the level of support
it is providing for Microsoft’s NT Server/Windows 2000 platforms.
On Monday, IBM announced a Small Business Pack for Linux,
consisting of the latest releases of Domino, DB/2 Universal
database and WebSphere Application Server products, available for a
promotional price of $499. IBM currently markets a similar $499 NT
Small Business Suite. Like its NT offering, the Linux suite is
limited to 100 users per server. IBM is waiting for Linux vendor
feedback before it decides whether or not to release a complete
Linux Small Business Suite that could be resold and rebranded by
the Linux vendors, Handy said.”